Аннотация:
Background. Precursors are substances often used in production, manufacture, processing of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. In the last ten years, new psychoactive substances (NPS) have appeared and become widespread in the illegal drug market. The emergence of NPS led to the involvement in the illicit trafficking of a number of relevant starting materials, as well as precursors of other types of drugs with modified chemical structures with the aim of further legal distribution of drugs.
Aim: to identify trends in the illegal drug precursors market caused by the advent of NPS.
Method. Analysis of data from open sources: journal articles, patents, legislative acts, reports of international organizations and expert services.
Results. A number of compounds have been identified that can be considered as precursors of NPS, while in most countries these compounds are not in the lists of controlled substances. Methods of modifying the structure of precursors that are used to circumvent legal regulation are considered.
Conclusion. It is necessary to develop monitoring and data exchange on precursors of NPS, as well as improve the legislative regulation of their turnover at the international level.
Ключевые слова:
precursors, new psychoactive substances, designer drugs, legal drugs, synthetic cannabinoids, substituted cathinones.