Alternative Drug Use

Many young adults have strayed from traditional drugs and are instead abusing alternative drugs.  Rather at use cocaine or heroin, drugs that the public are well aware of and researchers are well-versed in, they are using lesser known substances to achieve their desired high. For example, recently popular drug, Ketamine, is most commonly used as an animal tranquilizer, but is now a go-to for drug abusers.

The classification of Alternative drugs includes hallucinogens like LSD and peyote, party drugs such as MDMA, dissociatives, and more.  The use of these drugs sprawls across all age groups, but is most common among 17 to 25 year-olds, especially in group settings and party environments.  Drugs placed in these categories are tested for far less than traditional drugs.  They have varied half-lives and effects and cannot be tested for with one simple test, making it difficult to gauge when to test for them.  It is much easier and less expensive to test for traditional drugs.

The category of alternative drugs is important to study because we need to know how to handle those who have consumed these substances.  A lot of alternative drugs are automatically placed in the Schedule I category because with their effects far less researched, the government needs to assure that they are punishable. There is no one way to monitor the wide variety of alternative drugs available.  It is necessary to keep an eye out for new trends and behaviors so as to keep as up to date with research as possible.

http://link.springer.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/content/pdf/10.1007/s12016-013-8370-2.pdf