There are ew psychostimulants (NPS) and hallucinogens, which are highly abused, but their adverse effects are unknown. These NPS are designed to mimic traditional drugs and avoid EU drug legislation and prosecution. So, a long-time elapses, with intoxications and fatalities, from the moment their appear in the illicit market until they are banned. A rapid information ex-change and further risk assessment system is critical to activate fast EU control measures.
The primary goal of NextGenPS is to allow early identification and characterization of new psychostimulants/hallucinogens with high abuse liability or able to induce psychedelic effects, using a novel predictive strategy.
To achieve this, NextGenPS will
NextGenPS constitutes a new policy on drugs that could be extended to other NPS since it is a proactive form of drug fighting, which allows anticipating to the emergence of NPS with known health risks. Results of the NexGentPS will be sent to each National Focal Point leading to a further EU risk assessment. Dissemination of the results will include OpenAIRE, the project website, open-access research papers and a summary to Research*eu results magazine. Moreover, we will create a project profile in the CORDIS Wire and will maximize the potential of social media.
To select eight NPS (3cathinone-, 2phenethylamine- and 3tryptamine-derivatives).
To synthesize and characterize the selected NPS.
To design an analytical protocol allowing the detection of the selected NPS
To characterize the mechanism of action of the selected NPS.
To study the psychostimulant and reinforcing effects of selected cathinones and phenethylamines
To study the abuse potential of the selected cathinones and phenethylamines
To study the hallucinogen properties of phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives
Search of pre-candidates
Processing of pre-candidates
Final selectionle.
Synthesis of pure 3 cathinone- 2 phenethyklamine- a d 3 tryptamine-derivatives.
Chemical characterization of these
Analytival protocols in simulated human plasma and urine
Analytical protocols to detect these NPS in seized materials.
Inhibition of neurotransmitters uptake
Transporter binding assays
Determination of psychostimulant activity
Determination of rewarding effects
Determination of reinforcing effects
Determination of the hallucinogenic properties