Harm Reduction JournalJune 4, 2026Ignacio Bórquez, Bruno Pantaleão, Gabriela Brogim et al.
The illicit drug landscape in South America is going through a major shift. The appearance of Tusi (or "pink cocaine"), a mixture often containing ketamine and MDMA, along with the growing presence of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and nitazenes, signals a new chapter in the region's drug use, which has been traditionally dominated by alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine. Drawing on data on...
FigshareJune 2, 2026Anna Cathrine Elizabeth Norton
Background Since their emergence in the early 2000s, Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs) have fast become part of the global drug landscape with its use often associated with homeless populations (Ralphs et al., 2017; Hutton, 2022; EUDA, 2024). Originally designed to mimic the effects of cannabis (Gray et al., 2016; Reuter and Pardo, 2017; Malaca et al., 2021), the current...
Abstract Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), originally developed for biomedical research purposes, are now one of the biggest classes of new psychoactive substances (NPS). Due to their higher binding affinity and activity to the cannabinoid receptors, compared to Δ9-THC, they pose a higher pharmacological and toxicological risk for consumers. Different intoxication symptoms (e.g.,...
INTRODUCTION Drug use in Europe has increased in recent years, including a marked rise in new psychoactive substances (NPS). Substance use disorders negatively affect physical and mental health. Psychotic disorders are highly prevalent among drug users. Establishing a link between illicit drug use and schizophrenia would help clarify the progression risk after substance-induced psychosis. AIMS...
Introduction Ketamine-assisted therapy shows rapid benefit in treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD (Walsh et al. BJPsych Open 2022;8:e19). The Roots to Thrive Ketamine assisted Therapy (RTT-KaT) program is a unique 12-week program that combines 12 Community of Practice (group therapy) sessions and three ketamine medicine sessions (Tsang et al. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol...
Aims: Recreational nitrous oxide use is increasing and widely seen as low risk, but chronic exposure can inactivate vitamin B12, causing deficiency even with normal serum levels. This may lead to psychiatric, neurological, and haematological symptoms, complicating diagnosis for mental health professionals. Methods: A middle-aged man with no psychiatric history, was brought to the hospital due...
Ketamine is increasingly used in clinical settings for mental health and pain management, yet its misuse poses public health risks. While prior studies have examined ketamine trends, few have explored its use among individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUD). Using 2021-2023 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), we analyzed the association between...
May 29, 2026Benjamin Clayden, Movin Abeywickrema, Maria Bălăeţ
preprint
Temporal relationships between the recreational use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis with mental health challenges have been extensively reviewed. However, this is not the case for other widely consumed drugs. Between 7/6/23 and 3/12/23 we searched Web of Science, EMBASE, PsychINFO and MEDLINE databases for studies investigating temporal relationships between recreational drug use (RDU) and...
Recreational (“party”) drug use is prevalent in social environments and is increasingly relevant in ophthalmic care. While the neurological and cardiovascular consequences of these subokstances are well documented, their ocular and visual effects may not be fully recognized or consistently reported in clinical practice. This invited narrative review summarizes clinical observations and...
Interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is surging across research and medical communities, prompting the discussion of policy shifts that reflect growing openness to implementing psychedelics in clinical practice. State-level psychedelic reform in the United States has accelerated since 2019, with legalization projected to reach most states within the next decade if trends follow those...