Query and test for synthetic cannabinoids in drug treatment and research

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, also known as syn-thetic cannabinoids (SCs) and collectively known as Spice, arechemicals either structurally similar to or acting on the same braincenters as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Auwarter, Dargan,& Wood, 2013). SCs are sprayed on herbal mixtures and are oftensold as “not for human consumption” potpourri or incense inhead shops, convenience stores, gas stations, and on the inter-net (Vandrey, Dunn, Fry, & Girling, 2012). Unlike THC, however,many SCs are high efficacy, full agonists of the cannabinoid (CB1)receptor (Atwood,Huffman,Straiker,MAtwood,Lee,Straiker, Widlanski, & Mackie, 2011) and have been reported to beimplicated in a number of significant health problems, includingpsychosis and seizures (Spaderna, Addy, & D’Souza, 2013). Calls topoison control centers regarding SC use grew from 14 in 2009 to2821 in 2010. Between January 2011 and April 2012 there were11,561 calls to poison control centers for complications due to theuse ofSCs(Wood,2013).AsthedangersofSCshavegrown,multiplecountries have enacted legislation prohibiting the sale, manufac-ture, and distribution of SCs. However, in order to circumvent suchlegislation, SCmanufacturershavereplacedbannedchemicalswithother novel, as-of-yet unregulated SCs.There are specific issues of concern regarding SC use in sub-stance abuse clinical treatment research as well as in substanceuse treatment facilities that warrant particular attention. Recentresearch in the United States (U.S.), Australia, and New Zealandhas indicated that individuals report using SCs as a way to avoidtesting positive on routine urine drug test panels (Barratt, Cakic, L Bonar, Ashrafioun, & Ilgen, 2014; Castellanos, Singh,