Table Of ContentCurrent Topics in Neurotoxicity 12
Jolanta B. Zawilska Editor
Synthetic
Cathinones
Novel Addictive and Stimulatory
Psychoactive Substances
Current Topics in Neurotoxicity
Volume 12
Series editors
Richard M. Kostrzewa, Johnson City, USA
Trevor Archer, Gothenburg, Sweden
Current Topics in Neurotoxicity consists of volumes that cover the latest
developments in neurotoxicity studies including neurodegeneration, neuroprotec-
tion, and neuroregeneration. The series has a translational focus and addresses the
causes of neurotoxicity associated with diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons
Disease, autism, HIV associated dementia etc.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/8791
Jolanta B. Zawilska
Editor
Synthetic Cathinones
Novel Addictive and Stimulatory
Psychoactive Substances
123
Editor
Jolanta B.Zawilska
Department ofPharmacodynamics
Medical University of Łódź
Łódź
Poland
ISSN 2363-9563 ISSN 2363-9571 (electronic)
CurrentTopics inNeurotoxicity
ISBN978-3-319-78706-0 ISBN978-3-319-78707-7 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78707-7
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Preface
Over thelast decade, arapidlyincreasing number ofnovel psychoactivesubstance
(NPS),oftenmarketedas“designerdrugs”,“legalhighs”,“herbalhighs”,“research
or intermediate chemicals”, and “laboratory reagents”, has appeared on the drug
market worldwide in an effort to bypass-controlled substance legislation. Products
containingthosecompoundscanbepurchasedonlineviawebsitedistributors,from
retailandnot-retailvendors.TheescalatingpopularityanduseofNPSshasalready
resulted in a global drug abuse crisis.
NPS represent a heterogenous family of substances. One of the most prevalent
NPS’s groups is designercathinones, endowed withpsychostimulatory action, and
abused for effects similar to amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, and
methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Compounds from this class were first detected
in Europe in 2004, and since that time more than 130 new cathinones have been
identified and reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug
Addiction. The rapid and extensive worldwide rise of synthetic cathinone abuse is
attracting increasing attention, due to many intoxications and overdose deaths.
In light of the recent emergence of designer cathinones as substances of abuse,
this book provides readers with the background of their availability, legal status,
prevalence, motivation, and pattern of use. The book also presents a timely and
comprehensiveoverviewoftheknownmechanismsofactionandpharmacokinetic
properties of cathinones, analytical methods applied for the detection of parent
compounds,andtheirmetabolites inbiological samples. Special emphasisisgiven
to acute and chronic toxicity associated with the use of these substances.
Ibelievethatthismultiauthoredbookwouldbeavaluablereferencenotonlyfor
scientists, clinicians, and academics but also for readers representing a different
professional background who are involved in educational–prophylactic activities
directed to harm reduction of psychoactive compounds.
v
vi Preface
I am truly indebted to all of the contributors of this book. I would like to
thank Prof. Richard M. Kostrzewa, Editor-in-Chief of the Springer Neuroscience/
Neurotoxicity Book Series, for entrusting me with the honorable function as this
volume’s editor.
Łódź, Poland Jolanta B. Zawilska
2018
Contents
1 Synthetic Cathinones: Neurotoxic Health Hazards and
Potential for Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Trevor Archer and Richard M. Kostrzewa
2 Novel Psychoactive Substances: Classification and General
Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Jolanta B. Zawilska and Jakub Wojcieszak
3 Khat—A Natural Source of Cathinone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Nilesh B. Patel
4 Analytical Methods Used for Identification and Determination
of Synthetic Cathinones and Their Metabolites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Dariusz Zuba and Piotr Adamowicz
5 Metabolism of Synthetic Cathinones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Kei Zaitsu
6 Monoamine Transporter and Receptor Interaction Profiles
of Synthetic Cathinones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Linda D. Simmler
7 Effects of Synthetic Cathinones on Brain Neurotransmitters. . . . . . 117
Krystyna Gołembiowska and Katarzyna Kamińska
8 Behavioral Profiles and Underlying Transmitters/Circuits of
Cathinone-Derived Psychostimulant Drugs of Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Steven J. Simmons, Erin Kim, Taylor A. Gentile, Ali Murad,
John W. Muschamp and Scott M. Rawls
9 Synthetic Cathinones—Prevalence and Motivations for Use . . . . . . 153
JohnM.Corkery,AmiraGuirguis,DuccioG.Papanti,LauraOrsolini
and Fabrizio Schifano
vii
viii Contents
10 The Effects and Risks Associated with Synthetic Cathinones Use
in Humans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Laurent Karila and Amine Benyamina
11 Concluding Remarks: Where We Are and Where Do We Go
from Here? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Jolanta B. Zawilska
Index .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 205
Contributors
Piotr Adamowicz Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
Trevor Archer Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg,
Gothenburg, Sweden
Amine Benyamina Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Paul Brousse
Hospital (AP-HP), Paris-Sud University, Villejuif, France; CESP, Paris, France
John M. Corkery Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive
Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of
Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
Taylor A. Gentile Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University,
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Krystyna Gołembiowska Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Kraków, Poland
Amira Guirguis Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive
Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of
Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
Katarzyna Kamińska Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Kraków, Poland
LaurentKarila AddictionResearchandTreatmentCenter,PaulBrousseHospital,
Paris-Sud University, INSERM U1000, Villejuif, France
Erin Kim Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA,
USA
Richard M. Kostrzewa Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of
Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
AliMurad LewisKatzSchoolofMedicine,TempleUniversity,Philadelphia,PA,
USA
ix
