Toward a Comparative Overview of Dependence Potential and Acute Toxicity of Psychoactive Substances Used Nonmedically
- 1 January 1993
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Vol. 19 (3) , 263-281
- https://doi.org/10.3109/00952999309001618
Abstract
A procedure is outlined for comparing dependence potential and acute toxicity across a broad range of abused psychoactive substances. Tentative results, based on an extensive literature review of 20 substances, suggested that the margin of safety (“therapeutic index”) varied dramatically between substances. Intravenous heroin appeared to have the greatest risk of dependence and acute lethality; oral psilocybin appeared to have the least. Hazards due to behavioral deficits, perceptual distortion, or chronic illness were not factored into the assessments.Keywords
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