REVIEW PAPER
Legal highs – current state and guidelines for the future
1
Samodzielna Pracownia Biologii Molekularnej, Instytut Medycyny Wsi w Lublinie
2
Katedra Zdrowia Publicznego, Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Zarządzania w Rzeszowie
3
Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny w Warszawie
4
II Katedra i Klinika Ginekologii, II Wydział Lekarski z Oddziałem Anglojęzycznym, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie
5
Zakład Promocji Zdrowia, Żywności i Żywienia, Instytut Medycyny Wsi w Lublinie
Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2011;17(4):206-211
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Legal highs (or smarts, designer drugs, research chemicals) pose an important social and health issue, concerning mainly the young population aged 15-24. Many and varied chemical compounds which belong to many diff erent chemical groups have been detected in the composition of legal highs. Although these compounds diff er with respect to active substances, they cause similar eff ects on the human body. Legal highs are defi ned briefl y as substances manufactured to imitate the eff ects of illegal narcotics. There are many diff erent types of designer drugs in many diff erent forms. The most common routes of intake are through inhalation (smoking blends) or snorting intranasally (insuffl ation), or by oral ingestion. The desired eff ects of legal highs intake include euphoria, stimulation and hallucinations. Although, almost all legal highs have been recently delegalized, there is still little evidence, if any, about their toxicity, psychological and/or behavioral eff ects on humans. The presented report summarises data about the accessibility and distribution pattern of legal highs, as well as the motivation and attitudes of youngsters towards the issue of legal highs. It also analyses the health risk of mephedrone according to users reports.
Legal highs (or smarts, designer drugs, research chemicals) pose an important social and health issue, concerning mainly the young population aged 15-24. Many and varied chemical compounds which belong to many diff erent chemical groups have been detected in the composition of legal highs. Although these compounds diff er with respect to active substances, they cause similar eff ects on the human body. Legal highs are defi ned briefl y as substances manufactured to imitate the eff ects of illegal narcotics. There are many diff erent types of designer drugs in many diff erent forms. The most common routes of intake are through inhalation (smoking blends) or snorting intranasally (insuffl ation), or by oral ingestion. The desired eff ects of legal highs intake include euphoria, stimulation and hallucinations. Although, almost all legal highs have been recently delegalized, there is still little evidence, if any, about their toxicity, psychological and/or behavioral eff ects on humans. The presented report summarises data about the accessibility and distribution pattern of legal highs, as well as the motivation and attitudes of youngsters towards the issue of legal highs. It also analyses the health risk of mephedrone according to users reports.
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