Investigation on the use and prevalence of Synthetic Cannabinoids in teenagers: The case of youth Detention Centres

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids firstly emerged as pharmaceutical industry development to obtain compounds with the therapeutic benefits of Δ9-THC (main psychoactive component of marijuana) and trying to understand the endocannabinoid system and its interaction with CB1 and CB2 receptors. However, this has made these compounds appear as "non ilegal" and easily accesible alternatives for recreational use in young people. This type of new “design drugs” are sold mainly in smoke shops and online stores as "herbal incenses", "bath deodorants" and labeled as "Not suitable for human consumption" trying to avoid their regulation and/or prohibition. These are not considered "ilegal", it is practically impossible to execute any action that prevents their distribution and consumption by the authorities. Drug consumption among adolescents is a multifactorial psychosocial phenomenon, it depends on a large number of factors as environment, family, etc. Spain has “youth detention centres” where young people with criminal behavior are arrested and jailed. Depending on the seriousness of the crime or misconduct, their stay can be permanent or with the possibility of leaving home at weekends. In these cases, when they return to the centres, they are tested with a classic urine antidoping that monitors the most common illicit drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, heroin, etc. But the administrators of the centers are concerned to monitor if there is consumption of these New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), within which some synthetic cannabinoids are suspected.