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Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones

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Spicing things up: synthetic cannabinoids.

Max Spaderna¹, Peter H Addy, Deepak Cyril D'Souza

¹Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.

Psychopharmacology

|July 10, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Synthetic cannabinoid products, known as Spice, are increasingly used recreationally. Research is urgently needed to understand their effects and develop detection methods due to rising adverse events and psychosis links.

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Area of Science:

Forensic Toxicology
Psychopharmacology
Public Health

Background:

Recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids (Spice) is rising.
Spice products are marketed as incense or potpourri.
Synthetic cannabinoids are potent receptor agonists, unlike THC.

Purpose of the Study:

Review the availability and effects of Spice.
Examine laboratory detection, addiction potential, and regulatory issues.
Discuss the link between synthetic cannabinoids and psychosis.

Main Methods:

Literature review of Spice phenomenon.
Analysis of self-reported effects from online sources (Erowid).
Examination of clinical and toxicological data.

Main Results:

Spice contains high-potency synthetic cannabinoids, often evading standard drug tests.
Users report psychoactive effects and adverse events like anxiety, psychosis, and agitation.
Increasing adverse events necessitate emergency interventions; manufacturers circumvent bans with new compounds.

Conclusions:

Urgent need for research on synthetic cannabinoid effects and human pharmacology.
Synthetic cannabinoid use contributes to the debate on cannabinoid-psychosis association.
Clinical availability of drug detection tests for synthetic cannabinoids is crucial.