Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review
Hilal, M., Radwan, R., M. Mohamed, K., Aref, H. (2017). Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review. EKB Journal Management System, 21(1), 205-214. doi: 10.21608/smj.2017.40735
Maha Abd-Elhamed Hilal; Rania Ahmed Radwan; Khaled M. Mohamed; Hend Aref. "Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review". EKB Journal Management System, 21, 1, 2017, 205-214. doi: 10.21608/smj.2017.40735
Hilal, M., Radwan, R., M. Mohamed, K., Aref, H. (2017). 'Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review', EKB Journal Management System, 21(1), pp. 205-214. doi: 10.21608/smj.2017.40735
Hilal, M., Radwan, R., M. Mohamed, K., Aref, H. Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review. EKB Journal Management System, 2017; 21(1): 205-214. doi: 10.21608/smj.2017.40735

Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of New Designer Drugs - A Comprehensive Review

Sohag Medical Journal
Article 20, Volume 21, Issue 1, January 2017, Page 205-214  XML PDF (144.97 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/smj.2017.40735
View on SCiNiTO View on SCiNiTO
Authors
Maha Abd-Elhamed Hilal1; Rania Ahmed Radwan2; Khaled M. Mohamed3; Hend Aref2
1Department of Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag, University
2Department of forensic medicine and clinical toxicology, medicine,Sohag university
3Department of forensic medicine and clinical toxicology, medicine,Assuit university
Abstract
Drugs have been used for recreational purposes since time immemorial. Addicting potential and the propensity to harm has led to a ban on many of these drugs. New compounds are being developed to circumvent the ban. They are similar in effect to the banned drugs but are slightly different in their chemical structure so that they can escape detection in the standard drug tests. These drugs are commonly known as designer drugs or new psychoactive substances (NPS).This work aimed to do a comprehensive review on chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of new designer drugs for establishing the basic knowledge about them, focusing on their assessment and management and recent methods for their detection.According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) classification, NPS include the following groups: Synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, piperazine, phenethylamines, ketamine analogues, plant-based substances(Kratom, Salvia Divinorum) and miscellaneous substances (aminoindanes and tryptamines). NPS have become a global phenomenon with over 100 countries and territories from all regions of the world having reported one or more NPS. Up to December 2015, more than 600 substances have been reported to the UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on NPS by Governments, laboratories and partner organizations.NPS represent a challenge both in forensic analytical toxicology as well as in clinical toxicology as they may cause serious toxicity and can escape detection in the standard drug tests.Clinicians should keep designer drugs in mind when evaluating substance use in young adults or in anyone presenting with acute neuropsychiatric complaintsCoordination among emergency medical personnel, forensic toxicologists, scientific researchers, law enforcement and policymakers is essential to foster more effective responses in dealing with this evolving drug-abuse phenomenon
Keywords
Designer drugs; New Psychoactive Substances and Legal high
Supplementary Files
References
  1. Arbo, M.D.; Bastos, M.L. and Carmo, H.F. (2012):Piperazine compounds as drugs of abuse. Drug Alcohol Depend.,122: 174-185.
  2. Baumann, M.H.;  Solis, E.J.; Watterson, L.R.; Marusich, J.A.;  Fantegrossi, W.E. and Wiley, J.L. (2014): Bath Salts, spice, and related designer drugs: the science behind the headline. Journal of Neuroscience, 34(46): 15150-15158.
  3. Camı´, J.F. and Farre,´ M. (2003): Drug addiction. N Engl J Med., 349(10): 975-986.
  4. Carpenter, T.G. (2015): Designer drugs: a new, futile front in the war on illegal drugs. Policy Analysis CATO Institute, 774: 1-13.
  5. Coppola, M. and Mondola R. (2012): Synthetic cathinones: chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of new class of designer drugs of abuse marketed as “bath salts” or “plant food”. ToxicolLett., 211: 144-149.
  6. Dean, B.V.; Stellpflug, S.J.; Burnett, A.M. and Engebretsen, K.M. (2013): 2C or not 2C: phenethylamine designer drug review. J Med Toxicol., 9(2): 172-178.
  7. Gurney, S.M.R.; Scott, K.S.; Kacinko, S.L.; Presley, B.C. and Logan, B.K. (2014): Pharmacology, toxicology, and adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoid drugs. Forensic Sci Rev., 26 (1): 54-77.
  8. Jovel, A. Felthous, A. and Bhattacharyya, A. (2014): Delirium due to intoxication from the novel synthetic tryptamine 5-MeO-DALT. J Forensic Sci., 59(3): 844-846.
  9. Karila, L.; Megarbane, B.; Cottencin, O. and Lejoyeux, M. (2015): Synthetic cathinones: a new public health problem. Current Neuropharmacology, 13:12-20.
  10. Namera, A.; Kawamura, M.; Nakamoto, A.; Saito, T. and Nagao, M. (2015): Comprehensive review of the detection methods for synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones. Forensic Toxicol., 33: 175-194.
  11. Páleníček, T.; Balíková, M.; Rohanová, M.; Novák, T.; Horáček, J.; Fujáková, M. and Höschl, C. (2011): Behavioral, hyperthermic and pharmacokinetic profile of para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) in rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 98: 130-139.
  12. Paul, L. C. (2014):Designer drugs: what drug court practitioners need to know?. Fact sheet, National Drug Court Institute (NDCI), 11(1).
  13. Presley, B. C.; Jansen-Varnum, S. A. and Logan B. K. (2013): Analysis of synthetic cannabinoids in botanical material: a review of analytical methods and findings. Forensic Sci Rev., 25: 27-46.
  14. Rosenbaum, C.D.; Carreiro, S.P. and Babu, K.M. (2012): 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. J Med Toxicol., 8(1): 15-32.
  15. Salomone, A. (2015): Detection of new psychoactive substances in hair. Kintz, P.; Salomone, A. and Vincenti, M. (editors). In: Hair analysis in clinical and forensic toxicology. Elsevier, chapter 11: 301-336.
  16. Schep, L.J.; Slaughter, R.J.; Vale, J.A.; Beasley, D.M. and Gee, P. (2011): The clinical toxicology of the designer ‘‘party pills’’ benzylpiperazine and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine. ClinToxicol., 49:131-141.
  17. Spaderna, M.; Addy, P.H. and D’Souza, D.C. (2013): Spicing things up: synthetic cannabinoids. Psychopharmacology, 228: 525-540.
  18. UNODC (2013a):United Nations Office on Drug and Crime.The challenge of new psychoactive substances. Available at: http://www.unodc.org/documents /scientific/NPS- 2013-SMART.pdf.
  19. UNODC (2013b): United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, World drug report. United Nations publication, Sales No. (E.13.XI.6).Available at: http://www.unodc.org/wdr2013.
  20. UNODC (2014): United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. "Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment": Amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances. Available at: www.unodc.org/unodc/en/scientists/global-synthetic-drugs-assessment-2014-amphetamine-type-substances-and-nps.html.
  21. UNODC (2015): United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cathinones in seized materials. Available at:www.unodc.org/unodc/en/scientists/recommended-methods-for-the-identification-and-analysis-of-synthetic-cathinones-in-seized-aterials.html.
  22. Valente, M.J.; De Pinho, P.G.; Bastos, M.D.; Carvalho, F. and Carvalho M. (2014): Khat and synthetic cathinones: a review. Arch Toxicol., 88: 15-45.
  23. Weaver, M.F.; Hopper, J.A. and Erik W Gunderson, E.W. (2015): Designer drugs 2015: assessment and management. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 10-18.
  24. Ziporyn, T. (1986):  A growing industry and menace: make shift laboratory's designer drugs. JAMA., 256: 3061-3063.
 

 

 

 

Statistics
Article View: 310
PDF Download: 262