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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
8 articles
Newest firstSynthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are novel psychoactive substances (NPS) that are highly potent and associated with a range of severe toxicities. SC use, which is common in UK prisons and homeless communities, typically involves combustion of SC-soaked herb or paper material. Recently, e-cigarettes (or vapes) have emerged as popular delivery vehicles for SCs, and consumption among the general population has risen sign…
Open article record in new tab ↗Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) pose one of the greatest challenges across the illicit drug landscape. They can be highly potent, and coupled with rapid changes in structure, tracking and identifying these drugs is difficult and presents users with a "Russian roulette" if used. Benzodiazepines, synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic cathinones account for the majority of NPS-related deaths an…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background and aims People who use synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) report debilitating side effects and withdrawal symptoms, coupled with dependence. In the UK, SC use was believed to be largely restricted to prison, where they are the most common drug and associated with nearly half of non-natural deaths, or poly-drug users in the community who are also likely to be homeless. However, national media reporting has in…
Open article record in new tab ↗ABSTRACT Background and Aims The use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) in e-cigarettes represents a significant public health threat to young people. Our previous research in the 2023-2024 academic year established a high prevalence of SCs in e-cigarettes seized from English schools and suggested that many of these were sourced through social media. This study provides a crucial update of drug occurrence in secondar…
Open article record in new tab ↗Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), colloquially spice or K2, are the most common drug to be found in prisons in the UK, where they are associated with nearly half of non-natural deaths. In the community, SCs are associated with poly-drug users who are also likely to be homeless. People who use SCs report debilitating side effects and withdrawal symptoms, coupled with dependence. Until now, SC use was believed to be lar…
Open article record in new tab ↗With synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) use still prevalent across Europe and structurally advanced generations emerging, it is imperative that drug detection methods advance in parallel. SCRAs are a chemically diverse and evolving group, which makes rapid detection challenging. We have previously shown that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting (FSF) has the potential to provide rapid assessment of SCRA…
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) make up a class of novel psychoactive substances (NPS), used predominantly in prisons and homeless communities in the U.K. SCs can have severe side effects, including psychosis, stroke, and seizures, with numerous reported deaths associated with their use. The chemical diversity of SCs presents the major challenge to their detection since approaches relying on specific molecular recogn…
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are one of the fastest growing classes of recreational drugs. Despite their growth in use, their vast chemical diversity and rapidly changing landscape of structures make understanding their effects challenging. In particular, the side effects for SCRA use are extremely diverse, but notably include severe outcomes such as cardiac arrest. These side effects appear at…