Novel Drugs of Abuse: A Snapshot of an Evolving Marketplace.
Ryan Vandrey, Matthew W Johnson, Patrick S Johnson, Miral A Khalil
Adolescent Psychiatry April 1, 2013 DOI: 10.2174/2210676611303020003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Salvia divinorum |
| Keywords | Bath salts Salvonirin a Synthetic drugs Cathinones Synthetic cannabinoids spice |
| Citations | 26 |
| Key findings | Novel psychoactive substances present significant public health and criminal justice challenges, are not detected in routine drug screens, and require symptom-specific clinical treatment. |
Abstract
Over the past decade, non-medical use of novel drugs has proliferated worldwide. In most cases these are synthetic drugs first synthesized in academic or pharmaceutical laboratories for research or drug development purposes, but also include naturally occurring substances that do not fit the typical pharmacological or behavioral profile of traditional illicit substances. Perhaps most unique to this generation of new drugs is that they are being sold over the counter and on the Internet as "legal highs" or substitutes for traditional illicit drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, and LSD. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of novel drugs in current use, including the epidemiology of use and toxicologic and pharmacological properties, and to offer some guidelines to clinicians who see patients experiencing adverse effects from these drugs. We review the known scientific literature on recently introduced synthetic drug types, synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones, and the hallucinogen Salvia divinorum. These substances comprise part of a rapidly evolving and controversial drug market that has challenged definitions of what is legal and illegal, has benefitted from open commercial sales without regulatory oversight, and is noteworthy for the pace at which new substances are introduced. This emerging trend in substance use presents significant and unique public health and criminal justice challenges. At this time, these substances are not detected in routine drug screens and substance-specific treatment for cases of use-related toxicity are not available. Clinicians are encouraged to learn characteristic signs associated with misuse of novel drugs to recognize cases in their practice, and are recommended to use a symptom-specific approach for treatment in each case.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on salvia divinorum, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Here today, gone tomorrow…and back again? A review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. General (review of novel psychoactive substances) | 2012 | Review | |
| Opioid receptors and legal highs:Salvia divinorumand Kratom | 2008 | Review | |
| Salvinorin A: the "magic mint" hallucinogen finds a molecular target in the kappa opioid receptor. | 2003 | Review | |
| Salvia divinorum and the unique diterpene hallucinogen, Salvinorin (divinorin) A. | 1994 | Review | |
| Drug models of schizophrenia. General (review of drug models of schizophrenia) | 2015 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Sex and Gender Differences in the Effects of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Brain Sciences September 3, 2020
- Time course of pharmacokinetic and hormonal effects of inhaled high-dose salvinorin A in humans. Journal of Psychopharmacology April 1, 2016
- Evidence for the Risks and Consequences of Adolescent Cannabis Exposure. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry March 2017
- Salvia divinorum: An overview of the usage, misuse, and addiction processes. Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists March 1, 2016
- Next generation of novel psychoactive substances on the horizon - A complex problem to face. Drug and Alcohol Dependence December 1, 2015
Cites 39
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring nonnitrogenous kappa opioid selective agonist. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences September 3, 2002
- Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2011
- Here today, gone tomorrow…and back again? A review of herbal marijuana alternatives (K2, Spice), synthetic cathinones (bath salts), kratom, Salvia divinorum, methoxetamine, and piperazines. Journal of Medical Toxicology March 1, 2012
- Salvinorin A, an active component of the hallucinogenic sage salvia divinorum is a highly efficacious kappa-opioid receptor agonist: structural and functional considerations. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics March 1, 2004
and 34 more in the library