From the mescaline-containing peyote cacti of Native American shamans to opium cultivation by the Ancient Sumerians, mankind has had a long history with psychoactive substances.
As scientific knowledge and industrial capacity grew, so did our ability to refine these natural substances into purer forms like cocaine and heroin. Following the production of the first synthetic drug, an anaesthetic called chloral hydrates, it was only natural that more would follow.
This led to the rise of synthetic drugs, also known as designer drugs. In 2021 it was reported that synthetic drug use among adults aged 16 to 59 years in the UK was around 0.4%, with 0.9% usage reported among those aged 16 to 24 years. New synthetic drugs are constantly emerging, posing a challenge for authorities to keep up with their creation and popularity among young adults, especially at clubs, raves, and college campuses.
At PCP, we are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of synthetic drug use and providing effective strategies for overcoming addiction. Our mission is to raise awareness and offer support to those affected by these harmful substances.
In this article, we will explore the origins, dangers, and treatment options for addiction to designer drugs, with a focus on two prevalent examples: Spice and bath salts.
What Are Synthetic Drugs?
The term synthetic substances is broad and misleading. It is often used to refer to New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), also called designer drugs or club drugs.
NPS are artificially modified substances designed to imitate the psychoactive effects of various illicit drugs. They are often created by making changes to the chemical structures of already existing, often natural, psychoactive substances.
Establishing a criteria for identifying “designer” drugs is difficult because of their diverse nature and how quickly new ones are created. However, they have several common characteristics:
● Designer drugs are artificially synthesized by making changes to the chemical structure of already existing controlled substances.
● These drugs produce similar psychoactive effects to the parent substance.
● Designer drugs are created and marketed for recreational use due to their psychoactive properties.
Most designer drugs do not have legitimate medical applications.
● The effects are typically unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
● The primary motivation for creating NPS is usually to bypass existing drug laws.
● The market for these substances is highly dynamic, with newer drugs frequently emerging as law enforcement agencies place restrictions on older ones.
History of Synthetic Drugs
Despite generally being considered a “new” trend, designer drugs have been around since the early 1900s.
The first designer drug was MDMA (molly or ecstasy), which was synthesized in 1912 by the German pharmaceutical company Merck. However, it did not become popular as a recreational drug until the 70s and 80s.
The continuous development of emerging drugs, particularly new psychoactive substances (NPS), poses significant challenges to public health due to their unknown mechanisms of action, pharmacological effects, and toxicological profiles.
This trend is also seen in several other designer drugs which were initially synthesized in the early 1900s but did not gain popularity as recreational drugs until decades later. This includes substances like LSD (acid) and PCP (Angel dust).
The most recent wave of popularity in designer drugs started in the mid-2000s with the rise in popularity of synthetic drugs like spice and bath salts.
Types of Synthetic Drugs
Classifying synthetic drugs is difficult because of the chemical diversity and how quickly newer ones are made. However, they can generally be classified as:
● Synthetic cannabinoids like Spice, K2, JWH-018
● Synthetic cathinone (bath salts) like MDPV, Mephedrone, Alpha-PVP (Flakka)
● Synthetic opioids like Carfentanil, Acetyl fentanyl
● Phenethylamines like MDMA (ecstasy), 2C-B, 2C-I
● Designer benzodiazepines like Etizolam, Flubromazolam, Diclazepam
● Tryptamines like DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, AMT
● Piperazines like BZP, TFMPP
● Arylcyclohexylamines like Ketamine, PCP, MXE
● N-BOMe Compounds like 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe
● Novel psychoactive substances like U-47700, AH-7921, 4-MMC
What Is Spice?
Spice is a popular street name used to refer to several different drugs called synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are designer drugs created to mimic the effects of natural chemicals called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
These drugs were originally synthesized for research into the effects of cannabinoids on the brain, due to legal restrictions on cannabis use at the time. However, they eventually made their way into the general public.
Synthetic cannabinoids work by activating the same receptors in the brain as naturally occurring cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids produce marijuana-like effects by activating the endocannabinoid system in the brain. However, they are more potent than marijuana and more likely to cause harmful side effects, including death which is almost unheard of with the use of natural cannabis.
Around the mid-2000s, products containing synthetic cannabinoids began appearing in the UK under brand names like Spice and K2. They were usually sold in head shops as legal alternatives to cannabis or “herbal essences”. These drugs are often smoked, vaped or ingested.
Legal Status
Brands often label these products as “not for human consumption” to avoid drug laws. However, as reports of dangerous health effects and even deaths began to emerge, the UK government announced a ban on several synthetic cannabinoids in 2009, classifying them as Class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plays a crucial role in regulating synthetic cannabinoids and supports legislative efforts to ban specific compounds.
However, this failed to have the desired impact as manufacturers simply developed new synthetic cannabinoids to circumvent these laws.
This eventually led to the Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016 which made it illegal to produce, supply, or import any psychoactive substance intended for human consumption with certain exemptions like alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.
Despite this, the UK government still faces significant challenges with the continued use of synthetic cannabinoids, especially among vulnerable populations.
Effects of Synthetic Cannabinoids
Short-Term
● Anxiety
● Confusion
● Hallucinations
● Irritability
● Increased heart rate
● Nausea
● Dizziness
● Seizures
● Muscle spasms
● Impaired motor skills
● Impulsivity and poor judgment
Long-Term
● Anxiety disorders
● Depression
● Psychosis
● Problems with short-term and long-term memory
● Cognitive impairments
● High blood pressure
● Increased risk of heart attack
● Kidney damage
● Lung damage
● Tolerance
● Dependence
Is Spice Addictive?
Yes, research has shown that synthetic cannabinoids have a higher addictive potential than cannabis. This could be due to their potency and ability to affect more neurotransmitters than the cannabis plant.
What Are Bath Salts?
Bath salts is the street name given to a class of synthetic drugs derived from a chemical called cathinone, which occurs naturally in the khat plant.
Bath salts are a type of synthetic cathinones, which are emerging synthetic drugs. These substances have various effects and are subject to regulation due to their potential for abuse and adverse effects. The moniker became popular as these powdered drugs were often disguised as bath salts and labelled “not for human consumption” to avoid drug enforcement laws. Bath salts are typically snorted, injected, smoked, or swallowed.
Cathinones have a stimulant effect and seem to be similar to amphetamines. They increase the concentration of stimulatory neurotransmitters in the brain like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
Most popularly abused cathinones used today were synthesized in the early 1900s, but did not become widely used as recreational drugs until the mid-2000s. Cathinones are cheaper than common stimulants like cocaine and are not detected by standard drug tests or drug detection dogs.
Legal Status
Certain cathinones were made illegal in the UK in 2010 under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971 and classified as Class B drugs. However, manufacturers still attempted to circumvent these laws by constantly changing the chemical structure of the drugs.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plays a crucial role in regulating synthetic cathinones in the United States, supporting legislative efforts to ban specific compounds.
Similar to synthetic cannabinoids, all cathinones were made illegal under the blanket ban placed by the UK government on the production, sale and importation of psychoactive substances in 2016 by the Psychoactive Substances Act.
Effects of Cathinones
Short-Term
● Anxiety
● Aggression
● Hallucinations
● Acute psychosis
● Increased heart rate
● High blood pressure
● Increased body temperature
● Nausea
● Chest pain
● Reduced appetite
● Increased sex drive
● Seizures
● Muscle tremors
● Insomnia
Long-Term
● Anxiety disorders
● Depression
● Memory problems
● Persistent psychosis
● Cognitive impairment
● Mood swings
● Arrhythmias
● Risk of heart attacks or strokes
● Kidney damage
● Liver damage
● Tooth decay and gum disease
● Weight loss
● Tolerance
● Dependence
Are Bath Salts Addictive?
Yes, bath salts can be highly addictive because of their strong stimulant effects.
How Can You Recognize a Synthetic Drug Addiction?
There are several key features which are commonly used to recognize a synthetic drug dependency:
Abuses of synthetic drugs are particularly prevalent among teenagers and young adults, who often have easy access to these substances at clubs and raves.
● Using larger amounts of the drugs or for a longer duration than intended.
● Persistent cravings for the drugs.
● Repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control drug use.
● Spending significant time obtaining, using, or recovering from the drugs’ effects.
● Drug use negatively affects performance at work, school, home, or social obligations.
● Avoiding important activities due to drug use.
● Using drugs in dangerous situations or causing dangerous situations.
● Continuing drug use despite physical or psychological problems caused or worsened by the substances.
● Continuing drug use despite social or interpersonal problems caused or worsened by the drug.
● Requiring increased amounts of drugs to achieve the same effect (tolerance).
● Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drug use stops.
Treating Synthetic Drug Addiction
Seek Professional Help
Addiction specialist programmes offer expert treatments like supervised detoxification, inpatient programs, medications, behavioural therapy and aftercare support systems.
Individuals seeking treatment have access to a range of public and private treatment services like detox centres, rehabilitation clinics and inpatient rehabilitation services. These can be accessed through referral by a local GP, NHS addiction services, community drug and alcohol programmes, charities, support groups and private clinics.
Detoxification
During this period, the drugs are allowed to wash out from the body. Detox can be especially complicated in cases of synthetic drug use due to more severe and often complicated withdrawal symptoms.
The complex nature of a synthetic drug detox may require a medically supervised, inpatient detox program to provide intensive monitoring, as well as medications and treatments to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Supervised detox programs are safer for individuals with complicated cases such as co-existing mental illness or chronic disease.
Individuals with minor withdrawal symptoms or less complicated may be offered an outpatient detox programme with regular check-ins.
Rehabilitation
After detox, the next step is to enter a rehabilitation program that offers treatments that are tailored to the peculiarities of synthetic drug use.
Most treatment centres offer both inpatient and outpatient services. Inpatient services are better suited for individuals with severe dependencies, co-existing mental health challenges or who are at risk of more severe withdrawal symptoms.
Outpatient services can be performed at home and involve regular check-ins with your rehabilitation program, as well as therapy and medications.
Rehab programs offer a range of counselling and psychotherapy treatments. These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and group therapy. Patients are also offered medications to help ease the discomfort of withdrawal and cravings.
Aftercare
Aftercare is one of the most important parts of maintaining sobriety. It involves ongoing counselling, social support services, and medical treatment after the initial rehabilitation.
The ultimate goal of aftercare is to empower individuals with the tools and support they need to maintain sobriety during everyday life, prevent relapse, and fully integrate them back into society.
Aftercare services include:
● Ongoing therapy and counselling, including mental health services.
● Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
● Medical therapy for withdrawal, cravings or coexisting mental health conditions.
● Providing a sober living environment such as transitional housing and other forms of housing assistance.
● Helping obtain financial independence and employment.
● Providing legal assistance if required.
● Teaching former drug users relapse prevention techniques like strategies to cope with cravings, triggers, stress, and high-risk situations parties.
● Improving family and community relationships.
● Monitor individual progress via regular check-ins and promote accountability through mentors or sponsors.
Seek Help at PCP
The rise of synthetic drugs like Spice and bath salts represents a significant challenge for public health and safety. These substances, designed to mimic the effects of natural drugs, often result in severe and unpredictable health consequences.
At PCP, we are committed to providing education on the dangers of synthetic drug use and offering support for those struggling with addiction.
If you or someone you know is battling synthetic drug addiction, seek professional help today. Together, we can combat the dangers of synthetic drugs and support a healthier, safer community.
