Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40863935›Full record

ReviewToxics2025

The Blurred Lines Between New Psychoactive Substances and Potential Chemical Weapons.

Loreto N Valenzuela-Tapia, Cristóbal A Quintul, Nataly D Rubio-Concha, Luis Toledo-Ríos, Catalina Salas-Kuscevic, Andrea V Leisewitz, Pamela Cámpora-Oñate, Javier Campanini-Salinas

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Toxics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Loreto N Valenzuela-TapiaEscuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Puerto Montt 5501842, Chile.
Cristóbal A QuintulEscuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Puerto Montt 5501842, Chile.
Nataly D Rubio-ConchaEscuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Puerto Montt 5501842, Chile.ORCID 0000-0002-1421-5606
Luis Toledo-RíosCentro de Estudios en Seguridad y Crimen Organizado (CESCRO), Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 8420524, Chile.
Catalina Salas-KuscevicCentro de Estudios en Seguridad y Crimen Organizado (CESCRO), Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 8420524, Chile.
Andrea V LeisewitzVicerrectoría de Investigación y Doctorados, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 8580702, Chile.
Pamela Cámpora-OñateEscuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 7510157, Chile.
Javier Campanini-SalinasEscuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad San Sebastián, Puerto Montt 5501842, Chile.ORCID 0000-0002-7358-409X

Funding

Instituto de Politicas Publicas Universidad San Sebastián. 3679 and 4511
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The historical use of toxic chemicals to cause intentional harm has evolved from blister agents in World War I to highly lethal organophosphates and emerging families of chemicals, such as Novichok. In turn, medical or recreational substances like fentanyl, lysergamides, and phencyclidine pose a growing risk of hostile use, particularly related to the rapid proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPSs). A narrative literature review was conducted covering specialized databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Google Scholar) and sources from international organizations (OPCW, UNODC, ONU), analyzing historical and recent cases of the use of nerve agents in conflicts and the use of NPSs for hostile purposes. The main families of conventional agents (G, V, A series, and Novichok) and NPSs (lysergamides, PCP, fentanyl derivatives) were identified, highlighting their ease of synthesis, high toxicity profiles, and the regulatory gaps that facilitate their illicit production. In this scenario, it is essential to strengthen regulatory frameworks, surveillance systems, and ethical protocols in chemical research, as well as to promote international cooperation to prevent these substances from becoming chemical threats.

Indexed as

chemical warfare agentschemical weaponscognitive warfareneurotoxic agentsnew psychoactive substancesnon-lethal chemical weapons

Identifiers

PMID40863935
PMCPMC12390419

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.