Citation

Johnson LA, Johnson RL, Portier RB. J. Emerg. Med. 2013; 44(6): 1108-1115.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2012.09.147

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A growing number of novel substances have been abused as recreational drugs by young people in the United States (US), Europe, and Australia. Called "legal highs," these substances range from plant-based to completely synthetic compounds. Spice, Salvia, mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and other cathinone derivatives have psychotropic effects and are marketed for recreational use through exploitation of inadequacies in existing controlled substance laws.

OBJECTIVES: This article reviews available literature on the most common "legal highs" as well as discussing the scientific basis for the legal difficulties in controlling trafficking in these novel substances.

CONCLUSIONS: "Legal highs" continue to increase in use in the US, Europe, and Australia. These substances are powerful, can mimic effects of more traditional drugs of abuse, and are intentionally manufactured to circumvent existing controlled substance laws. As controlled substance legislation may be inadequate in the face of the quickly evolving legal highs, physicians are likely to see an increase in the prevalence of legal highs.

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; United States; human; Emergency Medicine; Europe; Substance-Related Disorders; policy; law; prevalence; awareness; cannabis; Cannabinoids; Spice; tetrahydrocannabinol; article; priority journal; analgesic agent; anesthetic agent; law enforcement; drug abuse; psychotropic agent; Psychotropic Drugs; drug traffic; Street Drugs; 4' methylmethcathinone; antidepressant agent; bath salts; Benzodioxoles; cannabinoid derivative; cathinone; cathinone derivatives; chemical structure; cognitive defect; Designer Drugs; dexanabinol; drug control; emergency ward; herbal high; MDPV; mephedrone; Methamphetamine; naphyrone; opiate agonist; patient education; Pentanones; plant food; positron emission tomography; Pyrrolidines; recreational drug; Salvia; Salvia divinorum; salvinorin A; Salvinorin A; sexual arousal; spice; synthetic cannabinoids; Vanilla Sky; visual cortex