Deconstructing Designer Drugs

E M Sellers

doi:10.1002/cpt.462

Deconstructing Designer Drugs

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Feb;101(2):167-169. doi: 10.1002/cpt.462. Epub 2016 Nov 16.

Author

E M Sellers¹

Affiliation

¹ Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medicine, and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 27564430
DOI: 10.1002/cpt.462

Abstract

The concepts behind current "designer drugs" are not new. For several centuries, chemical synthesis has made drugs more specific and more selective. However, headline designer drugs now are different and a serious public health problem because they are illicit unregulated chemical knockoffs of approved psychoactive stimulant, sedative, or perception-altering controlled substances.

MeSH terms

Designer Drugs / adverse effects*
Designer Drugs / economics
Designer Drugs / pharmacology
Humans
Illicit Drugs / adverse effects*
Illicit Drugs / economics
Illicit Drugs / legislation & jurisprudence
Psychotropic Drugs / adverse effects*
Psychotropic Drugs / economics
Public Health*
Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*

Substances

Designer Drugs
Illicit Drugs
Psychotropic Drugs