5 Most Dangerous Designer Drugs

Understanding Designer Drugs

Designer drugs, also known as new psychoactive substances or legal highs, have become a significant global concern due to their considerable public health consequences and potentially fatal effects [1]. These psychoactive substances are often sold by internet vendors without adhering to legal statutes or facing legal consequences.

What are Designer Drugs?

Designer drugs can be defined as substances that are derived from clandestine alterations of well-known drugs of abuse, preserving or enhancing their pharmacologic effects while remaining outside of legal control. They can also include substances that originate from industrial or academic research but never receive medical approval. The Internet plays a crucial role in the distribution of designer drugs and in the acquisition of information about them.

These substances are often created by modifying the chemical structure of known drugs to produce new compounds with similar effects. The alterations may be made to evade legal restrictions or enhance the potency of the substance. Designer drugs can mimic the effects of traditional drugs of abuse, while being chemically distinct and not yet regulated by authorities.

The Dangers of Designer Drugs

Designer drugs pose significant risks to individuals who consume them. Due to their constantly evolving nature, newly emerging designer drugs can remain undetected by routine drug screening, making it challenging to identify and track their adverse effects. Information about the associated risks and long-term consequences of these substances is often scarce. The lack of regulation and oversight also means that the purity and potency of designer drugs can vary greatly, further increasing the potential dangers associated with their use.

The use of multiple designer drugs concurrently further increases the risk of severe adverse effects and even death. These substances can have unpredictable effects on the central nervous system, leading to altered perception, cognition, and behavior. The potential dangers extend beyond physical health, as they can also impact mental well-being and contribute to the development of substance use disorders.

It is crucial to raise awareness about the dangers of designer drugs and provide accurate information to help individuals make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being. Understanding the risks associated with these substances is an essential step in promoting harm reduction and creating safer environments for individuals at risk of designer drug abuse.

Categories of Designer Drugs

To better understand the world of designer drugs, it is important to categorize them based on their effects and chemical composition. Designer drugs can be classified into five main categories: stimulants, sedatives, dissociatives, cannabinoids, and psychedelics.

Stimulant Designer Drugs

Stimulant designer drugs, such as amphetamines and cathinones, primarily interact with monoamine transporters and induce sympathomimetic adverse effects. These drugs stimulate the central nervous system, increasing alertness, attention, and energy levels. They can lead to an elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and heightened euphoria.

Examples of stimulant designer drugs include substances like MDMA (ecstasy), methamphetamine, and synthetic cathinones (commonly referred to as "bath salts"). These drugs pose significant risks to the cardiovascular system and can have severe consequences for the user's health.

Sedative Designer Drugs

Sedative designer drugs act through agonism at μ-opioid receptors and γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) or GABAB receptors, which can induce cardiorespiratory depression. These drugs have a calming and tranquilizing effect on the central nervous system, often resulting in sedation, relaxation, and pain relief.

Examples of sedative designer drugs include synthetic opioids like fentanyl analogs, which are highly potent and can lead to respiratory depression and overdose. These drugs carry a significant risk of addiction and overdose, making them extremely dangerous.

Dissociative Designer Drugs

Dissociative designer drugs primarily act as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists and pose similar health risks as the anesthetic ketamine [2]. These drugs induce a state of dissociation from one's surroundings, producing hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and a sense of detachment from reality.

Examples of dissociative designer drugs include substances like phencyclidine (PCP) and its analogs. These drugs can cause severe psychological effects, such as paranoia, aggression, and psychosis. They also carry the risk of physical harm due to impaired judgment and coordination.

Cannabinoid Designer Drugs

Cannabinoid designer drugs are synthetic compounds designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. These drugs interact with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and produce similar psychoactive effects as THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana.

Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as "synthetic marijuana" or "Spice," are examples of cannabinoid designer drugs. These substances can have unpredictable and dangerous effects on the user's mental and physical health. They have been associated with a range of adverse reactions, including rapid heart rate, anxiety, hallucinations, and even seizures.

Psychedelic Designer Drugs

Psychedelic designer drugs, also referred to as hallucinogens, alter perception, thoughts, and emotions. These substances primarily interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to profound changes in consciousness and sensory perception.

Examples of psychedelic designer drugs include substances like LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and synthetic derivatives such as NBOMe compounds. These drugs can induce intense visual and auditory hallucinations, altered sense of time, and profound spiritual experiences. However, they also carry the risk of psychological distress and can have long-lasting effects on the user's mental well-being.

Understanding the different categories of designer drugs is crucial in recognizing their potential dangers and the associated health risks. It is important to prioritize personal safety and avoid the use of these substances, as their unpredictable nature and adverse effects can have serious consequences for one's physical and mental health.

The Most Dangerous Designer Drugs

Among the various designer drugs that pose significant risks to individuals, the following five have gained notoriety for their dangerous effects and potential for harm.

Acetyl Fentanyl

Acetyl fentanyl is considered one of the most dangerous designer drugs. It is an extremely potent opioid analgesic that is up to 15 times more potent than heroin and up to 80 times stronger than morphine. With no approved medical use in the United States, acetyl fentanyl is often sold online as a research chemical.

This designer drug first appeared in the United States in Georgia in 2013 and quickly became a cause for concern. In the first six months of its appearance, it was responsible for over 14 overdose deaths. The rapid onset of action and the potential for accidental exposure, as it can be absorbed through the skin, make acetyl fentanyl particularly dangerous [3]. The majority of acetyl fentanyl-related deaths have been reported in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, Kush, Fake Weed, and Spice, are among the most popular forms of synthetic drugs. These drugs are mixes of plant material sprayed with unique chemicals and are commonly sold in convenience stores, smoke shops, novelty stores, online, and on the street.

The dangers associated with synthetic cannabinoids are significant. They can lead to severe medical side effects, including paranoia, anxiety, hallucinations, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, and even death. The lack of regulation surrounding these drugs makes it challenging for medical professionals to treat overdoses. In Texas, synthetic cannabinoids have led to a high percentage of hospital admissions among individuals aged 12 to 20, and the state has ranked significantly in calls to poison control centers related to these substances.

Bath Salts

Bath salts are another group of designer drugs that pose significant risks. Synthetic cathinones, the active ingredients in bath salts, can cause severe agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, psychosis, and violent behavior. These drugs have been associated with numerous emergency department visits and deaths.

Carfentanyl

Carfentanyl is an exceptionally potent synthetic opioid that is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. It is primarily used as a tranquilizer for large animals and is not approved for human use. Carfentanyl can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled, posing a significant risk to law enforcement and first responders.

Flakka

Flakka, also known as alpha-PVP, is a synthetic cathinone that can cause extreme agitation, delirium, psychosis, and violent behavior. It has been associated with numerous emergency department visits and deaths. Flakka can be ingested orally, inhaled, smoked, or injected, and it is often sold as a white or pink crystal-like substance.

These five designer drugs, including acetyl fentanyl, synthetic cannabinoids, bath salts, carfentanyl, and flakka, are known to be dangerous, addictive, and sometimes deadly. Their use has the potential to destroy families and cause harm to individuals, emphasizing the significance of understanding their risks and promoting awareness surrounding their dangers.

References

[1]: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2012/November/tracking-designer-drugs-legal-highs-and-bath-salts.htm

‍[2]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7225206/

‍[3]: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/acetyl_fentanyl.htm

‍[4]: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/initiatives/synthetic-drugs

‍[5]: https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/carfentanil‍