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$Title{Designer Drugs:  Dangerous "Highs"}
$Subject{Designer drug Drugs chemist chemists legal legitimate medication
medications substance substances meperidine chemical chemicals compose
composition abuse abused recreational control controlled classify classified
Food Drug Administration FDA illegal Fatal deadly die died dead death deaths
overdose overdoses intravenous heart beat beats seizure seizures panic anxiety
hallucination hallucinations Ecstasy X Adam neurologic damage damaged damaging
brain cell cells toxic toxicity }
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Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Designer Drugs:  Dangerous "Highs"


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QUESTION:  I read the term "designer drugs" in a news story recently, but
don't understand what they are or what they are used for.  From the rest of
the story I am sure they are not used by decorators for any of their artistic
work (then again maybe they do!).  Could you help clear up this mystery for
me?  I am a great fan of you and your excellent column.

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ANSWER:  You are right, there is nothing pretty or decorative about the story
of designer drugs.  In fact, they are drugs, created by criminal chemists, who
turn legitimate medications into substances that are intended for less
legitimate uses.  They are often easy to produce and may even be cheaper than
their parent compounds.  Starting with a substance that is used for pain
control for example (like meperidine), the chemical composition is changed to
provide a substance that can produce the highs and stimulation sought by those
that abuse drugs.  Another term, "recreational", (a term I despise) is also
used to categorize these chemical compounds.  Because these new compounds are
neither controlled nor classified, they escape the restrictive regulations of
the Food and Drug Administration.  However, once identified and recognized as
dangerous, they can be listed by the FDA, restricted and made illegal.
However, a minor modification in the formula, and a new, unregulated drug is,
once again, produced.  They are dangerous for many reasons, not the least of
which is the fact that the difference between a dose that produces the desired
glow, and one which can put out the light forever, is frequently small.  Fatal
overdoses are common, particularly when the drug is a new one, or when it is
taken by the intravenous route.  They can cause heart beat irregularity,
seizures, acute panic and anxiety and hallucinations.  "Ecstasy" ("X" or
"Adam"), chemically similar to methamphetamine, is known to produce neurologic
damage from the destruction of certain brain cells.
     When an acute overdose does occur, the treatment is difficult in the
absence of needed knowledge about the drug that has been taken, and because of
the high toxicity of the substances used.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.