The use patterns of novel psychedelics: experiential fingerprints of substituted phenethylamines, tryptamines and lysergamides

Seasonal Variation of Use of Common Psychedelics and Party Drugs Among Nightclub/Festival Attendees in New York City

Few epidemiological studies have focused on seasonal variation in the use of common psychedelics and party drugs among nightclub and festival attendees, typically those who attend electronic dance music (EDM) events. We sought to determine whether the use of different drug types varies seasonally within this population. Across 15 seasons from summer 2017 through fall 2022, we surveyed 3,935 adults entering randomly selected nightclubs and festivals in New York City regarding their past-month use of cocaine, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (shrooms), and ketamine. Multivariable models were used to compare adjusted odds ratios for drug use within each season with the grand mean of combined seasons. Summer was associated with higher odds for use of LSD (aOR 2.72; 95% CI, 1.88-3.93) and psilocybin (aOR 1.65; CI, 1.12-2.43), independent of increases in psilocybin use over time (p < .001). A significant increase in use of ketamine (p = .014) and significant decreases in use of cocaine (p = .002) and ecstasy (p = .002) were found across time, but multivariable models did not detect seasonal variations. Summer is a risk factor for use of common psychedelics among people who attend EDM events. Therefore, the summer months may be the best time to disseminate information about harm reduction for psychedelic drug users.

Stimulant and hallucinogenic novel psychoactive substances; an update

INTRODUCTION

The renewed interest in considering a range of stimulants, psychedelics and dissociatives as therapeutics emphasizes the need to draft an updated overview of these drugs' clinical and pharmacological issues.

AREAS COVERED

The focus here was on: stimulants (e.g. amphetamines, methamphetamine, and pseudoephedrine; phenethylamines; synthetic cathinones; benzofurans; piperazines; aminoindanes; aminorex derivatives; phenmetrazine derivatives; phenidates); classical (e.g. ergolines; tryptamines; psychedelic phenethylamines), and atypical (e.g. PCP/ketamine-like dissociatives) psychedelics.Stimulant and psychedelics are associated with: a) increased central DA levels (psychedelic phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones and stimulants); b) 5-HT receptor subtypes' activation (psychedelic phenethylamines; recent tryptamine and lysergamide derivatives); and c) antagonist activity at NMDA receptors, (phencyclidine-like dissociatives).

EXPERT OPINION

Clinicians should be regularly informed about the range of NPS and their medical, psychobiological and psychopathological risks both in the acute and long term. Future research should focus on an integrative model in which pro-drug websites' analyses are combined with advanced research approaches, including computational chemistry studies so that in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies of index novel psychoactives can be organized. The future of psychedelic research should focus on identifying robust study designs to convincingly assess the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, molecules likely to present with limited dependence liability levels.

Receptor Binding Profiles for Tryptamine Psychedelics and Effects of 4-Propionoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in Mice

Analogues of 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) are being sold on recreational drug markets and developed as potential medications for psychedelic-assisted therapies. Many of these tryptamine-based psilocybin analogues produce psychedelic-like effects in rodents and humans primarily by agonist activity at serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT2A). However, the comprehensive pharmacological target profiles for these compounds compared to psilocybin and its active metabolite 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocin) are unknown. The present study determined the receptor binding profiles of various tryptamine-based psychedelics structurally related to psilocybin across a broad range of potential targets. Specifically, we examined tryptamine psychedelics with different 4-position (hydroxy, acetoxy, propionoxy) and N,N-dialkyl (dimethyl, methyl-ethyl, diethyl, methyl-propyl, ethyl-propyl, diisopropyl, methyl-allyl, diallyl) substitutions. Further, the psilocybin analogue 4-propionoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-PrO-DMT) was administered to mice in experiments measuring head twitch response (HTR), locomotor activity, and body temperature. Overall, the present pharmacological profile screening data show that the tryptamine psychedelics target multiple serotonin receptors, including serotonin 1A receptors (5-HT1A). 4-Acetoxy and 4-propionoxy analogues of 4-hydroxy compounds displayed somewhat weaker binding affinities but similar target profiles across 5-HT receptors and other identified targets. Additionally, differential binding screen profiles were observed with N,N-dialkyl position variations across several non-5-HT receptor targets (i.e., alpha receptors, dopamine receptors, histamine receptors, and serotonin transporters), which could impact in vivo pharmacological effects of the compounds. In mouse experiments, 4-PrO-DMT displayed dose-related psilocybin-like effects to produce 5-HT2A-mediated HTR (0.3-3 mg/kg s.c.) as well as 5-HT1A-mediated hypothermia and hypolocomotion (3-30 mg/kg s.c.). Lastly, our data support a growing body of evidence that the 5-HT2A-mediated HTR induced by tryptamine psychedelics is attenuated by 5-HT1A receptor agonist activity at high doses in mice.

Concentrations of LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, and iso-LSD in hair segments of 18 drug abusers

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of the most widely abused hallucinogens, which can alter consciousness, produce mental disorder, and cause harmful behavior. 1-Propionyl-LSD (1 P-LSD), a novel derivative of LSD, has the similar hallucinogenic effect. It is a control substance in several countries. 1 P-LSD can act as a prodrug for LSD and is rapidly hydrolyzed to LSD in humans. Therefore, LSD use should be confirmed by the absence of 1 P-LSD and in the detection of LSD. Here, we describe a LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous extraction of LSD, iso-LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, and 1 P-LSD from hair. Hair samples (25 mg) were pulverized by cryogenic grinding in methanol. The limits of detection were 0.2-1 pg/mg and the limits of quantification were 0.5-2 pg/mg. This method was validated and applied to hair samples from 18 suspects who may have used LSD. Segmental hair analysis revealed a decrease in the LSD concentrations from the proximal to the distill end, while 1 P-LSD was not detected in any hair segments. The interpretation of hair analysis results of LSD still remains difficult. Nevertheless, concentrations of LSD and iso-LSD in human hair from 18 LSD users were reported. LSD concentrations were from <LOQ to 4.0 pg/mg (n = 18, median 1.5 pg/mg) in the proximal 0-3 cm segment, from <LOQ to 1.8 pg/mg (n = 8) in the 3-6 cm segment, and from <LOQ to 0.6 pg/mg (n = 4) in the 6-9 cm segment. Iso-LSD ranged from <LOQ to 1.4 pg/mg (n = 4) in the 0-3 cm segment and was detectable only in one 3-6 cm segment. To our knowledge, this is the first study to monitor LSD together with 1 P-LSD in hair.