Opioid, cannabinoid, cocaine, and methamphetamine epidemics: History, risk factors associated with them, and characteristics of drug action

Abstract

In the last century, mankind has made significant progress in the search and study of new pain-relieving drugs through the targeted synthesis of chemical analogs of natural opioids, cannabinoids, cocaine, and amphetamines. Experience with the medical use of new synthetic opioids, cannabinoids, and amphetamines has shown not only their high analgesic efficacy but also their high danger because of the risks of drug dependence and addiction, which have caused drug epidemics. The paper described the history of relevant drug epidemics, and the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the most dangerous drugs, as well as the risks associated with drug epidemics, were outlined. Specifically, the risk of drug dependence to opioids, cannabinoids, amphetamine, and cocaine was not recognized until too late. Therefore, the drug crisis was initially largely iatrogenic. In recent decades, controls on the prescription of narcotic drugs have tightened; thus, drug addiction as iatrogeny occurs less frequently. However, criminal elements of society have established clandestine production of drugs and their realization in the youth and LGBT community disguising as new, fashionable designer drugs and devices for their use. Moreover, new synthetic drugs differ from natural drugs in their stronger psychostimulant effects, ability to cause addiction after the first use, and high risk of fatal poisoning. Thus far, no drugs were the treatment of opioid, cannabinoid, amphetamine, and cocaine abuse. However, the development of specific vaccines for these drugs has begun in recent years. Active immunization of drug abusers with specially created vaccines is expected to assist doctors in treating drug abusers in the future.