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Review
. 2020;18(10):966-1051.
doi: 10.2174/1570159X18666200302125146.

The e-Psychonauts' 'Spiced' World; Assessment of the Synthetic Cannabinoids' Information Available Online

Caroline Zangani  1 , Fabrizio Schifano  2 , Flavia Napoletano  3 , Davide Arillotta  4 , Liam Gilgar  5 , Amira Guirguis  6 , John M Corkery  2 , Orsola Gambini  1 , Alessandro Vento  7
Affiliations
Review

The e-Psychonauts' 'Spiced' World; Assessment of the Synthetic Cannabinoids' Information Available Online

Caroline Zangani et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2020.

Abstract

Background: A wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) is regularly searched and discussed online by web-based drug enthusiasts (i.e. the e-psychonauts). Among NPS, the range of synthetic cannabinoids (SC; 'Spice') currently represents a challenge for governments and clinicians.

Methods: Using a web crawler (i.e. the NPS.Finder®), the present study aimed at assessing psychonauts' fora/platforms to better understand the online mentions of SC.

Results: The open-web crawling/navigating software identified here some 1,103 synthetic cannabinoids. Of these, 863 molecules were not listed in either the international or the European NPS databases.

Conclusion: A web crawling approach helped here in identifying a large range of unknown SC likely to possess a misuse potential. Most of these novel/emerging molecules are still relatively unknown. This is a reason for concern; each of these analogues potentially presents different toxicodynamic profiles and there is a lack of docking, preclinical, and clinical observations. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians and bioinformatics may prove useful in better assessing SC-associated public health risks.

Keywords: NPS; Psychonauts; new psychoactive substances; synthetic cannabinoids; web crawling.

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Categorization of 1,155 SC: category 1) SC listed by the EMCDDA and/or by the UNODC: 292 molecules; 2a) SC which are already scheduled, and/or for which evidence levels of abuse have already been reported in peer-reviewed papers, but which are not listed by either the EMCDDA or the UNODC: 94 molecules; 2b) SC commented on the psychonauts’ websites/for a: 767 molecules; 3) SC used as laboratory research products/analytical references and/or studied in preclinical or animal research: 2 molecules.
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