Experimental & Research Chemicals
(Synthetic Drugs, Novel Psychoactive Substances, New Psychoactive Substances, NPS, Replacement Psychoactives)
Chemicals marked on Erowid by our Research Chemical Symbol should be considered experimental chemicals. Although some people are willing to ingest these chemicals for their effects, it is not reasonable to assume that these chemicals are in any way 'safe' to use recreationally. Although all psychoactive use involves risk, many substances in this class of chemicals have undergone virtually no human or animal toxicity studies. Research chemicals are those for which there is little to no data on possible long term problems, addiction potential, allergic reactions, or acute overdoses.
Publication of information by Erowid about human use of these chemicals is not intended to endorse their non-laboratory use. It is important to remember that reactions to psychoactives vary dramatically from person to person. Extrapolating anything from any single person's experience with a chemical is inappropriate and may result in dangerous and possibly fatal adverse reactions.
Some reports of use may include extremely glowing "wow"-type experiences. Reports of this nature should not be misunderstood to suggest that they are common or typical of those who ingest the substance, or that the effects will be pleasant or desirable.
Additionally, the reliability of many sources of these products can be questionable. Mislabeling, misidentification, issues of purity, adulteration, and misrepresentation (substitution) are unfortunately a common problem with research chemicals.
Consider carefully before choosing to use these substances.
Publication of information by Erowid about human use of these chemicals is not intended to endorse their non-laboratory use. It is important to remember that reactions to psychoactives vary dramatically from person to person. Extrapolating anything from any single person's experience with a chemical is inappropriate and may result in dangerous and possibly fatal adverse reactions.
Some reports of use may include extremely glowing "wow"-type experiences. Reports of this nature should not be misunderstood to suggest that they are common or typical of those who ingest the substance, or that the effects will be pleasant or desirable.
Additionally, the reliability of many sources of these products can be questionable. Mislabeling, misidentification, issues of purity, adulteration, and misrepresentation (substitution) are unfortunately a common problem with research chemicals.
Consider carefully before choosing to use these substances.
GENERAL INFORMATION #
Legal Highs Report - Energy Control, 2011
DEATHS & HOSPITALIZATIONS #
NBOMe-related Deaths - 2013
MDPV-related Deaths - 2013
5-IT-related Deaths - 2013
LAW #
LM Badrak of LTK Research Sentenced for Selling Research Chemicals Online - DOJ Press Release, Jun 2006
ARTICLES & WRITINGS #
Novel Drug Briefs 2 - by The Erowid Crew, 2016
Spotlight on NBOMes: Potent Psychedelic Issues - by Earth & Fire Erowid, 2013
Novel Drug Briefs: New Entries in the Rapidly Expanding Market - by Abrad, 2013
Legal Highs: The Dark Side of Medicinal Chemistry - by David Nichols, 2011
Connecting the Microdots: The State of the Stone 2010 - by Fire & Earth Erowid, 2010
Recreational Roulette: Novel Research Chemical Experience Report Excerpts - by Erowid (Eds.), 2011
Not in Kansas Anymore... - by Jon Hanna, 2010
Constant Commerce - by Fire Erowid, 2004
GOVERNMENT ARTICLES #
European Drug Report 2015 (EMCDDA, 2015)
The Challenge of Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia and Oceania - Trends and Patterns ... (2015 UNODC Report)
Global Synthetic Drugs Assessment - Amphetamine Type Substances and new psychoactive substances (2014 UNODC Report)
The challenge of New Psychoactive Substances (UNODC, 2013)
Scheduling Actions and Designer Drug Issues, Boos T, Conf. on Pharmaceutical and Chemical Diversion (DEA, 2011)
OFF-SITE RESOURCES
MEDIA #
Charity warns that 'legal high' ban has led to switch to other illegal drugs - The Pharmaceutical Journal, Sep 2017
Nation bans potent class of new drugs - China Daily, Jun 2017
Inside the world of drug users who mess with unregulated RCs in Alberta - Calgary Herald, Jun 24 2016
Designer drug detective work - Chemical & Engineering News, Jul 11, 2016
Violence-inducing bath salts may be common hidden ingredient in party drug - ArsTechnica, Feb 19, 2016
The Mystery Of Cloud 9: How Drug Laws Make Drugs More Dangerous - Forbes Blogs, Oct 2, 2014
Horrifying New Drugs! Does New Zealand's New Synthetic Drug Law Offer a Safer Way Forward? - HuffPost, Oct 15 2013
Federal 'bath salts' sting in Arizona nabs 5 - Arizona Republic, Jul 27 2012
In the Future, Your Drug Dealer Will Be a Printer - Vice, Jul 2012
The High Street: Legal party drugs sold like sweets [...] - The Sun, Apr 11 2012
Parents warned about designer drug us, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Mar 18 2012
Non-LSD Ergoloids - Count Your Culture, Dec 1 2011
22 indicted by Feds in Syracuse-based conspiracy to traffic drug "Molly" - Syracuse.com, Aug 16 2011
Why We Should Be Cautious of 'Internet Drugs' - Huffington Post, Aug 11 2011
Dealers & Users Move from "Bath Salts" to "Jewelry Cleaner" - FOX, Aug 9 2011
New drugs fuel wave of violence and death - Star Tribune, Jul 25 2011
Growth of 'legal highs' poses new risks to drug users - The Independent, Jun 24 2011
The Big Business of Synthetic Highs - Bloomberg Business Week, Jun 16 2011
Poison in party pills is too much to swallow - Nature, Jun 15 2011
The Secret Life of Legal Highs, Count Your Culture, May 22 2011
Garage Innovation and Recreational Drugs, Rob Carlson, Jan 31 2011
Florida officials ask stores to turn over banned 'bath salts' drugs, Sun Sentinel, Jan 27 2011
'Bath salts' are growing drug problem, say officials, AP, Jan 23 2011
Three teens taken to hospital after consuming chemical purchased online - CP24 News (Toronto), Nov 30 2010
In Quest for 'Legal High,' Chemists Outfox Law - Wall Street Journal, Sep 30 2010
Students warned about dangers of 'legal highs' - Sep 15 2010, TheIndependent.co.uk
The Blarney Stoned: Irish head shops causing alarm - LA Times, Mar 18 2010
'Legal high' drugs causing psychiatric illness epidemic - Irish Examiner, Jan 13 2010
Ministry to hire private detectives to investigate sales of 'law-evading' drugs - Japan Today, Aug 28 2005
Bad trip for online drug peddlers - WIRED, Jul 2005
Dawn raids mark crash of online designer drugs trade - Guardian.co.uk, May 2005
New internet drugs replacing ecstasy - Australian News, Apr 26 2004
Goodbye ecstasy, hello 5-Meo-DMT... - The Guardian, Feb 16, 2004
NON-ENGLISH RESOURCES #
20 Deaths in Sweden linked to Acrylfentanyl (Swedish), Rättsmedicinalverket - Aug 2016
Warns Against Dangerous Drugs (Norwegian), Siste.no - Jan 2011
GOVERNMENT ARTICLES #
Health responses to new psychoactive substances, EMCDDA - 2016
Rise of new psychoactive substances: new toolkit helps prisons address a growing problem - Jan 5 2016
UNODC Early Warning Advisory on New Psychoactive Substances
Different approaches to a multi-faceted problem, UNODC - Sep 2015
Statement from White House Drug Policy Director on Synthetic Stimulants, a.k.a "Bath Salts" - ONDCP - Feb 1 2011
Severe adverse reactions to new head shop drug "WHACK" - Health Services - Ireland, Jun 9 2010