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Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a semisynthetic product of lysergic acid, a natural substance from the parasitic rye fungus Claviceps purpurea. Albert Hofmann, a natural products chemist at the Sandoz AG Pharmaceutical Company (Basel, Switzerland) synthesized it in 1938 while searching for pharmacologically active derivatives of lysergic acid. He accidentally discovered its dramatic psychological effects […]

To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the chemical industry requires innovation. For example, efforts could include developing new chemical processes to reduce emissions, discovering novel energy generation and storage solutions, and devising innovative food preservation techniques to combat hunger. There is no lack of innovation opportunities, but there are constraints on funding innovation. So,

The number of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in Europe has reached a historic peak. In the European Union’s early warning system, 41 such substances were reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in 2010, 49 in 2011, and 73 in 2012 (1). The more common types were synthetic cannabinoids (39.3%), synthetic

Between 1997 and 2011, more than 200 new substances were notified through the early-warning system, with the record number of 49 novel molecules reported in 2011. The pattern of acute toxicity associated with the consumption of these new substances is generally similar to that seen with traditional drugs of abuse. Recently, a new class of

A type of meth known as crystal meth has an appearance similar to “rocks” which are blue-white and shiny or an appearance similar to little glass pieces.1,4 Using a lot of meth might result in issues such as:1,4,5,7 What to Do If Someone Is Overdosing on Meth A methamphetamine overdose is an emergency. If you

In medical and scientific research, as outlined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are chemicals that can be used for research purposes, to develop new pharmaceutical remedies or investigate the effects of specific molecules.2 However, research chemicals used to get high are a different type of substance altogether.3 These substances are developed in a lab