Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
March 1, 2012
Ornella Corazza, Fabrizio Schifano, Pierluigi Simonato et al.
157 citations
Methoxetamine, a dissociative drug related to ketamine, has a much longer duration of action and intensity of effects, and its availability on the web represents a new recreational trend. The analysis of online, non-peer-reviewed material carries methodological limitations. The online availability of information on novel psychoactive drugs like methoxetamine constitutes a pressing public health challenge, requiring better international collaboration and novel forms of intervention to address this fast-growing phenomenon.
BioMed Research International
January 1, 2014
Francesco Saverio Bersani, Ornella Corazza, Gabriella Albano et al.
98 citations
25C-NBOMe, sold online as legal LSD or under names like 'N-bomb' and 'Pandora', is a partial agonist of 5-HT2A receptors that carries a high risk of overdose, with acute toxicity and fatalities reported. It is taken orally, sublingually, nasally, by injection, vaginally, rectally, or smoked, producing effects such as sublingual numbing, stimulation, hallucinations, dissociation, and anxiety. Its use is an emerging phenomenon increased by low-cost online availability, and health professionals should be informed about this trend.
Current Clinical Pharmacology
May 1, 2011
Ornella Corazza, Fabrizio Schifano, Magı́ Farré et al.
98 citations
Bromo-Dragonfly (B-fly) is a potent, long-lasting hallucinogenic drug similar to LSD, associated with acute intoxications and fatalities in several countries. This paper reviews its pharmacology, chemistry, toxicology, and behavioral effects using both scientific literature and web sources. The authors critically discuss the potential for misuse and the methodological limitations of analyzing non-peer-reviewed online material. They conclude that online information about novel psychoactive drugs like B-fly poses a public health challenge and call for better international collaboration to address this growing phenomenon.
International Journal of Culture and Mental Health
December 1, 2009
Fabrizio Schifano, Ornella Corazza, Paolo Deluca et al.
79 citations
An 8-language qualitative assessment of about 200 web pages found that Spice, an herbal smoking blend sold as a legal cannabis substitute, is popular online because of its legal status, undetectability in drug tests, easy online access, and cannabis-like effects. Users discussed unusual drug combinations not found in medical literature. Product descriptions rarely mentioned the synthetic THC receptor agonists responsible for the psychoactive effects. The web serves as a resource for both information on and purchase of Spice products, which health professionals should be aware of.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
April 17, 2017
Giovanni Martinotti, Rita Santacroce, Duccio Papanti et al.
62 citations
Synthetic cannabinoids are the most widespread class of novel psychoactive substances, yet their health risks are often unknown to users and health professionals. This review synthesizes recent insights on the pharmacology, clinical, and psychopathological aspects of synthetic cannabinoids. A structured search of PubMed and Scopus yielded 162 relevant results, mainly epidemiological, forensic, toxicologic, or analytical. Fifteen synthetic cannabinoid-related fatality cases were reviewed. The findings confirm the need for prompt, reliable information for health professionals, along with more specific analytic techniques and preventive strategies to address the synthetic cannabinoid challenge.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
July 1, 2013
John Corkery, Simon Elliott, Fabrizio Schifano et al.
52 citations
MDAI (5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane), a psychoactive substance sold as a 'legal high', is structurally similar to MDMA and shares its behavioral properties. Recreational use began around 2007 in Europe, increasing after 2009 in the UK. Calls to poisons services started in 2010, with few emergency department presentations. A review of recent literature, including grey literature, presents information on MDAI's toxicity, including the first three UK deaths involving MDAI use in 2011 and 2012. 'Serotonin syndrome' appears to be a possible factor in these fatalities. Documentation of further cases, including non-fatal overdoses, is vital to establish a scientific evidence base.
Substance Use & Misuse
March 1, 2010
Ornella Corazza, Fabrizio Schifano
43 citations
Recreational ketamine use may trigger experiences resembling near-death experiences (NDEs). In a sample of 50 ketamine misusers who scored at least 7 on the Greyson NDE Scale, 90% reported altered time perception, 88% felt detached from their own body, and 76% experienced peace or joy. Most NDEs occurred during the first few uses, and participants reported an average lifetime intake of 140 occasions. The sample was self-selected, nonrandomized, and small, but the findings suggest a link between recreational ketamine and NDE-like states.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
July 1, 2015
Giuseppe Valeriani, Ornella Corazza, Francesco Saverio Bersani et al.
41 citations
People who use novel psychoactive substances (NPS) often self-administer olanzapine to manage psychotic crises or 'bad trips,' a practice facilitated by online sharing of experiences and easy access to medications. Exploratory searches of 163 discussion forums and websites in four languages from November 2012 to 2013 found that olanzapine is the most frequently self-prescribed drug for this purpose, typically taken for a few days at 5–50 mg/day. Only a few formal studies have assessed olanzapine's effectiveness for NPS-induced psychosis, yet pro-drug websites describe it as the 'ideal' molecule to terminate bad trips. Health professionals should be informed about risks of olanzapine misuse.
Drugs and Alcohol Today
August 30, 2010
Zoe Davey, Ornella Corazza, Fabrizio Schifano et al.
30 citations
The internet has accelerated the growth of the licit recreational drug market, notably for mephedrone and related cathinones. Keeping up with these new drugs is difficult due to a lack of balanced information and the risk of widespread misinformation. This article examines how inaccurate information about mephedrone and substituted cathinones spreads, drawing on the European Commission-funded Psychonaut Web Mapping project, which used online resources to detect emerging trends, monitor their diffusion, and develop a reasonably accurate profile of these new psychoactive compounds. The implications for harm reduction and future research are discussed.
Frontiers in Psychology
April 25, 2025
Antonio Metastasio, Elisabeth Prevete, Sofia Venturini et al.
8 citations
People who took psilocybin without other substances reported lasting increases in emotional sensitivity, empathy, and connection to others, along with deeper insights into their lives and values. The experience also led to profound shifts in behavior, attitudes, and interests, suggesting psilocybin can catalyze personal growth. This qualitative study used phenomenological methods to systematically describe the subjective psychedelic experience, aiming to inform its integration into psychotherapy.
Performance Enhancement & Health
November 1, 2025
Thomas Zandonai, Sofia Venturini, Ornella Corazza
Ketamine and psilocybin may improve recovery and pain management in athletes, potentially enhancing resilience, mood, and cognitive flexibility. However, increasing use among athletes raises safety concerns and challenges for anti-doping regulations. Evidence on long-term effects when combined with exercise is scarce, highlighting the need for further research.
Drug Science Policy and Law
January 1, 2023
Antonio Metastasio, Silvio Mignogna, Riccardo Paci et al.
LSD, when used under therapeutic guidance, enhanced the filmmaking creativity of Federico Fellini by altering his perception of time, space, body, and self. Time in his films flows irregularly with disorienting flashbacks; colors become supernaturally brilliant and detached from objects; sounds emerge independently from visible sources; and human bodies appear deformed, grotesque, and caricatural. The boundaries between dream and reality collapse. These changes made his films so distinctive that the adjective 'felliniesque' was coined.