If you aren’t in healthcare or law enforcement, you probably aren’t aware of half the recreational drugs that are out there. It seems like every day there’s some new designer drug or exotic plant that people are using to get high, and in fact, it can be hard for officials to keep up with them. What are some of these new drugs, and why do people keep coming up with them?
One reason why people manufacture designer drugs – drugs that are made in a laboratory, also called club drugs – is to keep a step ahead of law enforcement and government regulations. They take a drug that’s already out there and alter it a bit, which can also cause it to have different effects on the brain and body. Another plus of designer drugs – for the users, at least – is that they can be made for potent, so they’re desirable for someone who has built up a considerable tolerance. Of course, these drugs can also be extremely dangerous, especially if they’re mixed with other substances to make them cheaper.
Here are some of the newest designer or homemade drugs that you might not have heard of:
Krokodil – a homemade version of a synthetic opioid that provides a cheap alternative to heroin. It can cause severe tissue damage and gangrene.
Nyaope -a drug cocktail with origins in South Africa, it typically contains heroin, marijuana, cleaning detergents, rat poison, and chlorine. It can be highly addictive and has a variety of unpleasant side effects like painful stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
Purple heroin – a combination of heroin, morphine, fentanyl, and carfentanil (a fentanyl analog). Even tiny amounts of the drug can cause seizures, arrhythmia, breathing difficulties, and death.
Bromo-Dragonfly – a psychedelic drug nearly as potent as LSD. It is unusually long-lasting, with the effects lingering for up to several days.
Salvia Divinorum – a plant whose leaves have psychedelic properties. It’s native to Mexico, where it has been used in healing ceremonies for centuries. Currently, it’s legal in the United States, although the DEA has been considering labeling it a controlled substance.
2C-I or “Smiles” – part of a class of drugs known as phenethylamines, which have stimulant and hallucinogenic properties, similar to amphetamines.
Monkey dust or MDPV – part of the class of drugs known as cathinones, which are related to amphetamine. It causes hallucinations and paranoia, while also causing users to react violently if they feel trapped or threatened. The effects can last for several days.
Gravel, or flakka – a synthetic drug comparable to cocaine but more dangerous. It can cause delirium, dangerously high body temperatures, rage, and paranoia.
These are just a small sampling of the lesser-known drugs on the streets today. Unfortunately, they continued to be developed at an alarming rate, as people search for cheaper, more potent ways to get high.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
