Potential neonatal toxicity of new psychoactive substances.
Ryoichi Fujiwara, Megan Journey, Fatimah Al-Doori, Paris Bell, Brahmjot Judge, Kamille Miracle, Kousei Ito, Sabrina Jones
Pharmacology & therapeutics August 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108468 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractNew psychoactive substances (NPSs) such as synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, and piperazines are often falsely marketed as natural and safe but cause severe adverse effects including seizures, nephrotoxicity, and death. Their use has risen sharply among adolescents and young adults due to low cost and easy availability. As of January 2020, nearly 1000 NPSs have been documented. Use of NPSs is linked to higher rates of unplanned pregnancy; about 4 in 100 women in substance abuse treatment are pregnant or nursing.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Adolescents Breast milk Distribution Neonates Synthetic cannabinoids |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key finding | New psychoactive substances, particularly synthetic cannabinoids, pose unrecognized neonatal toxicity risks through breast milk, including brain damage. |
Abstract
Cannabis, cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide are psychoactive substances with a significant increase in consumption during the 21st century due to their popularity in medicinal and recreational use. New psychoactive substances (NPSs) mimic established psychoactive substances. NPSs are known as being natural and safe to consumers; however, they are neither natural nor safe, causing severe adverse reactions, including seizures, nephrotoxicity, and sometimes death. Synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, and piperazines are all examples of NPSs. As of January 2020, nearly 1000 NPSs have become documented. Due to their low cost, ease of availability, and difficulty of detection, misuse of NPSs has become a familiar and growing problem, especially in adolescents and young adults in the past decade. The use of NPSs is associated with higher risks of unplanned sexual intercourse and pregnancy. As many as 4 in 100 women seeking treatment for substance abuse are pregnant or nursing. Animal studies and human clinical case reports have shown that exposure to certain NPSs during lactation periods has toxic effects on neonates, increasing various risks, including brain damage. Nevertheless, neonatal toxicity effects of NPSs are usually unrecognized and overlooked by healthcare professionals. In this review article, we introduce and discuss the potential neonatal toxicity of NPSs, emphasizing synthetic cannabinoids. Utilizing the established prediction models, we identify synthetic cannabinoids and their highly accumulative metabolites in breast milk.