Drugs of Abuse: Designer Drugs

Over ages, humans fortunately discovered that certain ingested plants were a source of unique satisfying feelings, beyond satiety. Some were mildly affecting (e.g. nicotine, caffeine), others enhanced mood or altered perception, reduced pain, intoxicated, or produced euphoria (e.g. alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens, opiates, cocaine). In the past two centuries, consumption of these psychoactive substances expanded rapidly. Decontamination of the active chemicals, distribution by manoeuvres for maximum effect and global marketing contributed to this expansion. Modern chemistry has produced a huge range of variations of these plant products, paralleled by an unprecedented level of adverse biological, behavioral, medical and social consequences. Following this phenomenon, Designer drugs are produced to be similar to, but not identical with Psychoactive Drugs that are illegal to possess or sell for human consumption, unless for medical purposes. A recurring threat to public health, the Designer Drug sub-culture has burst out over the past decade. The rapid expansion can be attributed to a convergence of crucial technological advances combined with deceitful, aggressive marketing schemes.