Schedule 1 narcotic
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Schedule 1 Narcotics: An Overview
Introduction to Schedule 1 Narcotics
Schedule 1 narcotics are classified as substances with a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. This classification includes a variety of drugs, including some synthetic opioids that have emerged as new psychoactive substances (NPS).
Synthetic Opioids and Schedule 1 Classification
Emergence of Synthetic Opioids
The search for synthetic opioids as alternatives to traditional opium-based derivatives has led to the development of numerous compounds with varying effects and abuse potentials. These synthetic opioids are often marketed as "research chemicals" and have posed significant challenges for policymakers, clinicians, and law enforcement1.
Examples of Schedule 1 Synthetic Opioids
Recent examples of synthetic opioids that have been classified as Schedule 1 narcotics include AH-7921, MT-45, and acetylfentanyl. These substances were placed in Schedule 1 following recommendations from the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) and subsequent confirmation by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs1.
U-47700: A Case Study
U-47700, a synthetic opioid and structural isomer of AH-7921, has recently emerged on the market and can be purchased from various internet retailers. Despite its potent analgesic properties and selectivity for the μ-opioid receptor, U-47700 did not progress to clinical trials. Its effects, as reported by users, include euphoria, mood elevation, and opioid-based negative effects such as nausea and respiratory depression. The urge to re-dose frequently due to its short duration of action has also been noted1.
Schedule-Induced Narcotic Self-Administration
Experimental Findings in Rats
Research on schedule-induced oral narcotic self-administration has provided insights into the acute and chronic effects of narcotics. In a study involving rats, a fixed-interval schedule of food presentation was used to induce excessive drinking of solutions containing varying concentrations of narcotics such as morphine and methadone. The study found that drinking decreased as the drug concentration increased, but the total dose of narcotic ingested increased with higher concentrations2.
Chronic Exposure Effects
Chronic exposure to narcotic solutions resulted in significant ingestion of morphine and methadone. Rats exposed to morphine HCl and morphine SO4 ingested doses averaging between 150 and 250 mg/kg over four-hour sessions. In contrast, chronic exposure to methadone HCl resulted in lower doses ingested, approximately 100 mg/kg, indicating a difference in the self-administration patterns between these narcotics2.
Conclusion
Schedule 1 narcotics, particularly synthetic opioids, continue to pose significant challenges due to their high potential for abuse and lack of accepted medical use. The emergence of new psychoactive substances like U-47700 highlights the ongoing need for vigilant regulatory measures and further research to understand their effects and mitigate their risks. Experimental studies on narcotic self-administration provide valuable insights into the patterns of use and potential for abuse, informing both clinical and policy decisions.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
The first reported fatality associated with the synthetic opioid 3,4-dichloro-N-[2-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]-N-methylbenzamide (U-47700) and implications for forensic analysis.
U-47700, a synthetic opioid with potential for abuse, has been linked to a fatal case in a US state, highlighting the need for forensic analysis of these drugs.
Highly CitedSchedule-induced oral narcotic self-administration: acute and chronic effects.
Schedule-induced oral narcotic self-administration in rats can lead to high doses, but chronic exposure to methadone HCl produces less drinking and lower doses than morphine HCl or morphine SO4 at equal concentrations.
Non-RCT
Animal StudyThe Commission on Narcotic Drugs' attempt to restrict ketamine
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs' proposal to restrict ketamine under Schedule I of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances will harm access to ketamine and safe surgery in developing countries.
Comparison of morphine, meperidine, anileridine, and alphaprodine on schedule-controlled responding and analgesia
Meperidine's effect on schedule-controlled responding is not mediated by a narcotic action, while anileridine has significant non-narcotic actions like meperidine.
Non-RCTAnimal StudySchedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Acetyl Fentanyl Into Schedule I. Final order.
Acetyl fentanyl remains in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, imposing regulatory controls and sanctions on individuals who handle or propose to handle the substance.
Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Butyryl Fentanyl and U–47700 Into Schedule I. Final order.
Butyryl fentanyl and U-47700 remain in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, imposing regulatory controls and sanctions on those who handle or propose to handle these substances.
The Forms of International Institutional Law: An Historical Analysis of the scheduling Decisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances taken by the United Nations' Commission on Narcotics Drugs
The legal form of UN drug scheduling decisions has evolved from informal and vague to strict and concrete, determining the meaning of these decisions within UN law.
Use of scheduled substances in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Scheduled substances are commonly used in illicit narcotic drug and psychotropic substance manufacturing, with non-scheduled substances also used depending on geographical location.
Antagonism of the behavioral effects of morphine and methadone by narcotic antagonists in the pigeon.
Narcotic antagonists can block both the rate-increasing and rate-decreasing effects of morphine on pigeon schedule-controlled behavior, with naloxone being the most potent.
Non-RCTAnimal StudyHighly Cited