3,4-methylene-dioxy-pyrovalerone (MDPV) epidemic?

2011 ◽  
Vol 152 (50) ◽  
pp. 2010-2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miklós Péter Kalapos
Keyword(s):  
Crucial Role ◽  
Panic Attack ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Glucuronic Acid ◽  
Designer Drugs ◽  
Designer Drug ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Speed Up ◽  
Street Price

Little is known about 3,4-methylene-dioxy-pyrovalerone (MDPV), a new designer drug that has become popular in Hungary in the last couple of months. At the same time, its consumption as a consequence of its low street-price rises so fast that the event can be considered as an epidemic. This paper reviews the chemistry, biochemistry and metabolism of MDPV, then, on the basis of few international reports and clinical observations of the author of his own, discusses MDPV intoxication and withdrawal. In the metabolism of MDPV, the most important catalyst is the CYP2C19 isoenzyme, but the CYP1A2 and the CYP2D6 isoenzymes also play a crucial role. The formed catechols are conjugated with either glucuronic acid or sulfate. It is important to note that MDPV is consumed either together or in a sequence with other illicit drugs of abuse. As far as it can be established, MDPV use increases the activity and vigilance, decreases appetite and claim to sleep, but it can also provoke cardiac sensations and disturbance of perception. In the course of coming down, withdrawal after MDPV use, bone and muscle pain, hypersomnia, disturbance of vision are experienced, but panic attack may also occur. The appearance of new designer drugs on the market draws attention to a need of paradigm changing in spiritual field. Unless it happens these negative trends shall speed up. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 2010–2019.

Drug Use Disorder

2018 ◽  
pp. 305-338
Author(s):  
Carol S. North ◽  
Sean H. Yutzy
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Structure ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Designer Drugs ◽  
Repeated Use ◽  
Physiological Symptoms ◽  
American Society ◽  
Drug Use Disorder ◽  
Over Time

Drug use disorder refers to the presence of any of a collection of drug-specific diagnoses that are characterized by cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms accompanying repeated use of a drug despite significant substance-related problems causing harm to the user or to others. Common drugs of abuse in contemporary American society include cannabinoids, opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and many other drugs. The popularity of specific drugs has varied over time in relation to drug availability and cost. The most recent trend has been an influx of “designer drugs,” substances developed synthetically by manipulating the molecular structure to avoid classification as illicit drugs (hence circumventing prosecution) while retaining the psychoactive properties of illicit drugs.

A new designer drug: Methylone related death

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (7) ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Kovács ◽  
Anita Réka Tóth ◽  
Éva Margit Kereszty
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Cardiac Death ◽  
Bronchial Asthma ◽  
Heart Muscle ◽  
Cardiac Death ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Fatal Case ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Designer Drugs ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Designer Drug

This report presents a fatal case related to the consumption of methylone, a relatively new cathinone type designer drug. A 16-year-old boy suddenly lost his consciousness in a party. Resuscitation had been continued for about 1.5 hours at the intensive care unit, but it was unsuccessful. His previous history included cardiac malformation detected at infancy and bronchial asthma had been diagnosed one year before his death. Signs of sudden cardiac death were observed during autopsy. Methylone intake was proved in blood and liver extract using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; its concentration was 272 ng/ml in the blood, and 387 ng/g in the liver. Pathohistology revealed microvascular steatosis in the liver, which raised the possibility of chronic use of toxic substances. In addition, striated heart muscle damage was observed, which could be due to the use of an amphetamine-like substance. The authors presume that steatosis of the heart muscle, congenital heart disease and bronchial asthma could be predisposing factors for sudden cardiac death that occurred in the presence of relatively low levels of methylone. Access to various designer drugs is easy, fast and broad. Consequently, the potential abuse or overdose should be taken into consideration in the emergency practice. The use of “non-illicit” drugs does not require formal intervention by the authorities, but the medical service must alarm the stakeholders. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 271–276.

The Use of Prescription Drugs and Drugs of Abuse for Neuroenhancement in Europe

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa J. Maier ◽  
Michael P. Schaub
Keyword(s):  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Mental Performance ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Monitoring The Future ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract. Pharmacological neuroenhancement, defined as the misuse of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol for the purpose of enhancing cognition, mood, or prosocial behavior, is not widespread in Europe – nevertheless, it does occur. Thus far, no drug has been proven as safe and effective for cognitive enhancement in otherwise healthy individuals. European studies have investigated the misuse of prescription and illicit stimulants to increase cognitive performance as well as the use of tranquilizers, alcohol, and cannabis to cope with stress related to work or education. Young people in educational settings report pharmacological neuroenhancement more frequently than those in other settings. Although the regular use of drugs for neuroenhancement is not common in Europe, the irregular and low-dose usage of neuroenhancers might cause adverse reactions. Previous studies have revealed that obtaining adequate amounts of sleep and using successful learning techniques effectively improve mental performance, whereas pharmacological neuroenhancement is associated with ambiguous effects. Therefore, non-substance-related alternatives should be promoted to cope with stressful situations. This paper reviews the recent research on pharmacological neuroenhancement in Europe, develops a clear definition of the substances used, and formulates recommendations for practitioners regarding how to react to requests for neuroenhancement drug prescriptions. We conclude that monitoring the future development of pharmacological neuroenhancement in Europe is important to provide effective preventive measures when required. Furthermore, substance use to cope with stress related to work or education should be studied in depth because it is likely more prevalent and dangerous than direct neuroenhancement.

Analysis of new designer drugs and common drugs of abuse in urine by a combined targeted and untargeted LC-HR-QTOFMS approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 406 (18) ◽  
pp. 4425-4441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Paul ◽  
Josef Ippisch ◽  
Christian Herrmann ◽  
Susanne Guber ◽  
Wolfgang Schultis
Keyword(s):  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Designer Drugs

Mental and behavioural disorders

2020 ◽  
pp. 333-365
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Benedetti
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Placebo Effect ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Placebo Treatment ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Interventions ◽  
Psychotherapeutic Outcome ◽  
The Brain

In this chapter some mental disorders are described. For example, in depression, fluoxetine treatment and a placebo treatment affect similar brain regions. In anxiety, patients’ expectations play a crucial role, as covert (unexpected) administration of anti-anxiety drugs is less effective than overt (expected) administration. The disruption of prefrontal executive control in Alzheimer’s disease decreases the magnitude of placebo responses. In addition, expectations appear to be particularly important when associated with the effects of drugs of abuse. Placebo effects appear to be powerful in psychotherapy as well, and the brain areas involved in the psychotherapeutic outcome are different from those involved in the placebo effect. As clinical trials for psychotherapeutic interventions represent a major problem, new recommendations are presented.

scholarly journals Viral vector-based tools advance knowledge of basal ganglia anatomy and physiology

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 2124-2146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel J. Sizemore ◽  
Sonja Seeger-Armbruster ◽  
Stephanie M. Hughes ◽  
Louise C. Parr-Brownlie
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Designer Drugs ◽  
Designer Drug ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Optogenetic Stimulation ◽  
New Treatments

Viral vectors were originally developed to deliver genes into host cells for therapeutic potential. However, viral vector use in neuroscience research has increased because they enhance interpretation of the anatomy and physiology of brain circuits compared with conventional tract tracing or electrical stimulation techniques. Viral vectors enable neuronal or glial subpopulations to be labeled or stimulated, which can be spatially restricted to a single target nucleus or pathway. Here we review the use of viral vectors to examine the structure and function of motor and limbic basal ganglia (BG) networks in normal and pathological states. We outline the use of viral vectors, particularly lentivirus and adeno-associated virus, in circuit tracing, optogenetic stimulation, and designer drug stimulation experiments. Key studies that have used viral vectors to trace and image pathways and connectivity at gross or ultrastructural levels are reviewed. We explain how optogenetic stimulation and designer drugs used to modulate a distinct pathway and neuronal subpopulation have enhanced our mechanistic understanding of BG function in health and pathophysiology in disease. Finally, we outline how viral vector technology may be applied to neurological and psychiatric conditions to offer new treatments with enhanced outcomes for patients.

scholarly journals Alcohol and Drug Use in European University Health Science Students: Relationship with Self-Care Ability

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 5042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natura Colomer-Pérez ◽  
Elena Chover-Sierra ◽  
Rut Navarro-Martínez ◽  
Virginia Andriusevičienė ◽  
Eugenia Vlachou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Health Science ◽  
The Self ◽  
European University ◽  
Care Agency

Background: Drug abuse in university students is an emerging social and health issue. The present study assesses alcohol and abuse of other illicit drugs and the adverse consequences related to such use and its relationship with self-care agency among European university students. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed among 592 European students from different health science degrees. The screening of alcohol abuse was evaluated with the Alcohol Use Disorder Test (AUDIT), and the screening for substance-related risks and problems was conducted with the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) screening test. We analyzed the relationship of substance abuse with self-care agency, assessed by the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale (ASA). Results: 51.4% of the surveyed students reported alcohol intake, 16.6% of the students consumed both alcohol and cannabis, 1.6 % reported alcohol and other illicit drugs, and 3.7% consumed alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs (73.3% of students reported alcohol intake alone or together with cannabis/hashish and/or other illicit drugs). The self-care agency scores were significantly different among groups in relation to certain sociodemographic factors such as gender (p = 0.008) and country of residence (p = 0.031). The self-care agency scores significantly correlated (p = 0.001) with the personal motivations and consequences related to the consumption of drugs of abuse evaluated by the CRAFFT screening tool. Within the ASA domains, the most significant effects were observed regarding the subdomains of resources, awareness, and health behaviors. Conclusions: Self-care agency should be promoted to counteract the health and social consequences of the consumption of drugs of abuse among university students who will be future health care professionals.

Ethylone: A synthetic cathinone emerging in Barcelona

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s860-s860
Author(s):  
M. de Dios ◽  
E. Monteagudo ◽  
A. Trabsa ◽  
M. Grifell ◽  
L. Galindo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Drug Market ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Bath Salts ◽  
Energy Control ◽  
Report Analysis ◽  
Synthetic Cathinone ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionSynthetic cathinones, the active component in “bath salts”, have surfaced as a popular alternative to other illicit drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and methamphetamine, due to their potent psychostimulant and empathogenic effects.ObjectivesTo describe the presence of Ethylone in samples delivered to energy control from 2014 to 2015 in Spain.MethodsThe total number of samples analyzed from 2014 to 2015 was 8324. Only those samples containing ethylone were studied. They were analyzed by energy control, a Spanish harm reduction NGO that offers the possibility of analysing the substances that users report. Analysis was done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.ResultsFrom June 2014 to December 2015, 8324 samples were delivered to EC. From this samples 28 (0.336%) contained ethylone. Twelve (0.144%) were delivered as MDMA, representing a 0.783% of the samples delivered as such, and only one sample (0.012%) delivered as MDMA presented ethylene as an adulterant along with MDMA. Other 6 samples (0.072%) were delivered as ethylone and 10 samples (0.120%) were delivered as unknown pills.DiscussionEthylone consumption is found to be an emerging issue according to the results of our samples, an increase of such is found during 2015. This might be traduced as an increase of ethylone in the drug market, but a sample selection bias should be considered as samples were voluntary delivered by consumers. An alarming phenomenon is that in some occasions ethylone is sold as MDMA, but effects take longer to occur and last longer, which may lead to an overdose if used as MDMA.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document