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Novel Opioids: Systematic Web Crawling Within the e-Psychonauts’ Scenario

Davide Arillotta, Fabrizio Schifano, Flavia Napoletano, Caroline Zangani, Liam Gilgar, Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo, John Martin Corkery, Eugenio Aguglia, Alessandro Vento

Frontiers in Neuroscience, Volume: 14

Swansea University Author: Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.3389/fnins.2020.00149

Abstract

Background: A wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are regularly searched and discussed online by e-psychonauts. Among NPSs, the range of prescription/non-prescription opioids (fentanyl and non-fentanyl analogs) and herbal derivatives currently represents a challenge for governments an...

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Published in: Frontiers in Neuroscience
ISSN: 1662-453X
Published: Frontiers Media SA 2020
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53468
Abstract: Background: A wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are regularly searched and discussed online by e-psychonauts. Among NPSs, the range of prescription/non-prescription opioids (fentanyl and non-fentanyl analogs) and herbal derivatives currently represents a challenge for governments and clinicians.Methods: Using a web crawler (i.e., NPS.Finder®), the present study aimed at assessing psychonaut fora/platforms to better understand the online situation regarding opioids.Results: The open-web crawling/navigating software identified some 426 opioids, including 234 fentanyl analogs. Of these, 176 substances (162 were very potent fentanyls, including two ohmefentanyl and seven carfentanyl analogs) were not listed in either international or European NPS databases.Conclusion: A web crawling approach helped in identifying a large number, indeed higher than that listed by European/international agencies, of unknown opioids likely to possess a significant misuse potential. Most of these novel/emerging substances are still relatively unknown. This is a reason of concern; each of these analogs potentially presents with different toxicodynamic profiles, and there is a lack of docking, preclinical, and clinical observations. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians and bioinformatics may prove useful in better assessing public health risks associated with opioids.
Keywords: psychonauts, novel psychoactive substance, novel synthetic opioids, fentanyl analogs, web crawling,drug misuse, prescribed drug misuse
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences

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