title: [Designer drugs and caffeine - characteristics of psychoactive substances and their impact on the organism].
abstract: For many teenagers the time of growing up is a period of trying prohibited substances. Nowadays apart from alcohol and tobacco new designed, psychoactive substances known as "smart drugs" or "legal highs" are available. Intensive development of their market is taking place in the last few years which is difficult to overcome by regulations only. Toxicological tests used now are not able to detect the presence of many such substances in the body. Designer drugs cause the interest of young people even from small towns and many times taking them give effects requiring medical help. Caffeine is also a psychoactive substance but depending on the dose it can have positive or detrimental effect. Recently there are more and more products with caffeine, especially drinks and dietary supplements, what can cause the increase of consumption of caffeine. Children are particularly exposed to the adverse effect of high consumption of caffeine because of their small body weight and development of the central nervous system. This article presents actual data about the market of designer drugs, frequency of using them, consumption of caffeine by children and teenagers and about the impact of these substances on the organism.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Żywności i Żywienia, ul. Powsińska 61/63, 02-903 Warszawa, tel. (22) 55-09-747, e-mail: rwierzejska@izz.waw.pl.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wierzejska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D015198:Designer Drugs; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D002110:Caffeine