EIRP Proceedings, Vol 6 (2011)

Abstract

The consumption of narcotics is one of the problems the international world is confronted with
nowadays; its direct or indirect effects lead to the conclusion that it represents a worrying phenomenon meant
to be taken into account by the international programs of co-operation. In contrast with the mature population,
the younger population is much more receptive to the new, much more attracted by new experiments and,
consequently, by risks. The narcotics flagellum is one of the most complex, profound and dramatic
phenomena met with in the contemporary world. Narcotization is the morbid habit of repeatedly taking and
using ever higher doses of more or less toxic substances able to generate a psychological and physical
addiction to them. Unhappily due to the lack of information, people think that the illegal substances only –
heroine, marijuana, cocaine, etc. – are considered drugs. Not long ago there appeared the so-called “mixes of
ethno-botanical plants” that are perfectly legal, and many consumers have replaced narcotics - as marijuana,
for example - with plant mixes. According to explanations given by the Ethno-botanical Explanatory
Dictionary, ethno-biology is a branch that studies the mutual relationship between man and plant. In
Romania, ethno-botanical plants are sold under the generic names of “aroma therapeutic” or “ethnobotanical”
plants. The numerous researches meant to decode the molecular and biochemical structure of these
herbs, the researchers found that consumers are described as facing hallucinogenic effects caused by some
synthetic substances - cannabinoids - added by manufacturers.