New Psychoactive Substances Flashcards
what are designer drugs
created in 1960s to skirt existing drug laws
- developed by slightly modifying structures of other psychoactive drugs
what are the most prevalent new psychoactive substances (NPS)
synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and cathinones
how are NPS produced
- created in labs, dont require any plant material for production
- requires precursor chemicals generally produced in China and other Asian or European countries
- processed powder dissolved with ethanol or acetone then applied to dried plant material then individually packaged
found under a variety of names such as:
- bath sats
- insect repellant
- scratch remover
- mosquito bait
- garbage disposal cleaner
user has no way to verify:
contents and/or potency can vary
what are “dead giveaways” that these are NPS
- not for human consumption
- do not sell to minors
- DEA compliant
what are the designer drugs
- synthetic cannabinoids
- synthetic cathinones/Flakka (gravel)
- non pharmaceutical fentanyl
- 2C drugs
- NBOMe
- 6-APB
- Kratom
- Molly
- methoxetamine (MXE)
- budder
- whoonga
describe synthetic cannabinoids
- herbal marinjuana alternative
- marketed as incense “not for human consumption”
- structurally dissimilar to THC but acts on CB1 and CB2 receptors and possibly NMDA
- 2-100 times more potent than THC
- sprayed onto herbal mixture and smoked
what is the naming convention
- initially named with 2-3 letter designation
- now IUPAC common name abbreviations are used
when did SCs first appear and what were the ingredients
- in europe in 2004
- packaged in foil pouches
- ingredients supposedly included: bean bean, blue lotus, dwarf skullcap, wild dagga, honeyweed, rosehip
- users suspected secret ingredient
- JWH-018
describe the intake and output of these SCs
- no human evidence of ADME
- anecdotal reports of onset and duration
- onset within minutes
- duration varies, average 1 hour
- available as either plant based material to be rolled and smoked or as an oil to be vaped
why do people do the K2? what are the effects and “benefits”?
- effects: euphoria, anxiolytic, stimulant, dream enhancement
- benefits: not detected in standard urine drug screen, smells like incense
what are the downfalls of SCs
- sympathomimetic effects
- paranoia
- agitation
- seizure
- renal failure
- rhabdomyolysis
- difficult to distinguish from primary psychiatric illness
what is the management of SCs
- no specific antidote
- supportive care: benzodiazepines
- if intubation required consider rocuronium over succinylcholine if hyperthermic
what receptors do SCs act on
CB1 and Cb2
what are the typical symptoms of SCs
- sympathomimetic toxidrome, agitation, paranoia
what is the treatment for SCs
supportive treatment with fluids and BZD
what is another name for synthetic cathinones
bath salts
what were cathinones used as
originally developed as an appetite suppressant derived from the khat plant
what is methylenedioxypyrovaleerone and describe it
(MDPV)
- low dose (less than 10mg): methypenidate
- high dose (more than 10-15 mg): cocaine, methamphetamine
- onset is about 30 mins
- dose dependent duration 0-12 hours
what is 4-methylenemethcathinone
- mephedrone
- amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine
- average dose 100-200mg
- onset 30-45 minutes
- short duration 1-2h. strong desire to re-dose
what is the mechanism of mephedrone
- strong inhibition of dopamine, serotonin, and norephinephrine reuptake
- also increases presynaptic release
what are the common and less common routes of administration of cathinones
- common: ingestion by tablet or capsule
- less common: inhalation, sublingual, rectal bombing, IV/IM
what is the perception of cathinone users
- euphoria
- heightened alertness
- energy
- talkativeness
- libido increase
