Synthetic Cannabinoids: A New Frontier of Designer Drugs

Abstract

Ideas and Opinions15 October 2013Synthetic Cannabinoids: A New Frontier of Designer DrugsErik W. Gunderson, MDErik W. Gunderson, MDFrom the University of Virginia and Center for Wellness and Change, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Columbia University, New York, New York.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-159-8-201310150-00707 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail During the past decade, synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) emerged as a major designer drug class (1, 2). Designer drugs include chemicals with slight molecular structure modification of controlled substances to circumvent drug laws. Synthetic cannabinoid consumption was first recognized during the mid-2000s in Europe (1) and gained attention in the United States by 2009 after increasing calls to national poison control centers (3). During 2010, SC products contributed to 11 406 U.S. emergency department visits, primarily by teens and young adults (4). Concern about increasing use and consequences led to initial national regulation on 1 March 2011, when the Drug Enforcement Administration ...References1. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Understanding the ‘Spice' Phenomenon. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; 2009. Accessed at www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_80086_EN_EMCDDA_Understanding%20the%20‘Spice'%20phenomenon_4Update%2020090813.pdf on 28 June 2013. Google Scholar2. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. World Drug Report 2013. United Nations publication, Sales No. E.13.XI.6. Accessed at www.unodc.org/unodc/secured/wdr/wdr2013/World_Drug_Report_2013.pdf on 28 June 2013. Google Scholar3. American Association of Poison Control Centers. Facts About “Synthetic Marijuana”: Synthetic Cannabinoids. 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Symposium 11—Emerging Drugs: Synthetic Cannabinoids and Substituted Cathinones. Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Medical-Scientific Conference of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, 22 April 2012. Accessed at www.softconference.com/asam/sessionDetail.asp?SID=296988 on 21 August 2013. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Erik W. Gunderson, MDAffiliations: From the University of Virginia and Center for Wellness and Change, Charlottesville, Virginia, and Columbia University, New York, New York.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-1560.Corresponding Author: Erik W. Gunderson, MD, University of Virginia Health System, Box 800623, Charlottesville, VA 22908; e-mail, [email protected].Author Contributions: Drafting of the article: E.W. Gunderson.Final approval of the article: E.W. Gunderson.This article was published online first at www.annals.org on 10 September 2013. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 October 2013Volume 159, Issue 8Page: 563-564KeywordsAdolescentsCannabinoidsCannabisClinical laboratoriesData managementDrug abuseDrug administrationDrug policyDrug regulationDrug synthesisDrugsMetabolitesPharmacologyPrevention, policy, and public healthResearch laboratoriesSafetyToxicityUrineYoung adults ePublished: 8 March 2020 Issue Published: 15 October 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...