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

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2020.00149

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2020.00149

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=BACKGROUND. A wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) is regularly searched and discussed online by e-psychonauts. Among NPS, the range of prescription/non-prescription opioids (fentanyl and non-fentanyl analogues) and herbal derivatives currently represent 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 opioid molecules. 
RESULTS. The open-web crawling/navigating software identified some 426 opioids, including 234 fentanyl analogues. Of these, 176 molecules (162 were very potent fentanyls, including 2 ohmefentanil and 7 carfentanil analogues) were not listed in either international or European NPS databases. 
CONCLUSIONS. 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 molecules are still relatively unknown. This is a reason of concern; each of these analogues potentially present 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.