What Is a Synthetic Drug?

Synthetic drugs are made from man-made chemicals instead of natural ingredients.

Many synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, Ecstasy, LSD and methamphetamine, are discussed in other booklets in The Truth About Drugs series. This booklet shares the facts about synthetic drugs, often called designer drugs. These include synthetic marijuana (Spice or K2), synthetic stimulants (bath salts) and a synthetic hallucinogen known as N-bomb.

Designer Drugs — a Risky Experiment

To understand what synthetic drugs are and how they came to be, it’s important to know what a designer drug is. A designer drug is a synthetic version of an illegal drug with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid being classified as illegal. Essentially, it is an experiment by a chemist to create a new drug that can be sold legally, either online or in stores, allowing dealers to make money without breaking the law. As law enforcement identifies new chemicals and classifies them as illegal, manufacturers modify the drugs’ structures to stay ahead of the law. So the cycle repeats.

Mystery Ingredients

Some designer drugs are sold online or in convenience stores as “herbal smoking blends,” while others are disguised as products labeled “not for human consumption” such as “herbal incense,” “plant food,” “bath salts” or “jewelry cleaner.” These names are used to hide their true purpose and avoid health and safety regulations.

Because new chemicals are constantly being developed, users of designer drugs have no way of knowing what these drugs contain. Additionally, even small changes to a known drug can create a new drug with very different effects, making it impossible for users to predict how it will affect their health.

Worldwide, more than 1,000 new synthetic drugs have been discovered on the illegal drug market.

Some of these contain chemicals that have not been fully identified, and their effects on the human body and mind remain unknown.

Updated: 2025