# Are there any new recreational drugs hitting the market **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-new-recreational-drugs-hitting-the-market/691126 "2014-06-19T02:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Longfellow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@Longfellow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longfellow)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-new-recreational-drugs-hitting-the-market/691126/21 "2014-06-27T03:49:01Z")
Does anyone know if MPTP continued to show up in street heroin after it was first identified in the early 80s? In particular, could a heroin user have been exposed to it in the period from 2000 to 2003? ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-new-recreational-drugs-hitting-the-market/691126/22 "2014-06-27T04:02:54Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > As I understand it, you can draw out on paper the molecular structure for an existing, known to work recreational drug. You can check the literature and find out what portion of the molecule is thought to bind to the relevant receptors in the human body. > > You can then slap on a few methyl groups or something to a different part of the molecule and then pay an organic chemist to synthesize the resulting structure. > > Technically, the new molecule isn’t illegal as it is not the same chemical formula as the illegal product. You distribute the drug for a while until the authorities make it illegal, and you go back to step 1. > > The ‘bath salts’ used this method to evade the prohibition on cannabinoids. There have been dozens of variations on testosterone such as superdrol and others over the years made using the same technique. I though bath salts were substituted derivatives of cathinone, not cannabinoids? (Cathinone is one of the primary psychoactive component in the drug khat, which is super popular in East Africa). ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-new-recreational-drugs-hitting-the-market/691126/23 "2014-06-27T07:33:48Z")
If you are asking if there are entire new “classes” of rec drugs hitting the market, then no not really. Probably the latest new novel drug to hit the market was Salvia when it started being sold on the internet, I think the active chemical in the plant is Salvinorin which is a kappa opioid receptor agonist(not anything like the usual opiate effects!). Most of the new drugs hitting the market are sold online through websites or darknet markets like the replacements for the busted Silk Road, they are usually analogs of existing drugs. Basically modified relatives of existing drugs. Mephedrone, MD-45, and Methoxamine are some names which if searched should enlighten you. Some of these analogs end up being total duds as far as recreational potential, read online reviews from drug consumers. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-new-recreational-drugs-hitting-the-market/691126/24 "2014-06-27T23:07:55Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Some of these analogs end up being total duds as far as recreational potential, read online reviews from drug consumers. But many are very nice…or so I hear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-new-recreational-drugs-hitting-the-market/691126.md?page=1)