Legal Drugs: Background and Risks

Legal drugs are often deeply rooted in society and considered normal. However, legal intoxicants like tobacco or alcohol also carry widely known health risks. Meanwhile, legal psychedelics are hard to find. But they do exist in the form of novel, synthetic analogs that, thanks to an altered chemical structure, operate in a legal gray area, allowing them to be legally acquired for research until legislation is updated.

This is reason enough to thoroughly inform about legal drugs. Therefore, in this article, you will find all important information about legal drugs, including known substances and the risks associated with their consumption. Legal drugs are a comprehensive topic that extends into many areas of society. To provide you with a clear introduction to the subject, we have divided this article into different chapters. This way, you can quickly find the information you need:

In Germany, legal drugs are defined as substances that have psychoactive effects but do not fall under the Narcotics Act (BtMG) or the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG). Psychotropic means that the substance has an effect on the central nervous system. Possible effects of psychotropic substances include:

• Alteration of perception: Legal drugs influence perception. For example, blurred vision can occur after alcohol consumption, while legal psychedelics like 1S-LSD can cause intensified color perception and visual hallucinations.

• Changes in sensation: The emotional world is also subject to changes when consuming legal drugs. Often, a jovial mood up to euphoria is the result. This sensation also accounts for some of the addiction risk.

• Changes in motor skills: Alcohol, above all, affects motor skills. Among other things, reaction time and coordination are negatively impaired.
  

The distinction between legal and illegal drugs is mostly arbitrary and based on historical developments. It is commonly assumed that the line between legality and illegality is drawn with regard to health risks.

However, this is a misconception, as the question of which drugs are legal often depends on other factors. For example, psychedelics, which pose a much lower risk of addiction than legal drugs like tobacco or alcohol, are considered non-marketable. Economic interests also play a role in the classification of legal intoxicants.

The world of legal drugs is large and diverse. For this reason, we will first focus on the most well-known common drugs. Afterwards, we will discuss legal psychedelics, the so-called Legal Highs. This will give you a comprehensive overview of the many forms of legal intoxicants.

First, we want to discuss legal drugs in the form of so-called common drugs. These are legal substances that can be fully acquired legally from the age of 18 and are widely accepted in society. The most common common drugs include:

•  Alcohol: Alcohol in the form of beverages is a widespread and accepted legal drug. Excessive alcohol consumption is characterized by reduced physical and mental performance, including decreased reaction time, speech disorders, and in the worst case, unconsciousness.

•  Nicotine: Nicotine is consumed by smoking or vaping tobacco or nicotine-containing liquids. Nicotine has a short-term stimulating effect on the nervous system and leads to an increased heart rate and higher blood pressure.

• Caffeine: Caffeine is of plant origin and can be found in coffee beans or tea leaves. Consumed in normal amounts, caffeine increases alertness and reduces fatigue. However, excessive consumption can lead to nervousness and elevated blood pressure.

Some drugs previously classified as illegal have now gained legal status due to societal and political decriminalization efforts. In Germany, the most recent example is cannabis, which has been legal with restrictions since April 1, 2024, and can be grown and acquired for personal use. Cannabis is smoked or vaped. When smoked, it is usually mixed with tobacco. The effect is expressed as inner calmness, euphoria, or relaxation.

Even though psychedelics in Germany fall under the BtMG or NpSG, synthetic analogs are constantly being developed. These legal psychedelics, also known as Legal Highs, have an altered chemical structure compared to the original active ingredient, which is why existing laws do not apply.

There are numerous different substances. Noteworthy, for example, is 1S-LSD, the newest derivative of illegal Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, which has a comparable psychedelic effect and can cause intense hallucinations. The active ingredient of mushrooms with psychedelic properties, the so-called magic mushrooms, also has a derivative in the form of the new 4‑PrO‑MET.

In addition to their intended effects, legal drugs also have undesirable side effects. These naturally include direct effects such as impaired motor skills and weakened judgment when consuming alcohol. However, long-term health damage and dependencies can also develop. Below you will find the most common risks of legal drugs.

Short-term side effects refer to those that occur in addition to the intended consumption. For alcohol, the intention is, for example, increased exuberance, joy, or relaxation. The side effects include reduced reaction time, impaired judgment, and decreased coordination. Other legal drugs also cause such side effects. For example, nicotine and caffeine increase heart rate and raise blood pressure.

The long-term health risks of legal drugs are well-documented medically. They increase the risk of various diseases. Excessive and regular alcohol consumption heavily stresses the liver, which can lead to fatty liver disease and ultimately liver cirrhosis. Tobacco smoke, produced by nicotine consumption, damages the lungs and, in the long term, increases the risk of cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Even though most legal drugs are freely available to adults, many carry significant risks of dependence. Research suggests that substances with a rapid onset of action carry a high risk of dependence. Nicotine, in particular, is a substance that causes dependence very quickly. Alcohol dependence, on the other hand, develops more slowly but is also persistent.

Legal drugs are unavoidable in many social contexts. Be it a glass of beer after work or a cigarette during a lunch break. However, since every substance can have harmful health consequences and carries addiction potential, they should always be handled with care. In the case of a health-threatening dependence, many doctors advise contacting a specialized clinic to initiate withdrawal. A conversation with a family doctor is also advisable, as they can recommend appropriate specialized clinics.

If dependence is diagnosed or suspected, doctors advise contacting a specialized clinic. The family doctor is also a good first point of contact.