Recreational drug discovery: natural products as lead structures for the synthesis of smart drugs
Natural Product Reports January 1, 2014 Giovanni Appendino, Alberto Minassi, Orazio Taglialatela‐scafati 65 citations
Over the past decade, recreational drugs have shifted from natural materials like marijuana and opium, and natural products like morphine and cocaine, toward synthetic agents that are often more potent, sometimes less harmful in the short term, or combine properties from different drug classes. These agents, called smart drugs, have become popular for personal use and at rave parties. The transition is driven by regulatory and commercial factors: new analogues evade forensic detection, and their perceived natural status and low acute toxicity appeal to users. The internet has enabled rapid information sharing and online purchase of these agents or their precursors. Most new drugs are unfamiliar to organic chemists and healthcare providers.