Synthetic drugs

MAIN TYPE

Synthetic drugs” refer to a wide range of compounds based on existing illicit drugs, manufactured with very slight modifications to their chemical structure in order to circumvent drug laws. They usually differ only slightly from their illicit counterparts and are often marketed as having similar effects. They can be based on any drug, including opiates, hallucinogens, narcotics, stimulants and others.

While attempts to avoid anti-drug laws by manufacturing legal drugs that produce similar effects to their illicit counterparts are nothing new, in recent years they have quickly become popular and a major problem for lawmakers and drug enforcement agencies, largely because it is difficult to keep up with chemists who are constantly creating new compounds and because every time one drug becomes illegal, several others appear in its place. It can also be difficult to restrict drugs that can have both practical and recreational uses.

Synthetic drugs are frequently marketed as “legal highs”, a term that might be considered somewhat misleading since they generally do not remain legal for long. They are also paradoxically called “herbal highs”, despite the fact that they are exclusively artificially synthesized. Many people are also misled by this name and think that these drugs are safe, when in fact they are often just as dangerous, if not more so, than the illicit drugs they are based on. They are also considered very dangerous, mainly because of their effects, which can mimic and exceed those of many different drugs, but also because they are often mixed with other harmful substances. They can also cause serious adverse reactions when combined with other substances such as alcohol.

Synthetic drugs come in many forms depending on their type, from pills to cannabis-like substances intended to be smoked. They can sometimes be injected or inhaled.

Because of their chemical similarity to illicit variants, these drugs can often be just as addictive. The relative ease with which they can be purchased online is also a problem.

OTHER TYPES

“Designer drugs” is a term that refers to a very large number of different drugs and types of drugs, and so they have very many street names. They are sometimes referred to by their chemical name, but in the case of designer drugs available on the Internet and in stores selling drug paraphernalia, they are also referred to by brand names.

Some drugs are referred to by the deliberately misleading name of “fertilizer” or “bath salts”, even though they are completely ineffective in that capacity. The theory is that designer drugs are marketed as unfit for human consumption in order to circumvent existing anti-drug laws governing their use.

Street names and brand names for various designer drugs include “nexus”, “synergy”, “toonies”, “liquid X”, “vitamin K” and “2C-B”, although given the enormous range of different drugs covered by the term “designer drugs”, this list is far from exhaustive.

MAIN EFFECTS

The effects of designer drugs can vary greatly, as different designer drugs are intended to mimic the effects of different illicit drugs. There are variations of amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and many others. Synthetic drugs often have a similar chemical structure to the drugs they are based on, but sometimes new compounds are created that are similar only in effect and not in appearance and chemical composition. For example, an apparently legal cannabis substitute that produces similar effects may take the form of a pill.

Thus, many different designer drugs will react completely differently when absorbed into the body, with symptoms ranging from euphoria to hallucinations, as well as drowsiness and/or increased heart rate.

Since almost all designer drugs are either manufactured illegally or pseudo-legally, they all have in common the risk of being cut with other adulterants. This can be very dangerous and a user will have no way of knowing what exactly is in a designer drug. Drugs can be unintentionally contaminated or harmful substances can be deliberately added. There have already been many cases of “bad” batches of designer drugs resulting in potentially serious short and long-term health problems. There is also a significant risk of overdose, as users may mistakenly believe that these drugs will have little or no effect and will compensate by taking dangerous amounts.

Because of their similarity to many existing drugs, designer drugs can also be highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms can occur with repeated use.

PRODUCING COUNTRIES

The effects of synthetic drugs can vary greatly, as different synthetic drugs are intended to mimic the effects of different illicit drugs. There are variants of amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, cannabis and many others. Synthetic drugs often have a similar chemical structure to the drugs they are based on, but sometimes new compounds are created that are similar only in effect and not in appearance and chemical composition. For example, an apparently legal cannabis substitute that produces similar effects may take the form of a pill.

Thus, many different designer drugs will react completely differently when absorbed into the body, with symptoms ranging from euphoria to hallucinations, as well as drowsiness and/or increased heart rate.

Since almost all designer drugs are either manufactured illegally or pseudo-legally, they all have in common the risk of being cut with other adulterants. This can be very dangerous and a user will have no way of knowing what exactly is in a designer drug. Drugs can be unintentionally contaminated or harmful substances can be deliberately added. There have already been many cases of “bad” batches of designer drugs resulting in potentially serious short and long-term health problems. There is also a significant risk of overdose, as users may mistakenly believe that these drugs will have little or no effect and will compensate by taking dangerous amounts.

Because of their similarity to many existing drugs, designer drugs can also be highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms can develop with repeated use.

Although some synthetic drugs are apparently legitimately traded, there is also a large black market for them, as some compounds are declared illegal, but this does not reduce the demand. Synthetic drugs are known to be manufactured in Europe and North America, but much of the production comes from Asia. Because of the wide variety of designer drugs manufactured, there is a great deal of variation between drugs, as chemists often use compounds that they have created themselves, contributing to the unpredictable nature of the effects of different designer drugs.

Synthetic drugs are sold on the street by dealers at a lower price than their illicit counterparts, but can also be found as “legal highs” in stores selling drug paraphernalia. They are also increasingly found online. As with the illicit substances on which synthetic drugs are based, such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines, consumption is largely concentrated in developed countries.

The chemical processes involved in the invention and manufacture of new synthetic drugs are complex and require specialized equipment and expertise. As a result, new compounds are often made by amateur chemists rather than dealers, although some compounds are known to be trafficked in the form of powder, ostensibly for research purposes, which is then processed into tablets for recreational use by dealers and users.

FACTS AND STATISTICS

FACTS

  • “Designer drugs” is a term used to describe a wide range of different drugs that are artificially manufactured and distributed in a way that circumvents the strict anti-drug laws that govern illicit drugs.
  • Their chemical structure is often very similar to the drugs they are based on, but differs enough that they can be considered, at least temporarily, legal in some countries.
  • Other variants use completely different chemical structures, but produce similar effects.
  • Synthetic drugs are nothing new. They have been around since the 1920s, but the term “designer drugs” was not coined until the 1980s.
  • They are just as dangerous, if not more so, than their illicit counterparts because they are often mixed with other harmful substances. The fact that users underestimate their effects also increases the risk of overdose.
  • Because the ingredients and amounts in designer drugs are unknown, their effects can be unpredictable.
  • Synthetic drugs are almost always sold without mentioning their possible recreational use, which would be illegal.
  • However, some law enforcement agencies monitor these drugs on the basis that marketing them as products intended for use as bath salts or fertilizers, when it is clear that they are not, constitutes false advertising.
  • Because new varieties of designer drugs are often restricted to particular chemists or production sites, there are many different designer drugs with different properties on the market.
  • Synthetic drugs are often much more potent than the drugs they are based on.
  • They are also just as likely to be addictive and users may well experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using them.

STATISTICS

  • Synthetic drugs are most often consumed by people between the ages of 21 and 30.
  • A 2009 survey of online stores selling designer drugs in Europe identified 115 different sites in 17 countries.
  • 37% of these sites were based in the UK and 15% in Germany.
  • Mephedrone, a popular designer drug, was first synthesized in 1929 and then forgotten until it was rediscovered in 2003.
  • In a 2010 survey of Australian ecstasy users, 21% reported using mephedrone in the previous year, with 17% reporting use in the previous 6 months.
  • In the UK, mephedrone is reportedly the 4th most popular street drug, after cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.
  • In the first four months of 2011, 1,782 calls were made to poison control centers in the U.S. about designer drugs labeled as “bath salts,” compared to only 302 in all of 2010.
  • Thousands of different designer drugs have been manufactured, but not all of them have made it to market. Millions more chemical compounds could still be discovered.

SIGNS OF ADDICTION

Because of the similarity between designer drugs and their illicit counterparts, the signs of addiction can be difficult to distinguish from those of other drugs. Because of the incredible variety of different drugs available, ranging from opioids to sedatives, there is no single set of signs of addiction for designer drugs in general.

The effects of many designer drugs can include euphoria, slurred speech, irrational or unusual behavior and dilated pupils. They can sometimes cause excessive jaw clenching, heart rate changes and even hallucinations, as well as a variety of other possible symptoms. These drugs carry as much or more risk of addiction than the drugs they are based on, as they are often more potent and withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability and difficulty sleeping may be greater.

It is also difficult to determine what specific behaviors are associated with designer drugs, as some types like mephedrone may be used exclusively in certain social situations, while cannabis-type drugs can be used at any time. A person looking for signs of synthetic drug addiction should therefore pay attention to irrational or unusual behavior. Such behavior displayed continuously in certain situations, such as at nightclubs, may be a sign of synthetic drug use.

Since designer drugs can be obtained on the street from drug dealers, on the Internet, or in stores selling drug paraphernalia, regular patronage of these suppliers may be a sign of drug use. Otherwise, when looking for signs of addiction to designer drugs, it is best to know the signs of addiction to the various drugs on which they are based.

TREATMENTS

Treating addiction to synthetic drugs can be complex, as some users do not know exactly what they are taking. The ingredients and quantities are sometimes only known by the manufacturers, so it is always best to consult a doctor when trying to treat such an addiction. The huge variety of designer drugs available on the market can also increase this difficulty, as some may not cause any physiological dependence, while others may cause strong addictions.

Synthetic drugs are often laced with harmful substances, which can significantly increase health risks. For example, MPPP, a form of synthetic opioid, gained notoriety when an impurity it contained was found to cause Parkinson’s disease after a single use. While this is an extreme example, it illustrates the importance of consulting with medical professionals to try to limit the damage that synthetic drugs may have done to the body.

Many times, the withdrawal symptoms associated with designer drugs will be relatively similar to the drugs they are based on, although they may be more or less acute depending on the potency of the drug. It is advisable, if possible, to provide a sample of the drug to a physician for analysis, from which appropriate treatment can be initiated.

A doctor can also prescribe medication to treat withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia and nausea.

Many users of synthetic drugs mistakenly believe that they are not as dangerous and not as addictive as illicit drugs. There is no way to know until it’s too late, and reactions and tolerances can vary from person to person. Some drugs may not be physiologically addictive, in which case quitting will only be a matter of willpower, while other drugs may require more extreme treatment involving hospitalization or entering a detoxification center to treat the most severe withdrawal symptoms.

Often, addiction can be symptomatic of underlying problems. A person may need to make regular changes in their psychological state to deal with problems they have experienced in their life. In these cases, behavioral therapy and counseling may be appropriate. If these problems, which may include depression or even a sense of loss, are not resolved, an addicted person may succeed in getting rid of one drug and eventually replace it with a more powerful and dangerous one.

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