ARTYKUŁ

Bogdan Szukalski

Syntetyczne narkotyki i związane z nimi zagrożenia
2007-07-26

Risks connected with illegal synthetic drugs. In recent years the quantity of synthetic substances produced in illegal laboratories as a result of chemical modifications of the structure of known drugs such as amphetamine and methamphetamine has considerable increased. These are the so called designer drugs which are often characterized by stronger psychotropic effects and higher toxicity than parent drugs. The aim of chemists in illicit laboratories is to manufacture compounds that produce -highî or euphoria of controlled substances, but that are chemically different and thus are not subject to the provision of the Controlled Substances Act. Quite -popularî among drug addicts are entactogens i.e. designer drugs simultaneously exhibiting stimulating and hallucinogenic effects. Their best known representative is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy), which is often used by adolescents participating in so called raving parties. Synthetic drugs exhibit strong multidirectional toxicity and repeatedly caused deaths of those who used them. The domestic production of new potent synthetic will be the major drug abuse problem in the future. As efforts to control natural products become more successful, there will be more incentive to illicitly synthesize drugs.