New psychoactive substances: psychiatrist's view
Interactive science June 21, 2019 Andrey Viktorovich Antsyborov, Irina Vladimirovna Dubatova 1 citation
New psychoactive substances (designer drugs) such as synthetic cannabinoids, cathinone derivatives, phenethylamines, stimulants, synthetic opioids, tryptamine derivatives, phencyclidine, piperazine, and GABA receptor agonists pose serious problems for consumers and physicians. Consumers are attracted by the intensity of psychoactive effects and the 'legal high' claimed by illicit manufacturers, which creates difficulties for laboratory identification. When ingested, these drugs affect multiple neurotransmitter pathways and receptors, including dopamine, cannabinoid CB1, GABA A/B, 5-HT2A, glutamate, and kappa-opioid receptors. Imbalances in these systems lead to the development of polymorphic psychotic disorders.