Non-Medical Use of Novel Synthetic Opioids: A New Challenge to Public Health

Barbara Lovrecic, Mercedes Lovrecic, Branko Gabrovec, Marco Carli, Matteo Pacini, Angelo G. I. Maremmani and Icro Maremmani
Additional contact information
Barbara Lovrecic: National Institute of Public Health, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Mercedes Lovrecic: National Institute of Public Health, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Branko Gabrovec: National Institute of Public Health, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Marco Carli: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy
Matteo Pacini: G. De Lisio Institute of Behavioral Sciences, 56100 Pisa, Italy
Angelo G. I. Maremmani: Department of Psychiatry, North-Western Tuscany Region NHS Local Health Unit, Versilia Zone, 55049 Viareggio, Italy
Icro Maremmani: G. De Lisio Institute of Behavioral Sciences, 56100 Pisa, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: Background : In the last decade there has been a progressive increase in the use of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) that are not yet under international control. In particular, novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) have reappeared on the recreational drug market in the last few years. As a result, the use of NSOs has increased rapidly. This poses an emerging and demanding challenge to public health. Aim : To raise awareness among clinicians and other professionals about NPSs, especially NSOs, to summarize current knowledge about pharmacological properties, forms of NSO on the market, pattern of use, effects and consequences of use. Methods : An electronic search was carried out on the Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar databases to find selected search terms. Results : Some NPSs are already controlled, while others can be legally sold directly on the drug market (mainly via internet, less so by drug dealers) or be used as precursors for the synthesis of other designer drugs that mimic the psychoactive effects of controlled substances. Potential side-effects of NSOs include miosis, sedation, respiratory depression, hypothermia, inhibition of gastrointestinal propulsion, death (from opioid overdose). Conclusions : The severity of the opioid crisis has intensified with the introduction of highly potent NSOs on the drug market. As long as addicts are dying from overdose or similar causes, there is something more constructive to do than waiting for addicts to overdose on heroin at a place located near a remedy, as if to say, within reach of naloxone.

Keywords: new psychoactive substances; new synthetic opioids; illicit fentanyl; Mitragyna speciosa; o-desmethyltramadol; novel fentanyl derivatives; new generation of novel synthetic opioids; harm reduction strategies; comprehensive treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/2/177/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/2/177/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:2:p:177-:d:196267

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().