Novel Psychoactive Substances: The Razor’s Edge between Therapeutical Potential and Psychoactive Recreational Misuse

Correia, Beatriz; Fernandes, Joana; Botica, Maria João; Ferreira, Carla; Quintas, Alexandre

doi:10.3390/medicines9030019

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 244 publications

(379 reference statements)

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“…First, the legalization of this substance in several countries has contributed to a lower perception of the risk of consumption in the population than the risk perception pre-legalization ( 1 , 29 ). Another reason is the increase in the consumption of cannabinoids for therapeutic or medical purposes, which can lead to misuse and even abuse of these substances ( 5 ). Finally, the view that SCs are safer than other drugs and are a good alternative to natural cannabis indicates that these substances are potentially abused ( 30 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common products containing SCs are smoking mixtures, e-liquids, and infused paper ( 4 ). Some effects of SCs intoxication are loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, and behavioral alterations such as aggression or self-injury ( 5 ). Over the years, different generations of SCs have appeared, each time showing a higher potency than THC, making them attractive to some consumers ( 3 , 6 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, a fourth generation of SCs has been described, which could cause serious damage to health based on its pharmacological and toxicological activity ( 7 ). The effects experienced may differ between SC users, as in the case of cannabis use, including feelings of euphoria, relaxation, or even paranoia ( 5 ); however, they are usually more intense than those experienced with natural cannabis ( 8 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synthetic cannabinoids use in a sample of opioid-use disorder patients

et al. 2022

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Cannabis is the most widely consumed illegal drug in the world and synthetic cannabinoids are increasingly gaining popularity and replacing traditional cannabis. These substances are a type of new psychoactive substance that mimics the cannabis effects but often are more severe. Since, people with opioids use disorder use widely cannabis, they are a population vulnerable to use synthetic cannabinoids. In addition, these substances are not detected by the standard test used in the clinical practice and drug-checking is more common in recreational settings. A cross-sectional study with samples of 301 opioid use disorder individuals was carried out at the addiction care services from Barcelona and Badalona. Urinalysis was performed by high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high –resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Any synthetic cannabinoid was detected in 4.3% of the individuals and in 23% of these samples two or more synthetic cannabinoids were detected. Among the 8 different synthetic cannabinoids detected, most common were JWH-032 and JWH-122. Natural cannabis was detected in the 18.6% of the samples and only in the 0.7% of them THC was identified. Several different synthetic cannabinoids were detected and a non-negligible percentage of natural cannabis was detected among our sample. Our results suggest that the use of synthetic cannabinoids may be related to the avoidance of detection. In the absence of methods for the detection of these substances in clinical practice, there are insufficient data and knowledge making difficult to understand about this phenomenon among opioid use disorder population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synthetic cannabinoids use in a sample of opioid-use disorder patients

et al. 2022

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“…Moreover, as they are classified and banned, they are replaced by a new generation of non-controlled molecules enlarging the library of compounds that might, under a clinical 1 https://maps.org/ setting, be used in therapeutics. The possibilities of therapeutic uses of synthetic cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids have been cited and summarized in a recent review (18), which also warns about the undesirable effects of these substances, which may preclude such therapeutic uses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3,4-Methylenedioxy methamphetamine, synthetic cathinones and psychedelics: From recreational to novel psychotherapeutic drugs

et al. 2022

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The utility of classical drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics) is often limited by issues of lack of efficacy, delayed onset of action or side effects. Psychoactive substances have a long history of being used as tools to alter consciousness and as a gateway to approach the unknown and the divinities. These substances were initially obtained from plants and animals and more recently by chemical synthesis, and its consumption evolved toward a more recreational use, leading to drug abuse-related disorders, trafficking, and subsequent banning by the authorities. However, these substances, by modulation of certain neurochemical pathways, have been proven to have a beneficial effect on some psychiatric disorders. This evidence obtained under medically controlled conditions and often associated with psychotherapy, makes these substances an alternative to conventional medicines, to which in many cases the patient does not respond properly. Such disorders include post-traumatic stress disease and treatment-resistant depression, for which classical drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin and LSD, among others, have already been clinically tested, reporting successful outcomes. The irruption of new psychoactive substances (NPS), especially during the last decade and despite their recreational and illicit uses, has enlarged the library of substances with potential utility on these disorders. In fact, many of them were synthetized with therapeutic purposes and were withdrawn for concrete reasons (e.g., adverse effects, improper pharmacological profile). In this review we focus on the basis, existing evidence and possible use of synthetic cathinones and psychedelics (specially tryptamines) for the treatment of mental illnesses and the properties that should be found in NPS to obtain new therapeutic compounds.

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“…However, in case of overdose, dehydration, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue into the bloodstream, and kidney failure can be produced and can even lead to death. These effects are observed between 30-45 min aer the intake and generally last for 1 to 3 h. 4 Driving aer drug consumption is highly dangerous because driving skills are affected which very oen leads to vehicle crashes. Therefore, preventive detection of drugs in drivers is of crucial interest not only for police forces but also for drivers themselves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%