Designer drug is a term to describe a drug sometimes marketed as another substance to avoid legal restrictions. Most designer drugs are herbal preparations often sold in colorful packages branded with fanciful names. The preparations are commonly called “bath salts,” “incense,” “K2,” “spice,” “synthetic marijuana,” and “legal weed.” Designer drugs are readily available in convenience stores, in certain tobacco shops, and on the internet. They are often marketed as natural, safe, legal alternatives to marijuana and other drugs.
Designer drug packages typically contain small quantities of dried leafy material that has been sprayed with various chemicals. The preparation is usually smoked, but it can also be eaten or snorted. Designer drugs are also sold as liquids to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes and other devices. People misuse designer drugs for their stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Stimulant drugs excite the central nervous system. Hallucinogenic drugs distort the user’s perceptions.
Medical experts call such preparations synthetic canniboids because they contain chemicals that act in the same ways as THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the active chemical found in marijuana. Designer drug preparations often contain a form of the chemical cathinone, alone or in combination with other chemicals. In the United States and many other countries, cathinone is a regulated drug. However, producers alter the chemical composition of various preparations to evade legal restrictions.
Cathinone interacts with proteins in the brain that regulate the flow of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry impulses from one neuron (nerve cell) to another. Depending on the preparation, the designer drugs can have effects similar to those of cocaine or amphetamines. The drugs can cause paranoia and violent behavior. Other effects include hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, and panic attacks. Physical effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, chest pain, seizures, and nausea and vomiting.
Medical experts warn that designer drug users cannot know what chemicals or doses are present in a particular preparation. The chemical composition of many products may change from batch to batch. This fact makes it impossible to predict the effect of taking the drug. In addition, routine medical tests do not detect cathinone. This problem makes it difficult for a doctor to determine if a person has taken designer drugs, complicating medical treatment. Medical experts are uncertain whether designer drug preparations can be addictive.
See also Drug misuse.
