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.
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.
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.