Synthetic Drugs: Their Main Types, Effects And Characteristics
Synthetic drugs are substances created in laboratories that have psychoactive effects and that are marketed illicitly, although in many cases taking advantage of the legal vacuum that exists when defining what an illegal drug is.
These substances are originally drugs created to improve the health of patients with different diseases but, when their adverse effects were discovered, they were discarded for therapeutic purposes although reused by the drug trafficking market.
There are thousands of them and Next we will see the main types of synthetic drugs that exist on the gray market.
Synthetic drugs are chemical substances manufactured in laboratories that cause some type of effect on the central nervous system, inducing potentially dangerous psychoactive effects in addition to various organic alterations. Most of them are substances that were originally manufactured for therapeutic purposes but, as they were not safe, they were discarded but drug traffickers and some unscrupulous chemists and pharmacists recover them and trade them illicitly.
Many synthetic drugs are sold as designer drugs, which are attractive to young people because of their eye-catching format, coming in the form of colored pills, bottles of attractive liquids, and bags of various powders. These drugs are synthesized taking into account current legislation, altering the original composition of the drug on which they are based to prevent it from being classified as illegal. Basically, they consist of replicas of drugs discarded for therapeutic use but with some changes in their composition, meaning that they cannot be considered an illegal substance in the first place.
However, as the authorities catch up with the new drugs on the market and make them illegal, the chemists who produce them change their “recipe” to be able to continue with their illicit business. Thus, synthetic drugs They constitute what has been called the gray market, halfway between legal pharmacy substances and the black market with totally illegalized drugs Designer drugs are still harmful drugs for the body, but since there are a lot of new ones every time, the authorities have a really difficult time putting an end to the market.
Some of these synthetic drugs are sold both online and in stores under the label “not for human consumption,” marketing them as herbal incense, plant fertilizer, bath salts, or jewelry cleaner. In this way, their manufacturers wash their hands when the authorities call their attention to the drug-addictive use of their buyers, these manufacturers saying that they clearly indicate that they are not suitable for people to consume.
Dangerous effects
There are thousands of synthetic drugs, and each one causes different psychoactive effects, although in most cases they are used to inhibit pain, alternate visual and acoustic perceptions, and change mood. But Despite these “positive” effects, there are many more negative ones that they cause, both in the short and long term, all of them dangerous
In the short term they can cause memory loss and lack of appetite along with mental problems such as anxiety, depression, obsessions, sleep disorders, panic attacks and aggression. They can cause cerebral infarctions, thrombosis and even lead to the death of the consumer. They can also cause hyperthermia, that is, an increase in body temperature, inducing dehydration of the consumer. In the long term they can cause irreversible neurological damage
Main types of synthetic drugs
As we mentioned, the synthetic drug market is a world that takes advantage of existing legal loopholes when a new drug is presented, although it is a matter of time before it is declared illegal, motivating its manufacturers to change the recipe. This means that the drugs available on the gray market constantly change their format, which makes the extensive list of synthetic drugs that we can find in an illicit way very long.
Likewise, below we will see some of the most striking ones, what effects they produce, what they are made of and several of their commercial names.
1. Synthetic cathinones
Synthetic cathinones They have a chemical composition similar to the plant Catha edulis cultivated in East Africa These drugs are commonly marketed as “bath salts” and can be obtained online. Among those that stand out the most we have methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and mephedrone. MDPV is 10 to 50 times more potent than cocaine and the risk of overdose is very high.
Commercialization
Synthetic cathinones are sold in small jars containing a fine whitish or slightly yellow powder with the label for taking a stimulating bath, as a fertilizer for plants and with the safeguard of “not suitable for human consumption”. These drugs can be inhaled, smoked, ingested or injected.
There are many names they can receive: Buzz, Vanilla Sky, Ocean, Eight Ball, White Dove or White Girl are some of them.
Effects
Consuming this drug causes the user to have strange homicidal and suicidal behaviors in addition to suffering paranoia and hallucinations. The person feels terrified and reacts violently to others They may also suffer from agitation, insomnia, irritability, panic attacks, loss of body control, problems thinking clearly, vertigo, delusions and depression.
Regarding physiological effects, synthetic cathinones can cause liver and kidney failure, as well as seizures. They are very addictive drugs that cause chest pain, increased heart rate, nosebleeds, sweating, nausea and vomiting.
2. Synthetic cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are synthetic substances that They emulate the effects of marijuana even though chemically they have nothing in common with this herb except for causing a reaction in the body similar to how smoked natural marijuana does.
In the case of synthetic cannabinoids, these are sprayed on the herb that is going to be smoked later, with the damiana plant or shepherd’s weed (Turnera diffusa) being the most used. This plant already contains a mild drug that causes a euphoric reaction.
Commercialization
Synthetic cannabinoids They are sold in foil packages, labeled with various names: K2, K3 Legal, Spice Gold, King Kong, Cloud 9 or whatever names the manufacturer comes up with. It is commonly sold as incense or to spray plants.
The drug itself has several names in drug trafficking slang, making direct reference to the chemical formula of cannabinoids: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-370, HU-210, CP 47,497, AM-1248 and XLR-11.
The acronym JWH refers to the inventor of this substance, John W. Huffman, who developed cannabinoids with the intention of creating drugs to help patients with multiple sclerosis or AIDS, and when he learned of the illicit use that was being made of his creation, he He felt very upset and disappointed.
Effects
Synthetic cannabinoids They have effects four times greater than those produced by marijuana if smoked At first they begin to take effect slowly but then their effect is much more powerful, reaching the point that the person may be surprised by how much it “goes up.”
They cause agitation, rapid heart rate, confusion, nausea and dizziness. There have also been reports of people experiencing chest pain after using synthetic cannabinoids, as well as serious heart damage.
3. Synthetic cocaine
synthetic cocaine It chemically emulates cocaine but, unlike this drug, its designer version is legal in most countries It has anesthetic properties and currently there are two modalities of the drug that we can find on the gray market: 3-(p-fluorobenzoyloxy) tropane, known as pFBT; and dimethocaine.
Commercialization
This copy of cocaine is available in stores and websites, labeled as research chemical or plant fertilizer They are consumed inhaled, just as authentic cocaine is.
Among the names that dimethocaine receives on the market we have Mind Melt, Amplified and Mint Mania.
Effects
It has stimulant effects and that is why it can cause high blood pressure and increased heart rate. Can cause anxiety and psychotic episodes although they are temporary.
4. Ketamine
Ketamine is synthesized and used as a tranquilizer for animals after being discarded as a human anesthetic The reason for this was that it causes unpleasant side effects, including agitation and hallucinations. Chemically it is very similar to Angel Dust (PCP).
Commercialization
Your purchase for the veterinary clinic is legal. Ketamine users obtain it by stealing it from veterinarians or directly buying it from those who have no compunction about selling it.
It’s used in the form of a pill, powder or liquid and is consumed by smoking it mixed with herbs, inhaling it or by injection in vein or muscle. In drops it can be administered directly into the eyes, skin or in a glass with a drink.
Commercially it is sold under the name Ketaved, Tekaset, Vetamine, Vetalar and Ketalar. It receives various nicknames in the slang of its consumers such as Vitamin K, Special K, Super K, Kit Kat, Jet, K, Lady K, Super Acid and Cat Valium.
Effects
Causes sedation, dissociation, that is, disconnection from self-awareness and our own thoughts in addition to the already mentioned hallucinations.
If consumed for a long time, ketamine has the peculiarity that it can cause irreversible damage to the bladder and even destroy it. Many addicts to the substance suffer severe pain when urinating and require surgical interventions to repair their bladders. Sometimes the damage is so severe that the bladder must be removed.
MDMA or ecstasy is a phenethylamine that is widely consumed at concerts, music festivals and nightclubs The reason for this is because it provokes a keen perception of music and lights, elements that are not lacking in this type of events.
Commercialization
MDMA can be found on the drug trafficking market in the form of colored pills with very striking designs or logos, referring to pop culture symbols. They can be sold in packages or individually.
Effects
It makes the heartbeat and breathing more noticeable, in addition to drastically raising body temperature, something that can lead to death from excessive heating. It also makes you feel closer to other people and makes your skin more sensitive. Qcan cause paranoia attacks, panic attacks
When the effects begin to wear off, cramps can be felt in the jaw muscles, which is why many ecstasy users carry pacifiers to prevent teeth grinding.
6. Tryptamines
Tryptamines are hallucinogenic synthetic drugs. These drugs They have psilocybin-like effects a substance found in hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Commercialization
Tryptamines can be found sold as a light-colored powder in plastic baggies, labeled “research chemicals.” They can be found very easily on the Internet, which is how young people buy them.
Effects
Among its psychoactive effects we find the distortion of sight, sound and time. The consumer is incapable of making rational judgments, which makes them more prone to taking risks and harming themselves. You can also suffer from amnesia, although it is a rather temporary state.
Its most striking physical effect is to cause muscle tension, to the point of breaking the muscles, tension in the jaw, nausea and vomiting Other symptoms are panic attacks, anxiety, restlessness and confusion.
7. Piperazines
Piperazines were originally created as antidepressants, but their therapeutic use was abandoned due to the problems associated with their consumption.
Commercialization
These drugs are sold as party pills and It deceives its consumers by telling them that they are made from natural herbs even though they are pure laboratory chemistry.
These drugs can be obtained in combination with other designer drugs, including amphetamines, ketamine and ecstasy, as well as natural and synthetic cocaine. Some pills marketed as MDMA are actually a combination of piperazines with caffeine.
Effects
The consumption of piperazines causes several effects on a physical level, including lack of appetite, headaches, tremors, stomach pains, chills, and sensitivity to light and noise, as well as tonic-clonic seizures. Can cause death
Among the psychological effects we find mood changes, confusion, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, panic attacks and fear of losing control.
