designer drug

noun

1. a drug produced by a minor modification in the chemical structure of an existing drug, resulting in a new substance with similar pharmacologic effects, especially one created to achieve the same effect as a controlled or illegal drug.

designer drug

noun

1. any of various narcotic or hallucinogenic substances manufactured illegally from a range of chemicals
2. med a drug designed to act on a specific molecular target

designer drug

/ dĭ-zī′nər /

1. Any of various drugs with properties and effects similar to a known hallucinogen or narcotic but having a slightly altered chemical structure, especially such a drug created in order to evade restrictions against illegal substances.

designer drug

1. A drug that is manufactured to target a specific molecule in the body, for example, to treat a specific disease or condition.

Notes

Some believe that these drugs are the future of the pharmaceutical industry, in that a drug will be tailored to an individual's unique genome .

Word History and Origins

Origin of designer drug¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

That means easier highs for many Americans, but also a designer drug market full of mysterious compounds and clear potential health risks to consumers.

From FiveThirtyEight

The onus of this designer drug should rest on the people making millions off of it today—neither of whom are Pfizer or Hoffman.

From The Daily Beast

Doubly so since the DEA just moved to ban three more synthetic drugs, signaling a widening crackdown on the designer drug market.

From The Daily Beast