Designer drugs

Our company is closely following all the innovations in the world of designer drugs and chemicals, as well as we are closely following the development of new chemicals created for chemical research by our customers.

Designer drugs (from English. to design-to design, to develop) – psychoactive substances developed to circumvent the current legislation, synthetic substitutes for any natural substance, fully reproducing the drug properties of the latter, or close, but not identical in structure substances, both possessing and not having similar pharmacological activity. As a rule, they are analogues or derivatives of existing drugs, created by changes of different nature in their chemical structure, less often — by creating qualitatively new drugs that have the properties of already known drugs. Sold on the black and gray markets.

“If the drug retains its ability to affect receptors, it will continue to have the desired effect, but will not be prohibited by law. In other words, a chemist can slightly alter the heroin molecule and get a new drug with the same properties. And it will be impossible to pursue distribution of this new connection under the law.

The beginning of 1980-ies — 1990-ies

The concept of “designer drugs” appears in the 1980-ies to refer to various synthetic opioid drugs, mostly based on the fentanyl molecule or meperidine (e.g. α-methylfentanyl), which appeared on the black market as analogues of heroin. One of these drugs — MPPP-sometimes contained impurities MPTP, causing brain damage, identical to Parkinson’s syndrome. From accidental overdose strongest analogue heroin-alpha-methylfentanilom (“White Chinese”) dies not .

The concept of “designer drugs”gained wide popularity after the mass distribution of MDMA (“ecstasy”) in the mid-1980s. By that time, the government had become aware of its powerlessness in regulating the circulation and use of such drugs and had enacted a number of laws that had allowed the United States drug control Authority (DEA) to control that area. In particular, MDMA became one of the first drugs listed in the I list of drugs. In the future, this list includes such analogues as 2C-B, AMT, BZP and others.

The “rebirth” of methamphetamine in the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a major social problem. Strengthening control over precursors in order to reduce homemade manufacture of the drug, eventually led to the emergence of new alternatives to existing stimulants, the most notable among which were the methcathinone and 4-methylaminorex.

At this time, the trafficking of designer drugs is taking on a global scale, which was greatly facilitated by their spread through the Internet. At this time there is a euphemism for “substances for research” (eng. “research chemicals”), introduced into circulation by sellers of designer drugs (in particular, psychedelics of the family of triptamines and phenethylamines). The concept of “substances for research” was the fact that the implementation of chemicals designed ostensibly for research, not for human consumption (marked accordingly), is not covered by the law of the United States about the analogues of narcotic drugs. Despite these measures, DEA carried out a series of raids, during which several supplier companies (JLF Primary Materials, RAC Research) were detained. The most famous operation to arrest the distributors of designer drugs was the Operation Web Tryp, which was completed in 2004. During the operation, 10 people were arrested, some suppliers and distributors of “substances for research” in the United States, as well as two companies that produced drugs in India and China were eliminated. After the operation, many online stores ceased their activities despite the legal status of their products in most countries of the world.

Many psychoactive substances sold during this period under the guise of “substances for research” had chemical structural similarity with such substances as psilocybin and mescaline. The theoretical basis for the emergence of new designer drugs were extensive chemical research of pharmaceutical corporations, universities and independent researchers conducted during the XX century. One of the most famous researchers is Alexander Shulgin, who presented in his two main works TiHKAL and PiHKAL synthesis and description of the action of hundreds of new psychoactive substances.

Most of the companies that distributed “research substances” supplied them in powder form, since distribution in tablet form could be illegal because this form could be used for human consumption. Active doses varied greatly depending on the substance, from a few micrograms to several hundred milligrams. The need to accurately measure the correct dosage was ignored in some cases, some consumers tried to find an effective dose empirically, which caused negative effects after the use of psychoactive substances, less-lethal outcome. Deaths from overdoses of new drugs usually gained a great resonance in the media, which led to the final ban of most designer drugs.

Some substances, such as 2C-B and 5-MeO-DiPT, were produced in the form of tablets and gained wide popularity on the black market in 2005-2011.

During this period, many new designer drugs appeared, including a wide variety of new psychostimulants (MDPV, MDMS, 4-MMC), as well as psychedelics, depressants (such as methylmethaqualon and premazepam) and entactogens. Since the mid-2000s, synthetic cannabinoids, which are part of the so-called Smoking mixtures, have been particularly popular. The main active ingredient of such mixtures was most often the compound JWH-018. Cannabinoids, CP 47,497, HU-210, and JWH-018 were subsequently replaced by RCS-4, RCS-8, AB-001, and many others. In 2008-2009. the examinations were conducted, during which it became clear that their psychoactive effect mixes are not obliged to plant components, as claimed by their manufacturers, and synthetic substances.
Such for example in its time were:

Mephedrone 4-MMC (4-methylmethcathinone) (C11H15NO) is a chemical compound from the class of substituted amphetamines and kationov, and empathogen psychostimulant that causes euphoria. The wide spread of mephedrone began in 2008. Banned in Russia since 2010.
Methylone methylone(bk-MDMA) (C11H13NO3) is a synthetic compound of the amphetamine class. It has a psychostimulatory and empathogenic effect, similar to the action of MDMA. Methylon was invented by American pharmacologists Peyton Jacob and Alexander Shulgin in 1996. And Russia has been prohibited since 2010.
Butylone butylone (bk-MBDB) (C12H15NO3) is a psychedelic stimulant – empathogen. The bull was synthesized back in 1967, but remained a secret until 2005.
Methoxetamine (Methoxetamine, MXE, 3-MeO-2-Oxo-PCE) (C15H21NO2) is a dissociative of the arylcyclohexylamine class, a more potent (two to three times) analog of ketamine.
2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine (2C-I) (C10H14INO2) is a psychedelic substance from the phenethylamine family. Discovered and popularized by Alexander Shulgin and was described in his book PiHKAL.
2C-T (or 4-methylthio-2,5 – DMPEA )(C11H17NO2S) is a psychedelic and hallucinogenic drug in the 2C family. Is an enteogen.
Ethcathinone Ethcathinone ETH-CAT (C11H15NO) – derived drug from the cathinone.
4-fluoromethcathinone (4-FMC) (C10H12FNO) is a Central nervous system stimulant belonging to the class of phenethylamines, amphetamines, and cathinones. Fleeton started to be sold as Medicines in 2008, along with its structural isomer 3-Formication (3-FMC). In many countries, it has been classified as a drug since 2008.
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) (C16H21NO3) is a synthetic stimulant with pronounced psychedelic effects, the strength of stimulation is superior to methylphenidate four times. The first mention appeared in 2000. Banned in Russia since 2010.
3,4 – Methylenedioxyphentermine (MDPH) – a little-known empathogen and psychedelic, was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin.
5.6-Methylenedioxy-2 – aminoindane (MDAI) (C10H11NO2) is an entactogen from the indan class developed by David E. Nichols in the early 90s. MDAI acts as a selective serotonin receptor antagonist
Buphedrone (MABP) (C11H15NO) is an empathogen.
Methedrone 4-methoxymethcathinone (bk-PMMA) (C11H15NO2) is a chemical compound of the class of amphetamines. The drug, which became widespread in 2009, Causes euphoria.
1-methyl-4 – benzylpiperazine (MBZP) (C12H18N2) is a stimulant derived from benzylpiperazine.
5-MeO-DALT (N,N-diallyl-5 – methoxytryptamine) (C17H22N2O) is a psychedelic tryptamine first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin.
5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine, (5-MeO-DiPT) C17H26N2O, psychedelic tryptamine, street name is foxy Il foxy-methoxy.
jwh-018 (C24H23NO) is a chemical compound belonging to the indole family of (aminoalkyl). First synthesized in 1995 by American chemist John Huffman. It is one of the active components of spice. Also this class includes JWH-081, JWH-098, JWH-164, JWH-198, JWH-210
And this list will never end. Only in 2010, 40 new designer drugs appeared in circulation, which was not controlled by the authorities and laws. And in pharmacies – about 2000 types of new drugs, some of which have a direct or side psychotropic effect.