Baths salts, spice, and related designer drugs: the science behind the headlines.
The abuse of synthetic psychoactive substances known as "designer drugs," or "new psychoactive substances" (NPS), is increasing at an alarming rate. NPS are purchased as alternatives to traditional illicit drugs of abuse and are manufactured to circumvent laws regulating the sale and use of controlled substances. Synthetic cathinones (i.e., "bath salts") and synthetic cannabinoids (i.e., "spice") are two types of NPS that have received substantial media attention. Although low recreational doses of bath salts or spice compounds can produce desirable effects, high doses or chronic exposure often leads to dangerous medical consequences, including psychosis, violent behaviors, tachycardia, hyperthermia, and even death. Despite the popularity of NPS, there is a paucity of scientific data about these drugs. Here we provide a brief up-to-date review describing the mechanisms of action and neurobiological effects of synthetic cathinones and cannabinoids.
Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, mbaumann@mail.nih.gov.
Michael H
MH
Baumann
Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298.
Ernesto
E
Solis
Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Area, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287.
Lucas R
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9436-2840
LR
Watterson
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, and.
Julie A
JA
Marusich
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.
William E
WE
Fantegrossi
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, and.
Jenny L
JL
Wiley
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000187:drug effects*; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects
D000470:Alkaloids; D002186:Cannabinoids; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015198:Designer Drugs; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins; D008694:Methamphetamine