Alarm over synthetic cannabinoids

Fluorinated-Squaramide Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Performance and Interference-Free Extraction of Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), one of the largest groups of new psychoactive substances (NPSs), have emerged as a significant public health threat in different regions worldwide. Analyzing SCs in water samples is critical to estimate their consumption and control. However, due to their low background concentration and the coexistence of complex matrix, the selective and effective enrichment of SCs is still challenging. In this study, a series of fluorinated-squaramide-based covalent organic frameworks (COF: FSQ-2, FSQ-3, and FSQ-4) are synthesized, and the as-prepared FSQ-4 exhibits strong affinity to different SCs. The proper pore size (1.4 nm) and pre-located functional groups (hydrogen-bond donors, hydrogen-bond acceptors, and fluorophilic segments) work synergistically for efficient SCs capture. Remarkably, when coupled FSQ-4 with solid-phase microextraction (SPME), trace-level (part per trillion, 10-9 ) determination of 13 SCs can be easily achieved, representing one of the best results among NPS analyses, and the excellent extraction performance can be maintained under various interfering conditions.

Consumption of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Pilot Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with an increased risk for substance abuse and addiction. Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have gained rising importance as their consumption increased rapidly in the last few years. However, SC consumption in patients with adult ADHD has not been investigated yet. A prospective clinical pilot study was conducted, including 60 adults with ADHD, assessing the prevalence of SC consumption and its associations with psychiatric comorbidities and patient characteristics. A drug consumption survey was utilized to investigate the use of SC and other drugs. Current ADHD symptoms were evaluated via ADHD Self-Rating Scale (ADHD-SR) and retrospective childhood ADHD symptom severity via Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-k) questionnaire. A positive lifetime prevalence of SC consumption was found in 15.0% of the analyzed sample. SC consumption was significantly associated with current smoking, lifetime use of natural cannabis (NC), cocaine, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. Lifetime NC consumption was indicated by 65.0% and found to antecede SC use in adult ADHD patients. Logistic regression analysis identified substance use disorder and male sex as predictive for SC consumption. Patients with history of SC use scored significantly higher in both WURS-k and ADHD-SR questionnaire compared with nonusers and suffered significantly more frequently from psychiatric comorbidities. Main side-effects of SC included gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. SC consumption in adults with ADHD is frequent and associated with stronger ADHD symptom severity. Given the underestimated dangerous effects and related comorbidities, SC use should be subject to scrutiny by clinicians treating ADHD patients. More studies are needed to further elucidate the impact of SC use in ADHD.

Broad and Region-Specific Impacts of the Synthetic Cannabinoid CP 55,940 in Adolescent and Adult Female Mouse Brains

Relative to Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the synthetic cannabinoid CP 55,940 (CP) is significantly more potent and efficacious at cannabinoid receptors, the primary targets for endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs). eCBs belong to a large, interconnected lipidome of bioactive signaling molecules with a myriad of effects in optimal and pathological function. Recreational use of highly potent and efficacious synthetic cannabinoids is common amongst adolescents, potentially impacting brain development. Knowledge of the molecular outcomes of synthetic cannabinoid use will be important to develop more targeted therapies for synthetic cannabinoid intoxication and to prevent long-term disruption to the CNS. Here, we test the hypothesis that CP has age and region-dependent effects on the brain lipidome. Adolescent [post-natal day (PND) 35 and PND 50] and young adult female mice were given either an acute dose of CP or vehicle and brains were collected 2 h later. Eight brain regions were dissected and levels of ∼80 lipids were screened from each region using HPLC/MS/MS. CP had widespread effects on the brain lipidome in all age groups. Interestingly, more changes were observed in the PND 35 mice and more were reductions in a lipid’s concentration, including region-dependent lowering of eCB levels. CP levels were highest in the cortex at PND 35, the hippocampus at PND 50, and in the cerebellum in the adult. These data provide novel insights into how high-potency, synthetic cannabinoids drive different, age-dependent, cellular signaling effects in the brain.

Differentiation of the Isomers of N-Alkylated Cathinones by GC-EI-MS-MS and LC-PDA

Synthetic compounds structurally derived from the mild stimulant 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone, known as cathinone derivatives, are one of the largest growing class of synthetic designer drugs. The characterization of these drugs is complicated by the structural diversity and similarity of compounds in the ever-growing cathinone family. This paper demonstrates the successful application of gas chromatography-electron ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS-MS) and liquid chromatography-photodiode array (LC-PDA) analysis to differentiate structurally similar derivatives including regioisomers of cathinones. Product ion spectrometry of iminium ions allows for an univocal differentiation of the studied cathinones with the same aminoalkyl moiety. Furthermore, the product ion spectrometry of acylium ions and ultraviolet spectra obtained by LC-PDA enabled differentiation of regioisomers resulting from different substitution patterns on the aromatic ring. The validity of the method was demonstrated by the analysis of N-alkylated ortho-, meta-, and para-alkylcathinones along with the scaffolds of buphedrones and pentiophenones.

The Role of Public Health in Combatting Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in Adolescents

As the country struggles to address an epidemic of alcohol and drug overdose, a wide-ranging category of chemical substances known as synthetic drugs have provoked a new sense of public urgency over the past decade. Synthetic cannabinoids, a heterogeneous and evolving set of synthetic compounds that act on endogenous cannabinoid receptors, have become particularly popular among adolescents due to their relative ease of access and reputation as a "legal high." The Baltimore City Health Department has worked to combat the recent surge in synthetic drug use through a major public awareness campaign, legislative reform, and retailer engagement and compliance initiative. In doing so, the city has built a coalition of clinicians, advocates, retailers, educators, legislators, and community members to fight synthetic cannabinoid use in Baltimore City. In this commentary piece, we offer strategies from our work and from that of our colleagues across the country for clinicians and communities fighting to stem the tide of recreational synthetic cannabinoid use.

Novel Psychoactive Substances-Recent Progress on Neuropharmacological Mechanisms of Action for Selected Drugs

A feature of human culture is that we can learn to consume chemical compounds, derived from natural plants or synthetic fabrication, for their psychoactive effects. These drugs change the mental state and/or the behavioral performance of an individual and can be instrumentalized for various purposes. After the emergence of a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) and a period of experimental consumption, personal and medical benefits and harm potential of the NPS can be estimated on evidence base. This may lead to a legal classification of the NPS, which may range from limited medical use, controlled availability up to a complete ban of the drug form publically accepted use. With these measures, however, a drug does not disappear, but frequently continues to be used, which eventually allows an even better estimate of the drug's properties. Thus, only in rare cases, there is a final verdict that is no more questioned. Instead, the view on a drug can change from tolerable to harmful but may also involve the new establishment of a desired medical application to a previously harmful drug. Here, we provide a summary review on a number of NPS for which the neuropharmacological evaluation has made important progress in recent years. They include mitragynine ("Kratom"), synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., "Spice"), dimethyltryptamine and novel serotonergic hallucinogens, the cathinones mephedrone and methylone, ketamine and novel dissociative drugs, γ-hydroxybutyrate, γ-butyrolactone, and 1,4-butanediol. This review shows not only emerging harm potentials but also some potential medical applications.

Dose-dependent teratogenicity of the synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940 in mice

Potent synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs) are illegally distributed drugs of abuse that are frequently consumed in spite of their adverse consequences. This study was designed to determine if the toxicity observed in adults also extends to the prenatal period by examining the developmental toxicity/teratogenicity of one of these SCBs, CP-55,940, in a mammalian model. First, immunohistochemistry was employed for cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) localization within gestational day (GD) 8 mouse embryos; this receptor was identified in the cranial neural plate, suggesting that the endogenous cannabinoid system may be involved in normal development. Based on this information and on previous avian teratogenicity studies, the current investigation focused on cannabinoid exposure during neurulation. The treatment paradigm involved acute i.p. administration of vehicle, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0mg/kg CP-55,940 to time-mated C57Bl/6J mice on their 8th day of pregnancy (n>10 litters per treatment group). On GD 17, litters were harvested and examined for numbers of live, dead, or resorbed fetuses, as well as for fetal weight, length, and gross morphological abnormalities. No effect on litter size, fetal weight, or crown rump length was seen at any of the CP-55,940 dosages tested. Major malformations involving the craniofacies and/or eyes were noted in all drug-treated groups. Selected fetuses with craniofacial malformations were histologically sectioned and stained, allowing investigation of brain anomalies. Observed craniofacial, ocular, and brain abnormalities in drug-treated fetuses included lateral and median facial clefts, cleft palate, microphthalmia, iridial coloboma, anophthalmia, exencephaly, holoprosencephaly, and cortical dysplasia. With the most commonly observed defects involving the eyes, the incidence and severity of readily identifiable ocular malformations were utilized as a basis for dose-response analyses. Ocular malformation ratings revealed dose-dependent CP-55,940 teratogenicity within the full range of dosages tested. While examination of additional critical periods and in depth mechanistic studies is warranted, the results of this investigation clearly show the dose-dependent teratogenicity of this SCB.

The behavioral profile of spice and synthetic cannabinoids in humans

The use of synthetic cannabinoids (spice) is increasing. The number of descriptions of (new) clinical side effects is also increasing. We screened relevant publications for articles about spice with a focus on the clinical manifestations of the use of this drug. Spice creates diffuse psychiatric and somatic effects that are only partially similar to those of natural cannabinoids. Most of the observed effects are related to sympathomimetic-cardiac effects and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Clinical treatment is primarily based on intensive apparative and laboratory monitoring and supportive therapy. Because the exact active ingredients of spice are often difficult to determine with standard specific toxicology testing, the assessment and analysis of consumed substances by specialized laboratories is recommended.