Novel Psychoactive Substances (2025-2026 Recording)-Novel Psychoactive Substances Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Ashley Haynes gave a broad overview of novel psychoactive substances and the evolving drug supply, emphasizing that many products sold online, in head shops, gas stations, or correctional facilities are mislabeled, adulterated, or completely different from what users expect. She reviewed major synthetic drug classes: MDMA and piperazines; synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”); synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice); hallucinogens such as NBOMe and 2C compounds; synthetic benzodiazepines like bromazolam; kratom and its potent metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine; tianeptine (“gas station heroin”); delta-8/10 THC; CBD; and common adulterants like levamisole, xylazine, medetomidine, and fentanyl precursors.<br /><br />For each class, she highlighted typical toxidromes, including sympathomimetic and serotonergic toxicity, agitation, hyperthermia, seizures, psychosis, bradycardia/hypotension with some cannabinoids and adulterants, and opioid-like respiratory depression with kratom, tianeptine, and fentanyl mixtures. She stressed that names like “molly,” “pink cocaine,” or “kratom booster” often do not reflect the actual substance, making confirmatory testing such as GC/MS important when available.<br /><br />Management themes were consistent: supportive care, cooling, benzodiazepines for agitation, cautious use of antipsychotics, fluids and electrolyte correction, naloxone for suspected opioid toxidrome, and monitoring for complications such as rhabdomyolysis, hepatotoxicity, arrhythmias, and withdrawal syndromes. She also discussed the risks of dependence, withdrawal, and persistent psychosis, especially with synthetic cannabinoids.

Keywords

novel psychoactive substances

evolving drug supply

synthetic drugs

MDMA

synthetic cathinones

synthetic cannabinoids

NBOMe compounds

synthetic benzodiazepines

kratom

tianeptine

delta-8 THC

adulterants

toxidromes

confirmatory testing

supportive care