Despite the fact that drugs of abuse are illegal, a drug-free festival still remains an utopia in most settings. For law enforcement purposes, it is necessary to rapidly determine whether controlled substances are involved. On-site testing is a challenging task because drugs appear in different physical forms and concentrations. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of two...
Toxicology ReportsJune 1, 2025Sabrina Marongiu, Maarten van Eijk, Femke M J Gresnigt et al.9 citations
The recreational use of ketamine has risen significantly in the Netherlands, particularly among young adults in nightlife settings. This trend has been accompanied by an increase in first aid incidents involving ketamine, often in combination with other substances such as alcohol or MDMA, leading to heightened toxicity. Acute intoxication with ketamine manifests through symptoms like agitation,...
Growing evidence suggests that the race and ethnic minority population may experience fewer protective effects of psychedelics on mental health. The minority diminished psychedelic returns theory proposes that racism, manifested in socioeconomic inequality, could partially account for the smaller health gains observed. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether socioeconomic inequality...
Psychedelics may be promising treatments for substance use disorders (SUD). This study aims to understand how individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), opioid use disorder (OUD), and psychiatric disorders perceive and experience psychedelics for both nonmedical and medical use. Data for this cross-sectional survey study were collected from June 2023 to February 2024 at a large, tertiary...
High school youth have an elevated risk of substance use. Some substances (e.g., inhalants, MDMA) used by youth are overlooked or grouped in an "other" category. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, American Indian (AI) youth may be at higher risk of using these substances. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and patterns of use of "other" substances among youth living on...
Abstract Background and aims Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent acute and marked deviations from normal waking consciousness. Investigations into ASC are significant to problems in medicine, science, and philosophy, including the structure of conscious experience. Here, we conducted a preliminary investigation into the structure of ASC while addressing the role of psychedelics,...
AbstractBackgroundThere is a need to systemically diversify psychedelic clinical trials, considering the growing interest in in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics within Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Color (BIPOC) and queer communities. Doing so contributes to a more inclusive foundation of evidence-based research and addresses ethical considerations surrounding anticipated demand...
Social disequilibrium, or disrupted social homeostasis, underlies many behavioral disorders, including problematic drug use. One way to study the relationship between drug use and social homeostasis is to determine whether single doses of psychoactive drugs relieve some of the discomfort of social isolation and promote social connection. In this narrative review, we discuss challenges and...
Understanding the complex workings of the brain is one of the most significant challenges in neuroscience, providing insights into normal brain function, neurological diseases, and the effects of potential therapeutics. A major challenge in this field lies in the limitations of traditional brain imaging techniques, which often capture only fragments of the complex puzzle of brain function. Our...
With rapid societal changes and increasing stress levels, the abuse of psychoactive substances has emerged as a global health crisis. Studies indicate that the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) plays a pivotal role in neurotoxic damage induced by psychoactive substances. As the primary channel for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, MCU dysfunction can lead to Ca2+ overload, oxidative stress, and...