PSYC1022- Psychology of Addiction LECTURE 1 + 2- ORIGINS AND MANUFACTURE OF DRUGS DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS • Drugs can be used classified in many ways: - Licit- Legal - Illicit- Illegal - Based on their effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS). • One method involves classification based on the drug’s CNS effects 1. Depressants: Slow down CNS activity 2. Stimulants: Speed up CNS activity 3. Hallucinogens: Alter sensory perceptions (psychotogenic) by interfering with CNS signalling 4. Other: Substances that fit into several categories as there are different experiences across individuals. Also, includes drugs that have more than one effect on the body and CNS. DEPRESSANTS: ALCOHOL containing liquid can be simply created by leaving fruit in a container for some period of time. Consume liquid to experience the drugs’ effect. • It has been conjected that alcohol was consumed by Palaeolithic humans may have consumed alcohol but there is little direct evidence. • The first direct evidence of alcohol production comes from an archaeological site in Jehu, China where pots dating from 7000-5800BC (Neolithic period) were found to find the residue of an alcoholic liquid made from fermented rice, honey & hawthorn. • “Chateau Jiahu” which has been reverse engineered from molecular archaeology. Alcohol made from rice flakes, wildflower honey, Muscat grapes, hawthorn fruit with barley malt & fermented with a sake yeast. • 4100BC: Areni-1 Cave, Armenia- one of the earliest known sites of wine production. • The press sits inside the cave and is slanted downwards towards the mouth of a large jar inserted in the platform's edge to catch the crushed grape juice. This same design of wine press was common throughout the Mediterranean till 1900.
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
PSYC1022-PsychologyofAddictionLECTURE1+2-ORIGINSANDMANUFACTUREOFDRUGSDRUGCLASSIFICATIONS• Drugscanbeusedclassifiedinmanyways:
- Licit-Legal- Illicit-Illegal- BasedontheireffectontheCentralNervousSystem(CNS).
• Onemethodinvolvesclassificationbasedonthedrug’sCNSeffects1. Depressants:SlowdownCNSactivity2. Stimulants:SpeedupCNSactivity3. Hallucinogens:Altersensoryperceptions(psychotogenic)byinterferingwithCNS
signalling4. Other:Substancesthatfitintoseveralcategoriesastherearedifferentexperiences
acrossindividuals.Also,includesdrugsthathavemorethanoneeffectonthebodyandCNS.
DEPRESSANTS:ALCOHOLcontainingliquidcanbesimplycreatedbyleavingfruitinacontainerforsomeperiodoftime.Consumeliquidtoexperiencethedrugs’effect.• Ithasbeenconjectedthatalcoholwasconsumedby
Palaeolithichumansmayhaveconsumedalcoholbutthereislittledirectevidence.
• ThefirstdirectevidenceofalcoholproductioncomesfromanarchaeologicalsiteinJehu,Chinawherepotsdatingfrom7000-5800BC(Neolithicperiod)werefoundtofindtheresidueofanalcoholicliquidmadefromfermentedrice,honey&hawthorn.
• “ChateauJiahu”whichhasbeenreverseengineeredfrommoleculararchaeology.Alcoholmadefromriceflakes,wildflowerhoney,Muscatgrapes,hawthornfruitwithbarleymalt&fermentedwithasakeyeast.
• 4100BC:Areni-1Cave,Armenia-oneoftheearliestknownsitesofwineproduction.• Thepresssitsinsidethecaveandisslanteddownwardstowardsthemouthofalargejarinsertedintheplatform'sedgetocatchthecrushedgrapejuice.ThissamedesignofwinepresswascommonthroughouttheMediterraneantill1900.
• Today,alcoholisgloballyavailable.• Accordingtoreportin2014fromWHO:
- Worldwideconsumptionis6.2Lofpurealcoholperpersonabove15yearsold.- Highertheeconomicwealthofacountrythehighertheconsumptionofalcohol.- HighestratesinEurope,RussianFederation,Australia,Canada- Unrecorded(i.e.home-brewedliquor)isthoughttoaccountforalmost25%of
worldwideconsumption- 3.3milliondeathsworldwideareattributabletoalcoholconsumption
OPIUMisderivedfromthesapoftheopiumpoppyseedhead,whichisreleasedfollowingtissuedamageandactsasananti-herbivorechemical.• Greatcareistakentochoosethetimeformakingincisionsintothepoppyseeheadso
neitherrain,windanddewcanspoilthesap,soweatherconsiderationsareimportantforchoosingwhentomakeincisions.Sapisthencollectedandtheopiumbrickisthentypicallysoldbythefarmertothebroker.
• Inancienttimes,opiumwastheendproductbutmorerecently,brokerssupplytheopiumtorefineswhoconvertitintoamoretransportablemorphinebrickorheroinepowder.
• Selectivebreedinghasyieldedanopiumpoppythathassubstantiallyhigherconcentrationsofopioidsthanthewildvariant.Mostcommonlygrowntoday.
• OpiumwasusedthroughoutbroadlythroughoutEurope,Asia,MiddleEast&NorthAfricaduringtheNeolithicage(10,000-2000BC).Therearenumerousarchaeologicalsitesofopiumpoppyseedpodsburiedinaritualorsacredcontext.ForExample:
- 4200BCBrittany,France-ceramicbowlsfoundinasacredsite
- SouthernSpain-globularglassbagsofopiumcapsulesfoundinaburialsite
Numerousmajorearliercivilisationshavealsoleftwrittenrecordsofopiumuse:• 1500BC:TheEbersPapyrus
- isbelievedtohavebeencopiedfromearliertexts(Circa3400BC)- foundbetweenthelegsofamummyinatombnearLuxor,Egypt- 1872:PurchasedbyProfessorEbers- Thepapyrusdescribesamixtureofopiumandanothermaterialwhichwasfound
effectiveinquieteningcryingchildren.- sometimeagochildreninEgypt,IndiaandEuropewerebeingsoothedwithopium.
Itissaidthatmothersoftenlacedtheirnippleswithpoppyjuicesothatthechildwouldimmediatelystopcryinguponsuckingthe‘drugged’milk.
• 1332-1323BC:CultivationandtradeofopiumwasinfulloperationduringthereignofKingTutankhamun-contributedsignificantlytothewealthoftheEgyptianpharaohs.
• 700BC:Homer’s‘TheOdyssey’- Opiumrecreationalusedescribed:Telemachusisdepressedafterfailingtofindhis
fatherOdysseus.ButthenHelen,“...hadahappythought.Intothebowlinwhichtheirwinewasmixed,sheslippedadrugthathadthepowerofrobbinggriefandangeroftheirstingandbanishingallpainfulmemories.Noonewhoswallowedthisdissolvedintheirwinecouldshedasingletearthatday,evenforthedeathofhismotherorfather,oriftheyputhisbrotherorhisownsontotheswordandheweretheretoseeitdone..."
- Opium’sabilitytoridthebodyofpainandgivethebodyanintensefeelingofeuphoria–thisiswhatmakesheroinesoaddictive.
MORPHINEwasisolatedbytheGermanpharmacist,FriedrichSertürnerin1803.SertürnernameditafterMorphius,theGreekGodofdreams.• Morphinecrystalswereaddedtofoodtokillunwantedratsanddogsinthetown.He
observedintheseanimalsthatmorphineevokedsleepandeventuallydeath.• Hesufferedfromgoutinhislaterlife&quelledhispainwiththeverymorphinehehad
isolated.• Thealkaloidmorphineisgenerally8to14%ofthedryweightofopium.• Sertürner’sMorphineextractionmethodstillusedinillicitlabs.• Ittakesafulldaytoextract‘pure’morphinefromopium.
LAUDANUM• 1493-1541:Paracelsus,aSwiss-Germanoccultistdiscoveredthatopiumcouldbe
betterdissolvedintoasolutionofalcoholthanwater.- HenamedthatsolutionLaudanum(AKAtinctureofopium)- Headdedavarietyofingredientssuchasgarlic&frogspawn- Althoughusefulforpainreduction,thecompoundwaslargelyignored.
• 1624-1689:ThomasSydenham,Englishphysicianproduced&promotedhisownLaudanumrecipewhichcouldbeusedasacureforarangeofmedicalconditions.Hisrecipeincluded:1PtCanaryIslandwine,2Ozstrainedopium,1Ozsaffron.
• 1837-1901:usecontinuedinVictorianEngland&USA• especiallybywomen• Laudanumremainsavailablebyprescriptioninthesecountriesalthoughtherapeutic
applicationsaregenerallyrestrictedtopainrelief&alleviatingwithdrawalsymptomsinbabiesborntoheroinoropiateaddictedmothers
• 1910onwards:increasinglyrestrictivelawsestablishedwhichregulatedtheproductionandsaleofaddictivecompoundsincludingLaudanum.
CODEINEisanalkaloid(likemorphine)presentinmorphineataconcentrationofabout1-3%.• 1821:PierreRobiquet(Frenchchemist)isolatedfrommorphineusingtheprocessof
Omethylation(substitutionofanatombyamethylgroup.• Itisthemostwidelyusedopiateintheworldandhasanexcellentsafetyrecord• Itisusedasananalgesic(pain),antitussive(coughing),antidiarrheal,antihypertensive
(bloodpressure),antianxiety,sedative,tosuppressprematurelaborcontractionsandmyocardialinfarction(heartattack).
• Itdoeshaveaddictivepotentialbutislesspotentthanmorphineorheroin.HEROIN(diacetylmorphine):firstsynthesisedbyEnglishchemist,CharlesWrightin1874.• Heaccidentlyboiledmorphineandaceticacid,overastoveforseveralhours.This
processofacetylationintroducesanacetylgroupintothecompound.• Themoderntechniqueofproducingheroineentailsacomplicatedseriesofstepsina
goodlaboratory:1. equalquantitiesofmorphineandaceticacidareheatedinaglassorenamel-lined
containerforsixhoursat85C.Themorphineandtheacidcombinetoformimpurediacetylmorphine.
2. waterandchloroformareaddedtothesolutiontoprecipitateimpurities.Thesolutionisdrained&sodiumcarbonateaddedtomaketheheroinsolidifyandsink.
3. heroinisfilteredoutofthesodiumcarbonatesolutionwithactivatedcharcoalandpurifiedwithalcohol.Thissolutionisgentlyheatedtoevaporatethealcoholandleaveheroin,whichmaybepurifiedfurther.
4. Purificationinthefourthstage,involvingetherandhydrochloricacid,isnotoriouslyriskyasthevolatileethergasmayignite&produceaviolentexplosion.Thefinalproductisafluffy,whitepowderknowninthetradeasnumberfour(pure)heroin.
• 1898:FelixHoffman,Germanphysicistdiscoveredthesameprocess23yearslater.• HeworkedatBayer&discoveredaspirinbysubjectingsalicylicacidtothesame
acetylationprocessthatCharlesWrighthadappliedtomorphine.• Hoffmannreplicatedthisprocedure&namedtheresultingdiacetylmorphine,heroin,
inreferencetoitsheroiceffects• Bayermarketedheroinasaneffectivesedativeforcoughs,likemorphine,butwithout
theaddictivepotential• Salesrocketedandwidespreaddependencefollowed• In1913,Bayerceasedproductionwiththeintroductionofwidespreadlegislationto
controltheproductionandsaleofsuchcompounds.
STIMULANTS:TABACCO(Nicotine)wassmokedbytribesacrosstheAmericas.ItwasdiscoveredbyChristopherColumbusin12October1492,whenhelandedinSanSalvidorIslandintheBahamas.Scoutsreportedtribespeoplesmoking“half-burnedwoodintheirhands.”
• In1492:RodrigodeJerezwasknowntobethefirstEuropeansmoker.InNovember1942,heobservedtheSanSalvidornativessmokingandpickedupthehabit,whichhethenintroducedtohisfriendsinhishometown,Ayamonte,Spain.TheSpanishInquisitionimprisonedhimforhis“sinfulandinfernalhabits.”Hewasreleased7yearslaterwhensmokinghadcaughton.
• 1523:TobaccomerchantofLisbonofficiallydocumented-showinghowquicklythetradeoftobaccoleafhadbeenestablished.
• 1604:StuartKingJamesIdenouncedtobaccouseas“harmfultothebrain,dangeroustothelungs.”
• 1604:Englishintroduceheavytariffsontobaccoimportsbeginningtheperversefinancialrelationshipbetweenthestateandtobaccomerchants.
• 1609:CommercialproductionbeganinJamestown,VirginiafromtobaccoimportedfromBermuda
• Until1883:Tobaccoexcisetaxaccountedforone-thirdoftheinternalrevenuecollectedbytheUSgovernment.
• In1962,Britain’sRoyalCollegeofPhysicians:Publishedcausallinkbetweensmoking&lungcancer,bronchitisandcardiovasculardisease
• Itisnowbroadlyrecognisedbygovernmentsthatquitsmokinginterventionsyieldsubstantiallongtermprofitsresultingfromreducedhealthcareexpenditure&moreproductiveeconomicactivity.Thus,theshort-termreductionintaxrevenuesaremorethancompensatedforbylongtermprofits.Thiseconomicargumentunderpinsdevelopedcounties’sustainedpoliciesforreducingsmoking
• Nicotineconstitutesapprox.0.6-3%ofthedryweightoftobaccoleafwithbiosynthesisthattakesplaceintherootsandaccumulatesintheleaves.
• Nicotinefunctionsasananti-herbivorechemical.Itisapotentneurotoxin,particularlytoinsects.E.g.applicationofnicotinetoplantmaterialrepelstheWesternFlowerThrip(amongstothers).
• Nicotinederivativecompoundswidelyusedaspesticidesinagriculturetoreduceplantdamage
COCAINEisanalkaloid(likenicotineandtheopiatealkaloids).Itisderivedfromtheleavesofthecocaplantandactsasananti-herbivorechemical.CocainegrownaturallyinabundanceinSouthAmerica.• Paleobotanicalevidence,aswellasarchaeologicalartefactsindicatethatCocaleaves
wereconsumedbynativesofVenezuela,Colombia,Ecuador,Peru,Bolivia&NorthArgentina.Theseregionsareareaswheretheplantgrowsnaturallyinabundance.
• Evidenceincludes:• 1000BC:MummiesfoundinNorthernChileshowedthepresenceofcocaine• 6000BC:Evidenceofcocaleaf&limeproduction&distributioninNanchocValley,
Peru• Teainfusions(oftenwithanalkalinesubstancesuchaslimetohelpreleasethe
psychoactivealkaloids)orchewedleaveswereconsumedbySouthAmericannatives.ThisisstilllegalinPeruandBoliviaandiswidelypracticedbynativesinotherSouthAmericancountriesdespiteprohibition
• 1500s:SpanishconquistadorslandedinSouthAmericawheretheyinitiallydismissedcocaleafconsumptionasthe‘Devilswork’butsooncametocommercialise&taxits
distributionwhentheydiscoveredthattheenslavednativepopulationworkedharderunderitsinfluence.
• ItwasintroducedinSpainbythe1600sbutdidnotbecomepopularuntiltheItalianneurologist,PaoloMantegazza,publishedareportin1858whichhighlightedthecognitiveenhancingeffectsofcocaleafinfusions.Thisledtoseveralcommercialwineproductscontainingcocainfusions.
• TheUSstateofGeorgiaintroducedalcoholprohibitionsin1886.JohnPemberton,USPharmacist,developedanon-alcoholicrecipewithsweetsyrup&cocainfusion,knownasCoca-Cola.
• 1904:CocaineisextractedfromtheCoca-Colarecipefollowingtheprohibitionofcocaine.
• Thecocainealkaloidwasfirstisolatedin1855byGermanchemist,FriedrakeGaedckewhonamedit“erythroxyline.”
• In1860,AlbertNiemannpublishedhisPhDthesisinwhichhedescribedabetterextractionprocess,whichisthebasisofthecontemporarytechnique.Hedescribeditsanaestheticeffects,whichisreductionintouchsensation,andnameditcocaine.
• 3stepsofNiemann’stechniqueareusedbySouthAmericandrugcartelsforillicitproduction:1. Cocapaste:Placemaceratedleavesina55-gallondrum&coverwithwater.Add
kerosene(asolvent)&mixvigorouslybyhandorplaceinwashingmachineorcementmixertodissolvethewaterinsolublecocainealkaloid,thenfilteroffleafwaste&retainthesolution.Adddilutesulfuricacidtoturnthecocaineintowatersolublecocainesulfate,thenaddlimetoprecipitatecocapasteasayellowsolid.Remove&packagethepaste.
2. Cokebase:Dissolvecocapasteindilutesulfuricacid.Carefullyaddtheoxidizingagentpotassiumpermanganateandstirvigorouslytoprecipitateremainingimpuritiesasablacksludgeleavingoverlyingsolutionclear.Filter&addammoniatoprecipitatepurecokebase.
3. Cocainehydrochloride:Dissolvecokebaseindiethylethertoprecipitateremainingimpurities.Filtersolutionandstirinanequalvolumeofacetone&hydrochloricacidwhichimmediatelyprecipitatescocainehydrochlorideasshinywhite,flakycrystals.Filter&dryunderheat-lampsand/ormicrowaveovens,press,package&ship.
TypesofCocaine:• CocaineHydrochloride:isinjected,snortedortakenorally.Itisnotsmokedbecauseit
willnotvaporizeuntilabout197°C.Thisburns&destroysthealkaloidgivingaweakhighplusafoultaste.
• FreebaseCocaine:ismadebydissolvingcocainehydrochlorideinwater,diethyletherandammonia,thenextractingtheprecipitate.Freebasevaporisesat98oC,soitcanbesmoked,givingthisformafasterhigh.However,diethyletherishighlyflammableinproduction&residualammoniaisdamagingtothelungs.
• CrackCocaine:devisedtoenablesmokingwithouttheproblemsofafreebase.Crackismadebydissolvingcocainehydrochlorideinwaterandsodiumbicarbonate(bakingpowder)toformthecrystallisedprecipitate.Itcrackleswhensmokedgivingitsname.thisisapotentlyaddictivesubstance.
AMPHETAMINEderivedfromtheplantEphedrawhichgrowsthroughouttheworld.•ThisplanthaslongbeenusedinChinesemedicineforthetreatmentofasthma,hayfever&colds.• 1885:Japaneseorganicchemist,NagaiNagayoshiextractedthesympathomimetic
amine,ephedrine,fromephedra.Itwasusedasadecongestant(clearblockednose)&tostopasthmaattacks(preferabletoaninjectionofadrenalinusedatthetime).
• 1887:AmphetaminewasfirstsynthesizedbyRomanianchemistLazărEdeleanu,inanattempttomakeasyntheticephedrine,butitwaslargelyignored.Namedphenylisopropylaminebecausethestartingcompoundwasphenyl-2-propanone(P2P)ratherthanplantderivedephedrine.ThisisbecauseamphetamineisweakerwhenmadefromtheprecursorephedrinethanfromP2P
• Inthe1920s,therewasashortageofephedrineduetoacivilwarinChina,asaresult,in1927,theallergist,GordonAlles,resynthesizedamphetamine.
• In1933,pharmaceuticalcompanySmith,Kline&FrenchreleasedamphetamineinaninhalerunderthetradenameBenzedrine,asadecongestantforblockednose&asthma. StudiesofBenzedrinefollowedwhereuponitsmoodenhancing&energisingpropertiesbecameincreasinglyapparent.
• Benzedrine&hetaminetabletswerewidelyusedinWorldWarIItoincreasealertness,especiallyamongstlongrangebomberpilots.Butitbecameincreasinglyclearthatperformanceenhancingeffectswerelargelyinthemindoftheusers,whereasobjectively,theirperformancewasimpaired,despiteanelevationinmood.Thiscombinedwiththeaddictivepropertiesledamphetaminetobeusedlessasthewarcontinued.
• DuringtheHippieerainthe1960s,therewasanepidemicofamphetamineuse.Thisgaverisetomoralpanic,raisingtheproblemofdrugaddictiongenerallyupthepoliticalagenda.NenzedrineinhalerswerebannedandtheregulationofprescriptionamphetaminecameintoforceinboththeUSandtheUKattheendofthatera(1970s)
METHAMPHETAMINE• Nagayoshiextractedephedrinefromephedraplantin1885.Hisfurtherresearchinto
chemicalmanipulationofephedrineledtothecreationofmeth(powderedform).• DevelopmentofthecrystallineformofmethamphetaminewasdevelopedbyAkira
Ogatain1919.Methamphetamineissimplertoproducecomparedtoamphetamine.IthasasimilarchemicalstructuretoamphetaminewiththeadditionofamethylgroupwhichallowsittobemoreeasilyabsorbedintotheCNS.
• 1939-1945:- duringWWIIGermanymanufactured&distributedmorethan35milliontabletsof
methwhichcontributedtotherapidinvasionofEuropeAKABlitzkergor“lightningwar”,buttheyhaltedproductionduring1941followingrecognitionofitsdangerouspotential.
- Japaneseprovidedmeththroughoutthewar,particularlytoKamikazepilots- Civilianmethabusemultipliedbytheendofthewarwhenmilitarysupplieswere
openedforsaletotheJapanesepublic.OTHER:Thesedrugshavemixed/combinedeffectsontheCNS
MDMA(3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine)isclassifiedbytheNSWHealthassubstanceinthe“Other”.MDMAisclassifiedasbothastimulantandahallucinogen.• Oftenclassedwithinthe‘amphetamine’groupinsomeclassificationsystemsthus,it
hasaStimulantclassification.However,ithasagreaterempathogeniceffectthangeneralstimulants(increasedempathyorloveofothers,thusstreetname“Ecstasy”).ItisalsoclassifiedasaHallucinogen-Differentexperiencesacrossindividuals(hence“Other”classification)
• PrimaryprecursorisSafrole,alightoilyliquidextractedfromtheroot-barkorthefruitofthesassafrastree.TherearenumerouspublishedmethodsforsynthesisingsafroleintoMDMA.
• Itwasfirstsynthesisedin1912bytheGermanchemistAntonKöllischwhoworkedfor
thepharmaceuticalcompanycalledMerck.TheaimforKöllisch wastodevelopahaemostaticsubstancetostopabnormalbleeding.
• Followingsynthesisin1912itlaydormantinMerck’slibraryfor65years.Itsdevelopmentintoastreetdrugfollowedthistimeline:
• 1927:MerckscientistMaxOberlinreportsMDMA’ssimilaritytoephedrine(precursorofmeth/amphetamine).
• 1953:USmilitarycommissionsstudieswitharangeofpsychoactivecompoundsincludingMDMA(declassifiedin1973).
• 1958:independentsynthesisofthesamecompoundinJapanbyYutakaKasuya.•1970:FirstreportofrecreationalMDMAuseintheUS.
• 1970s:PharmacistAlexanderShulginsynthesizesMDMApublishesreportsofitsmoodenhancingeffects&improvementoftherapeuticengagement.
• 1980s:MDMAbecomesincreasinglypopularindance/raveculture.• 1985s:Stateprohibitionofthecompoundisintroduced.• 2010s:MDMAusagedecreasingduetoscarcityofprecursorchemical(safrole)dueto
substitutionbysocalled‘designer’drugs(e.g.mephedrone,BZP,MDPV,methylone)whichhavebeenrediscoveredbyillicitdrugchemistsfromarchaicacademicdocumentstosidestepprohibitivelawsagainstofexistingdrugs.
CANNABISplantisbelievedtohaveoriginatedinthemountainousregionsnorthwestoftheHimalayas.• Twokeyverities:
- Sativa:greaterfibrecontentandtherefore,usefulformakingwovenmaterialandhasahigherpsychotomimeticeffect.
- Indica:hasalowerfibrecontentandtherefore,lowpsychotomimeticeffect• Itisthoughtthatthesetwovarietieswereseparatedfromthewildtype(whichhas
intermediateproperties)throughselectivebreedingimposedbyearliergenerationsofthenativepopulationwhomadeuseoftheplantsforintoxication,clothes,nets,ropeandstring
• Directevidencefortheearliestcannabisconsumptionfordrug/ritualeffectcomesfromapreservedburialsiteinTurpan,North-WestChinadatingaroundCirca1000BC.- The‘shaman’hasonhisperson789g
ofcannabis.- Thissiteisespeciallyimportant
becauseitistheearliestrecordedsiteinwhichresearcherswereabletoconclusivelydemonstratethepresenceofTHC(thepsychoactivecomponentofcannabis)
• Earlierancienttextsrefertothemedicinal/intoxicant/spiritualeffectsofcannabis:- 2700BC:ChineseherbalmedicinethePênts'aoChing- 2000BC:religious/philosophicaltexttheHinduVedas.- LaterreferencestocannabisinJapanese,WestAsian,MiddleEastern,North
African,Roman&Germanictextschartthespreadofcannabisuseacrosstheancientworldfollowingthetraderoutesofthesteppehighway/silkroad-thechainofexchangethatthenlinkedtheeastandwest.
UNODC,WorldDrugReport(2014)-contemporarycultivationofcannabisisglobal
• Cannabinoidsarethemainpsychoactivecomponentwithinthecannabisleaf.Therearetwoforms:- Phytocannabinoids:foundinplants- Syntheticcannabinoids:manmadefromothercompounds.
• Around85phytocannabinoidshavebeenisolatedfromthecannabisplant• mostresearchhasfocusedon∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)&cannabidiol(CBD).• THC:primarypsychoactiveintoxicant,asindicatedbythefactTHCdoseconsumedis
associatedwiththesubjectivelyreporteddrugeffect• ThesupposedpotencyofdifferentformsofthedrughavedifferentTHC
concentrations:- Cannabisherb(leaves)5%- Flowers(buds)12%
- Resin(Hashish)20%- Oils(Hashoil)60%
• ThereisinitialevidencethatalthoughCBDhaslittlepsychoactiveeffectitmayreducethepsychotomimeticeffectofTHC
• TheimplicationthatthepsychoactiveeffectofcannabinoidscanbeisolatedtoTHChasbeencrucialinjustifyingtheuseofcannabinoidsasmedicinesforavarietyofailments.MedicalmarijuanaishigherinCBDandlowerinTHCsothatCBDcancounteractthepsychoactiveeffectsofTHC.
• Thereisnowsufficientevidencefortheefficacyofcannabinoidsastreatmentsforthemtoreturntomainstreambiomedicalresearch
• Anumberofsyntheticcannabinoidshavebeencreated:
- JohnWilliamHuffman,aProfessoroforganicchemistrysynthesisedawholeseries(JWH-018)hisworkwasfundedbytheNationalInstituteonDrugAbuse(NIDA)
- ProfessorRaphaelMissoula,HebrewUniversitydevelopedHU-210- PfizerdevelopedCP47,497- Therearemanymore…
• Thesesyntheticcannabinoidsareconsidereddesignerdrugs,socalled‘spice’productsmixedherbsinfusedwithsyntheticcannabinoids
Onemightmarvelatthespeedandaccuracywithwhichthecomplexexperimentalproceduresrequiredtomakethesecompoundswererecreatedbyillicitdrugchemists.Butthenagain,leadersofthedrugtrademustsurelybeawarethatmeth/amphetamine,heroin,MDMA&cocaineallbeganasacademicexperimentsbeforebecomingglobalbilliondollarindustries.
Related Documents
