Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation
March 1, 2011
Jih-Heng Li, Vickna Kasinather, Cheung et al.
146 citations
Ketamine, an anesthetic developed in the 1960s, has hallucinogenic effects and a wide safety margin, but its therapeutic use is limited by mind-body dissociation, delirium, and hallucinations. Increasing recreational abuse, including to experience a "k-hole," has led to government restrictions. Long-term use can cause irreversible urinary tract damage, potentially leading to renal failure and dialysis. Assessments suggest ketamine may cause more harm than some UN-scheduled drugs, with dependence, lower urinary tract dysfunction, and sexual impulse or violence reported in Southeast and East Asia. The danger of ketamine may have been underestimated, and thorough surveys are needed to prevent an epidemic. However, recent findings indicate ketamine may be useful for treating major depressive disorder, prompting need for further research on risks and benefits.
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
April 18, 2017
Ling‐yi Feng, Altansuvd Battulga, Eunyoung Han et al.
86 citations
The UN warns of an emerging threat from new psychoactive substances (NPS), often modified from natural plants like Khat. While Opium and Cannabis are controlled, many plants with addiction potential remain unmonitored. This review examines the pharmacology, toxicology, and chemical synthesis of five such NPS, including magic mushrooms, highlighting their impact on medicine. Addressing criminal liability, criminology, and psychiatry, it underscores the need for greater awareness. Such substances, relevant to traditional medicine and drug studies, involve complex alkaloid understanding.
Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy
September 23, 2016
Ling‐yi Feng, Wenjing Yu, Wei-Ting Chang et al.
49 citations
Although methamphetamine remains a problem, new psychoactive substances (NPS) have become an emerging issue in both Taiwan and South Korea, though their patterns differ. Taiwan seizes much larger quantities of NPS, particularly ketamine, despite having far fewer controlled NPS items than Korea. These differences suggest the NPS come from different sources. Factors beyond geographical proximity, including drug policy and drug availability and accessibility, help explain the current status of illegal drug use in the two countries.
Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation
April 1, 2011
Li-Tzy Wu, George E Woody, Chongming Yang et al.
40 citations
Between 2006 and 2008, past-year use of Salvia divinorum among US residents aged 12 or older rose from 0.7% to 1.3%, an 83% increase. Users were typically 18–25 years old, male, white or multiracial, and living in large metropolitan areas. Salvia use was especially common among people who also used other drugs: 53.7% of recent users had used LSD, 30.1% ecstasy, 24.2% heroin, 22.4% PCP, and 17.5% cocaine. Polydrug use was the strongest predictor of both recent and former salvia use. An estimated 43% of past-year salvia users had an illicit or nonmedical drug-use disorder, compared with 2.5% of nonusers. Even after adjusting for other drug use, salvia users had higher odds of depression and substance-use disorders.
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
September 1, 2014
Po-Xiang Lin, Jih-Heng Li, Su-Hwei Chen et al.
14 citations
Salvinorin A, the hallucinogenic compound in the herb Salvia divinorum, was detected in internet-purchased samples of the plant but was absent from eight endemic Salvia species native to Taiwan. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, the study found no salvinorin A in any of the Taiwanese species, indicating they likely lack hallucinogenic potential. The findings suggest that while Taiwan's native Salvia plants pose no drug abuse risk from this compound, the recreational use of S. divinorum products available online warrants regulatory control measures similar to those in other countries.
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
March 15, 2021
Wen-Jing Yu, Linda B. Cottler, Jih-Heng Li
13 citations
Heroin poses the highest risk among 37 commonly misused substances in Taiwan, followed by (meth)amphetamine and ketamine. Misuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) such as synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, piperazines, and tryptamines has been rising. An expert Delphi procedure assessed drug-related harms across four dimensions—addiction, misuse, social harm, and physical harm—using 11 indicators, 7 of which significantly predicted harm. National misuse prevalence was an important predictor. The findings provide a mechanism to improve rational scheduling and management of NPS.