Toward a Comparative Overview of Dependence Potential and Acute Toxicity of Psychoactive Substances Used Nonmedically
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse January 1, 1993 DOI: 10.3109/00952999309001618 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA review of 20 abused psychoactive substances compared their dependence potential and acute toxicity. The margin of safety, or therapeutic index, varied dramatically across substances. Intravenous heroin had the greatest risk of dependence and acute lethality, while oral psilocybin had the least. The assessment did not include hazards from behavioral deficits, perceptual distortion, or chronic illness.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychoactive substance Acute toxicity Pharmacology Toxicology Medicine |
| Citations | 105 |
| Key finding | Intravenous heroin had the greatest risk of dependence and acute lethality, while oral psilocybin had the least. |
Abstract
A procedure is outlined for comparing dependence potential and acute toxicity across a broad range of abused psychoactive substances. Tentative results, based on an extensive literature review of 20 substances, suggested that the margin of safety ("therapeutic index") varied dramatically between substances. Intravenous heroin appeared to have the greatest risk of dependence and acute lethality; oral psilocybin appeared to have the least. Hazards due to behavioral deficits, perceptual distortion, or chronic illness were not factored into the assessments.