الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are among the largest group of new psychoactive substance (NPS). There are hundreds of SCs compounds increasingly developed. Additionally, most SCs are more potent and have a higher addictive potential, than the natural cannabis. In the last few years, a herbal mixture containing SCs “Strox” invaded the drug abuse market in Egypt.Most SCs products on the market haven’t been subjected to any in vivo testing and only a limited amount of data is available. Hence, their physiologic and pharmacologic effects are unpredictableThe present study was divided into two parts:The first part was a clinical study (descriptive hospital-based study) on patients with a history of using SCs either once or repeated times (single and multiple users) who were admitted to Neuro-Psychiatric Assiut University hospital and Psychiatric hospital of the ministry of health in Assiut in the period from 1^st October 2019 to 〖31〗^th January 2021.The cases included in the presenting study were fifty males. Most users of synthetic cannabinoids were in the adolescence and middle age group (15-< 35) representing 68% of the studied cases. Curiosity was the most common motivator for using synthetic cannabinoids. Alteration of perception was reported in 68% of subjects after synthetic cannabinoids use. Additionally, dizziness, loss of consciousness, convulsion, and panic attacks were also reported. Cardiovascular adverse effects were experienced by users as palpitations (among 76% of studied cases) and chest pain (12% of included cases). Abnormal routine laboratory findings that were found in included cases, in the form of anemia (12% of studied cases), leukocytosis (10% of included cases), and leucopenia (6% of studied cases). Also, liver and kidney functions were elevated in 8% and 4% of the included cases, respectively. While 22% and 4% of cases were positive for hepatitis C and HIV respectively. Half of included subjects (50%) reported financial problems and about one third (32%) got involved in domestic violence.The second part was an experimental study (randomized controlled trial) included the chemical analysis of different seized SCs samples “Strox” using GC/MS and demonstration of the effects of acute and chronic toxicity by synthetic cannabinoids on brain, heart, liver, and testis in rats through histopathological examination by light microscope and immunohistochemistry. Five groups of adult male albino rats were used: negative control group received distilled water, positive control group received DMSO, acute group received LD_50 once and observed for 14 days, chronic group received 1/10 LD_50 for 3 months, and finally chronic withdrawal groups received 1/10 LD_50 for 3 months then left 2 weeks without the substance to observe the withdrawal manifestations.