Raising awareness of research chemicals is a legal requirement

Although you may not know what research chemicals are, we are currently experiencing an increasing risk of abuse of these chemicals in the US and the world at large. Research chemicals are psychoactive drugs that are discovered through research and experimentation with existing drugs. Existing drugs are researched and tested so that scientists can better understand their structure, activity, general behavior, interactions, and side effects. Studying existing medicines in laboratories can improve our collective understanding of a substance and help save lives in the future. However, this research may modify existing drugs to produce what are commonly known as “designer drugs.”

These designer drugs often have similar effects to the drug that was originally investigated, but the chemical structure of the designer drug is often different from that of the initial drug. This distinction is key: where an originator drug may be illegal and known to be dangerous, for example, a designer drug may gain popularity because it is not technically the same drug as the originator drug and therefore, in some jurisdictions, technically not illegal.

The term “research chemicals,” once just clever business jargon, has further confused the issue. The term may seem scientific and safe by association to users when the drugs are anything but. Meanwhile, the term could confuse law enforcement officials or others who are under the impression that research chemicals are somehow different from designer drugs.

Research chemicals are designed to be powerful. They act specifically on the brain, inducing hallucinations, sensations of pleasure, relaxation or stimulation very quickly. The dangerous side effects last a long time, with little understanding of how long the chemicals will bind to receptors in the brain or how they are metabolized outside the body.

While many new synthetic drugs, sometimes called new psychoactive substances or NPSs, have received a lot of media attention in recent years, the research chemicals these drugs are based on are not new. Still, the widespread production and distribution of these substances specifically for dangerous recreational abuse is a new problem facing the United States.

signs of abuse

There is no sure way to identify the abuse of research chemicals and designer drugs. Because these drugs are designed in some cases to mimic existing drugs of all kinds and in other cases to behave independently of any parent drug, the signs and symptoms of use and abuse of these drugs vary widely. However, one way to help identify research chemical abuse is to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of drugs with which they are closely related, as well as known designer drugs on the market as information becomes available. is available. However, there are broad signs of drug abuse in general that could help you identify abuse of one of these drugs. Be sure to keep an eye out for:

-Changes in appearance

-Changes in behavior

-Changes in performance at work or school

-Decreased interest in drug-free activities.

-Depression

-Anxiety

-Humor changes

-Social changes that may involve new friendships.

-Secret

-Changes in energy levels

-Dizziness

-Nausea

-changes in affection

– Sudden financial stress

Treatment

Like any other addiction, addiction to research chemicals or designer drugs can be successfully treated. Dual diagnosis care may often be needed if the abuse problem co-occurs with other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, a personality disorder, or an eating disorder. If you or a loved one has struggled with the abuse of these dangerous drugs, get the help you need today. Call now to learn more about how our comprehensive treatment options can help.