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Research chemicals: Difference between revisions
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[[File:640px-JWH-018.jpg|260px|thumbnail|right|[[JWH-018]] powder as it was commonly sold online]] | [[File:640px-JWH-018.jpg|260px|thumbnail|right|[[JWH-018]] powder as it was commonly sold online]] | ||
'''Research chemicals''' (also called '''RCs''', '''experimental chemicals''', '''legal highs''' or '''designer drugs''') are [[psychoactive substances]] which have undergone little to no scientific | '''Research chemicals''' (also called '''RCs''', '''experimental chemicals''', '''legal highs''' or '''designer drugs''') are [[psychoactive substances]] which have undergone little to no scientific or medical studies.<ref name="faq">Research Chemical FAQ - Experimental and Research Chemicals used as Psychoactives by Erowid & Murple v 1.6 - Jun 4, 2010 (Erowid) | https://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/research_chems/research_chems_faq.shtml</ref> | ||
Vendors often use the term "research chemical" to bypass legal restrictions for selling psychoactive compounds. Research chemicals commonly come in packaging labelled "not for human consumption" and are stated to be solely used for the purposes of scientific research. | |||
There have been multiple deaths caused by research chemicals, including drugs in the [[25x-NBOMe|NBOMe series]], [[Bromo-DragonFLY]]<ref>Bromo-Dragonfly Fatalities / Deaths by Erowid | https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/bromo_dragonfly/bromo_dragonfly_death.shtml</ref>, [[2C-T-7]], and others | Most information about them is based on first-hand experiences and anecdotal evidence. Research chemicals have chemical structures and effects to many illicit substances and are often invented to improve upon existing psychoactive substances, or more commonly, bypass government regulation.<ref>Interview with a Ketamine Chemist By Hamilton Morris (Vice) | https://www.vice.com/read/interview-with-ketamine-chemist-704-v18n2</ref> | ||
The use of research chemicals carries more risks than the use of more common, well-studied drugs mainly because of the lack of medical investigation. There have been multiple deaths caused by research chemicals, including drugs in the [[25x-NBOMe|NBOMe series]], [[Bromo-DragonFLY]]<ref>Bromo-Dragonfly Fatalities / Deaths by Erowid | https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/bromo_dragonfly/bromo_dragonfly_death.shtml</ref>, [[2C-T-7]], and others. | |||
==Toxicity and harm potential== | ==Toxicity and harm potential== | ||
The safety profile of research chemicals is generally unknown due to a lack of medical studies. There is little to no information on the toxicity, negative health risks, long-term side effects, or lethal dosage of these chemicals, which make their use riskier than the use of more common, well-studied substances. It is for this reason that taking these chemicals for extended periods of time, binging on them, and taking excessive doses is strongly discouraged. | The safety profile of research chemicals is generally unknown due to a lack of medical studies. There is little to no information on the toxicity, negative health risks, long-term side effects, or lethal dosage of these chemicals, which make their use riskier than the use of more common, well-studied substances. It is for this reason that taking these chemicals for extended periods of time, binging on them, and taking excessive doses is strongly discouraged. | ||
In terms of known risk factors, common issues for research chemicals include the mislabeling, misidentification, and misrepresentation of products | In terms of known risk factors, common issues for research chemicals include the mislabeling, misidentification, and misrepresentation of products, the adulteration of other compounds, and issues of purity.<ref name="erowid">Experimental & Research Chemicals (Synthetic Drugs, Novel Psychoactive Substances, New Psychoactive Substances, NPS, Replacement Psychoactives) (Erowid) | https://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/research_chems/</ref> | ||
Combining research chemicals presents a risk due to the lack of research and understanding of their pharmacological and toxicological effects. For example, if a research chemical has [[MAOI]] effects (like 2C-T-7), this could make it dangerous to combine it with other [[MAOI]]s, [[stimulant]]s and certain substances which release [[serotonin]] or [[dopamine]]. It is recommended to avoid blends or branded products if the active psychoactive compounds are not listed on the labeling.<ref name="tripsit">Research Chemicals (Tripsit) | https://wiki.tripsit.me/wiki/Research_Chemicals</ref> | Combining research chemicals presents a risk due to the lack of research and understanding of their pharmacological and toxicological effects. For example, if a research chemical has [[MAOI]] effects (like 2C-T-7), this could make it dangerous to combine it with other [[MAOI]]s, [[stimulant]]s and certain substances which release [[serotonin]] or [[dopamine]]. It is recommended to avoid blends or branded products if the active psychoactive compounds are not listed on the labeling.<ref name="tripsit">Research Chemicals (Tripsit) | https://wiki.tripsit.me/wiki/Research_Chemicals</ref> | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Responsible use]] | *[[Responsible use]] | ||
==Literature== | |||
* | *King, L. A., & Kicman, A. T. (2011). A brief history of ‘new psychoactive substances’. Drug Testing and Analysis, 3(7‐8), 401-403. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.319 | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
{{Template:Responsible use2}} | {{Template:Responsible use2}} | ||
[[Category:Responsible drug use]] | [[Category:Responsible drug use]] | ||