- 1Psychopharmacology,
Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of
Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane
Campus, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AB, UK. F.Schifano@herts.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
A
new trend among users of new psychoactive substances' the consumption
of "herbal highs": plant parts containing psychoactive substances. Most
of the substances extracted from herbs, in old centuries were at the
centre of religious ceremonies of ancient civilizations. Currently,
these herbal products are mainly sold by internet web sites and easily
obtained since some of them have no legal restriction.
OBJECTIVE:
We
reviewed psychoactive effects and neuropharmacology of the most used
"herbal highs" with characterized active principles, with studies
reporting mechanisms of action, pharmacological and subjective effects,
eventual secondary effects including intoxications and/or fatalities
Method: The PubMed database was searched using the following key.words:
herbal highs, Ayahuasca; Argyreia Nervosa, Ipomea Violacea and Rivea
Corymbosa; Catha edulis; Datura stramonium; Piper Methysticum; Mitragina Speciosa; Trichocereus cacti; Salvia divinorum and Tabernanthe iboga.
RESULTS:
Psychoactive
plants here reviewed have been known and used from ancient times, even
if for some of them limited information still exist regarding subjective
and neuropharmacological effects and consequent eventual toxicity when
plants are used alone or in combination with "classical" drugs of abuse.
CONCLUSION:
Some
"herbal highs" should be classified as harmful drugs since chronic
administration has been linked with addiction and cognitive impairment;
for some others taking into consideration only the recent trends of
abuse, studies investigating these aspects are lacking.
