Designer drugs are laboratory-produced, man-made chemicals typically used for recreational use. They are typically designed to be illegal for those wishing to acquire high, sometimes mimicking legal drugs and other natural substances. In addition to commonly known legal highs such as MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis, LSD and amphetamines, designer drugs can also be manufactured using various chemical salts, precursors and hybrid mixtures. Illegal lab drugs can also contain irritants and toxins that may cause debilitating physical reactions in users. In contrast, designer drugs are often created with stringent controls, which make them highly potent and often have unique packaging and labeling.

One of the most popular designer drugs is synthetic marijuana. This substance can produce a range of effects in users, from the euphoric “getting high” sensation to the more dangerous side effects such as hallucinations and memory loss. The most well-known synthetic marijuana is “bath salts”, a white crystalline powdery substance which is often mixed with water or some other liquid to create a relaxing, soothing drink. Although bath salts are not highly-known to produce negative side effects, there have been reports of their abuse; in particular, police in England recently arrested a man for selling an unknown amount of the drug on eBay – claiming that it was a homemade product. With such potent chemicals in widespread use, it is vital that consumers know how to get rid of them.

Designer clothing and accessories are increasingly seen as accessories for modern living. Although many fashionable designers openly admit to dabble in illegal drug use in order to produce quality fashion products, they claim that many of their most popular designs have no substance within them at all and are instead produced by accident. Users should always beware, and if a designer says that a product is designer potpourri, it might be an authentic designer product – but only up to a point.