Neuronal and peripheral damages induced by synthetic psychoactive substances: an update of recent findings from human and animal studies

Costa, Giulia

First

Writing - Review & Editing

;De Luca, Maria Antonietta

Writing - Review & Editing

;Piras, Gessica

Writing - Review & Editing

;Marongiu, Jacopo

Writing - Review & Editing

;Fattore, Liana

Writing - Review & Editing

;Simola, Nicola

Last

Writing - Review & Editing

2020-01-01

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Abstract

Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that synthetic psychoactive substances, in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit toxic effects of varying severity at the peripheral and central levels. Nowadays, toxicity induced by synthetic psychoactive substances poses a serious harm for health, since recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young and adult people. The present review summarizes recent findings on the peripheral and central toxicity elicited by "old" and "new" synthetic psychoactive substances in humans and experimental animals, focusing on amphetamine derivatives, hallucinogen and dissociative drugs and synthetic cannabinoids.