Psychiatria pre prax 2/2014

New synthetic substances in the drug scene Slovakia and World

The drug scene is constantly changing so fast and it is related to the emergence of new problems that need to be promptly addressed at all levels. In recent years we can see an increasing number of creation and use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) whether plant or synthetic origin. The new synthetic drugs include substances derived from phenylethylamine, tryptamines and piperazines, cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids and other substances. These substances affect the monoaminergic systems of the brain and have primarily entactogens (emotional), hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. They have often unclear chemical composition and can be difficult to assess the long-term health consequences of these drug use, but deaths have been recorded or severe injury.

Keywords: new synthetic substances, phenylethylamines, tryptamines, piperazines, cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids.