Scientific Letter: Homemade heroin substitute causing hallucinations

Lemon, TI

doi:10.4314/ajpsy.v16i6.51

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Hallucinations and dissociations seem rare but have been reported. For example, hallucinations were reported with a homemade heroin substitute (Lemon 2013). Other neuropsychiatric alterations have been reported consisting in motor, speech or memory impairments, and personality changes (Grund, Latypov et al 2013).…”

Section: Iv2 Psychiatric Complicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New synthetic opioids: Part of a new addiction landscape

Karila

Marillier

Chaumette

et al. 2019

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Synthetic opioids (SO) are a major risk for public health across the world. These drugs can be divided into 2 categories, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical fentanyls. A new generation of SO has emerged on the drug market since 2010. North America is currently facing an opioid epidemic of morbi-mortality, caused by over-prescription of opioids, illegally diverted prescribed medicines, the increasing use of heroin and the emergence of SO. Furthermore, this opioid crisis is also seen in Europe. SO are new psychoactive substances characterized by different feature such as easy availability on the Internet, low price, purity, legality, and lack of detection in laboratory tests. They have not been approved or are not recommended for human use. Opioid misuse is associated with somatic and psychiatric complications. For many substances, limited pharmacological information is available, increasing the risk of harmful adverse events. Health actors and the general population need to be clearly informed of the potential risks and consequences of the diffusion and use of SO.

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Section: Iv2 Psychiatric Complicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New synthetic opioids: Part of a new addiction landscape

Karila

Marillier

Chaumette

et al. 2019

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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“…Over 200 novel analogues were synthesized, including dihydrodesoxymorphine, which resulted from the alkylation of the phenolic group of morphine 5 . Dihydrodesoxymorphine, also known as desomorphine, showed a kinetic activity and an addiction profile contrary to expectation with a shorter half-life and higher sedative and addictive potential relative to morphine 6 .…”

Section: Historymentioning

confidence: 70%

Krokodil—Morphine’s Deadly Derivative

Duron

2015

J Stud Res

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Graphically publicized in the media, the use of Krokodil, a heroin-like morphine derivative, has grown in Eastern Europe the last decade. The popularity of the injectable drug has grown in part due to its inexpensive and simple manufacturing process through the use of codeine tablets. Krokodil has a similar mechanism of action to morphine, although it is said to be as much as 10 times more potent and is notorious for plaguing its victims with rotting, scale-like skin lesions. The drug was originally synthesized in hopes of creating a safer, less addictive alternative to morphine, however its impure manufacturing process, toxicity and addiction profile led to abuse and infection among its users. The use of Krokodil is seen most commonly in the Ukraine and Russia, particularly in Siberia, however use has been recorded in Moscow and 27 other Russian cities, Kiev and 24 other Ukrainian cities, Kazakhstan, and other Kazakh regions bordering Russia. Use has not yet been confirmed in the United States despite several reports due to the difficulty in isolating and discerning various metabolites in test samples. Various attempts have been made in Eastern Europe in recent years to halt its production by restricting access to codeine, however without concrete legislation and increased public awareness, it is unclear if the growing Krokodil epidemic will be contained.

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“…223,247 Some studies have also reported neurological damage, probably due to exposure to residual heavy metals (in particular lead) present in the drug, such as speech difficulties, motor skill impairments, personality changes, hallucinations, and loss of cognitive functions. 172,177,250,251 Neurological harm can occur before or even without obvious physical damage. 186 2.5.…”

Section: Desomorphine (Krokodil)mentioning

confidence: 99%

DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Heroin and Desomorphine

Mella

Romero-Parra

Recabarren‐Gajardo

2020

ACS Chem. Neurosci.

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Opioids are arguably one of the most important pharmacologic classes, mainly due to their rich history, their useful and potent analgesic effects, and also, just as importantly, their "Dark Side", constituted by their reinforcing properties that have led countless of users to a spiral of addiction, biological dependence, tolerance, withdrawal syndromes, and death. Among the most significant abused and addictive known opioids are heroin and desomorphine, both synthetic derivatives of morphine that belong to the 4,5-epoxymorphinan structural chemical group of the opioid family drugs. These agents share not only structural, pharmacological, and epidemiological features but also a common geographical distribution. A drop in Afghan heroin production and its "exports" to Russia gave rise to widespread consumption of desomorphine in ex-Soviet republics during the first decade of the 21st century, representing an economical and accessible alternative for misusers to this sort of derivative. Herein we review the state of the art of history, chemistry and synthesis, pharmacology, and impact on society of these "cursed cousins".

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Scientific Letter: Homemade heroin substitute causing hallucinations

Cited by 5 publications

References 2 publications

New synthetic opioids: Part of a new addiction landscape

New synthetic opioids: Part of a new addiction landscape

Krokodil—Morphine’s Deadly Derivative

DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Heroin and Desomorphine

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