Abstract
In order to offer more insight into the novel and emerging drug phenomenon, a series of case studies are presented in the following pages that intricately explore the recreational use, media coverage, and regulation of three emerging psychoactive substances with diverse effects and unique histories. First, a short-acting dissociative plant in the mint family, Salvia divinorum, is described as an example of an extant drug that somewhat suddenly became linked to recreational use after the natural product was chemically enhanced, mass produced, and packaged for retail sale by a handful of organizations. This drug is also an excellent example of state-led drug regulation as opposed to federal oversight. Second, the chapter examines the appearance of psychoactive synthetic stimulants marketed as “bath salts.” This category of substances received significant media attention and was quickly scheduled at the federal level in most countries. Finally, we present the recreational use of a recently synthesized research chemical that has yet to become a widespread drug of abuse. Bromo-DragonFly is a powerful and long-acting hallucinogen when taken recreationally.
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Khey, D., Stogner, J., Miller, B. (2014). Case Studies of Emerging Drugs: Salvia, Bath Salts, and Bromo-DragonFly. In: Emerging Trends in Drug Use and Distribution. SpringerBriefs in Criminology, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03575-8_4
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