Cannabinoid abuse and addiction: Clinical and preclinical findings

Preliminary results indicate that it reduces substance use in these children at 12 months after treatment better than usual care. In small groups, students will develop a list of 3 – 5 questions — true/false or open ended — about one of the drugs discussed in this guide, (including health effects of drug use/misuse, common or slang terms for the drug, identifying characteristics of the drug, etc…). Behavioral therapies and medications have not been specifically tested for treatment of addiction to these products. Health care providers should screen patients for possible co-occurring mental health conditions. Synthetic cannabinoids are part of a group of drugs called new psychoactive substances (NPS).

Its accessibility has made K2 use grow, especially among young people and individuals of lower income. Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care. Contrave is an anorexiant and is used to help manage weight in obese or overweight adults with … Rybelsus tablets are used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, and may …

See more NIDA-funded projects related to kratom, and learn more about clinical trials involving kratom. If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms while using K2 spice, seek immediate medical attention. Many severe cases of K2 spice overdose have been linked to some products containing dangers like rat poison. However, there have been a few studies that indicate K2 abuse is more likely to occur in males. NIDA research supports people affected by substance use and addiction throughout the lifespan and across communities. Increasing the number of people achieving long-term recovery from SUDs is a national policy priority and a major goal of…

What is synthetic marijuana (synthetic cannabinoids, K2 or Spice)?

• For several years, synthetic cannabinoid mixtures have been easy to buy in drug paraphernalia shops, novelty stores, gas stations, and over the internet.
• Dr. Paul also described the IASC MHPSS Reference Group, which is cochaired by WHO, UNODC, and UNHCR and involves over 11 member agencies as well as five observers.
• Dr. Krupchanka mentioned a 2024 WHO draft resolution on strengthening mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) before, during, and after humanitarian emergencies.
• The rat’s choice of levers during the test indicates whether the test substance produces interoceptive effects similar to THC, some of which are presumably analogous to subjective effects such as drug “high” in humans.
• There have been reports that Spice or K2 may be laced with other illicit substances, such as fentanyl, which can rapidly lead to respiratory depression and death.

Synthetic cannabinoids are ingested in a similar manner to marijuana, either smoked alone in a joint or other device, such as a pipe or a bong, or rolled into a joint with tobacco or natural marijuana. This product may also be baked into foods, such as brownies, or made into tea. Synthetic cannabinoids like SPICE and K2 are not just emerging threats — they are active and ongoing risks in Nevada communities.

How does kratom affect the body?

Retrospective study of all cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids as a cause of death in Florida between 2014 and 2020. The information included sociodemographic characteristics, cause of death, co-presence of other substances, and manner of deaths. More studies are needed to better understand how psychedelic and dissociative drugs work. While researchers debate how to describe these drugs and how specific drugs should be classified, they generally group them according to synthetic cannabinoids national institute on drug abuse nida what is known about how they work in the brain.

Legal Highs: Comprehensive Guide to Synthetic Substances, Risks, and Safety

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. In addition, some cannabidiol (CBD) products extracted from cannabis plants may also contain THC that could result in a positive test for a prohibited cannabinoid. Motivations include legality, cost-effectiveness, perceived safety, and the desire to bypass drug tests.

For those interested in detailed product options, explore our Legal Highs category for available substances.

• In addition to funding research in drug abuse, addiction, prevention, and treatment, NIDA facilitates such research to accomplish its mission by providing chemicals and research probes that are either unavailable, difficult to obtain, or very costly for researchers to procure.
• They can also alter your perceptions and cause you to act strangely or even violently.
• People with dangerously high body temperature (hyperthermia), persistently high heart rate or agitation, and high serum creatinine (indicative of possible kidney problems) should be hospitalized and monitored for muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) and heart and kidney damage.
• Raising awareness about these substances across schools, behavioral health settings, and community-based programs is essential to supporting early intervention and protecting vulnerable populations.
• There are common misconceptions about CBDs, i.e., non-psychoactive and non-psychotropic; thus, it is safe to use (Russo, 2017).

Long-Term Effects

Lung Illnesses – Scientists are investigating recent serious lung illnesses and deaths related to vaping THC oil, sometimes added to nicotine liquid in vaping devices. In the meantime, public health experts are advising teens to stop using vaping products, especially if bought off the street. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main ingredient in marijuana that makes people high. Marijuana changes brain messages that alter sensory perception and coordination.

FDA encourages researchers to request a Pre-Investigational New Drug application (PIND) meeting to discuss questions related to the development of a specific cannabis-derived and cannabis-related drug product. Dr. Karen Paul from the IASC Reference Group for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies talked about interagency collaboration regarding substance use and SUD in humanitarian emergencies. She emphasized that a multi-sector response is needed in such situations, and some of these sectors are also addressed in the IASC Guidelines mentioned by Dr. Krupchanka. Dr. Paul also described the IASC MHPSS Reference Group, which is cochaired by WHO, UNODC, and UNHCR and involves over 11 member agencies as well as five observers. Their current priority is developing materials for training and orienting various groups of humanitarian workers on substance use, from materials for basic communication to materials on advanced interventions. For example, orientation materials are being developed on SUDs as health conditions, how to provide support, life-threatening conditions related to substance use, and similar topics.

Adding cheaper, synthetic opioids to cocaine is especially risky when people using cocaine don’t realize it contains this dangerous additive. An increasing number of overdose deaths among cocaine users is likely related to this tampered cocaine. Like synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones are NPS, part of a group of drugs that concern public health officials. So far, there have been few scientific studies of the effects of synthetic cannabinoids on the human brain.

What are psychedelic and dissociative drugs?

To understand these developments better, check our overview on Research Chemicals. The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2017) identified 169 SCs. Several of these SCs bore the initials of those who synthetized them, such as JWH compounds which stand for John W. Huffman, HU-210 at Hebrew University (Fontanet et al., 2018; Alves et al., 2020). Newer SCs emerged in the market, such as AB-PINACA, an aminocarbonyl indazole carboxamide with different chemical structures designed to circumvent the law (UNODC, 2022).

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