The term “designer drugs” refers to substances that are synthetic, or made in a laboratory. They are created to be sold illicitly for people who want to get high, often mimicking natural substances and drugs. For instance, synthetic marijuana products like K2 or Spice are created in labs based on the structure of natural cannabinoids, the compounds found in marijuana.
These drugs are designed in a laboratory, but to say that they are the same or even similar to their natural counterparts is misleading. They are often very different and can cause a wide range of effects and adverse reactions. Because they are illicit, unregulated substances, and because they often change chemically from one product to another with the same name, designer drugs and how they will affect a user are highly unpredictable.
