Psychoactive drugs that are produced (or marketed, if they already exist) by modifying the molecular structure to varying degrees, to avoid present drug laws, are often called Designer Drugs.

Although the term originated in the law enforcement, it has a widespread use in all sectors. Coined in the 1980’s, this term has been used to refer to Heroin like synthetic products, which are mostly based on the Fentanyl molecule. In the mid 1980’s, MDMA (ecstasy) had experienced a popularity boom; it was during this period this term had gained widespread popularity.

By amending the Controlled Substance Act with the Controlled Analogue Enforcement of 1986, the United States of America attempted to ban designer drugs by making it illegal to sell, manufacture and even posses chemicals that were substantially alike in chemicals and pharmacology to Schedule II and Schedule I drugs. However, other countries dealt with this issue quite differently. Countries such as, Germany and Canada simply preferred to ban new drugs as they had become a concern, while, some countries like Australia and United Kingdom decided to go in the opposite direction. Based on chemical structures only these countries enacted sweeping bans, by making chemicals illegal even prior to they were created. Chemicals also banned if they fit a set of rules concerning alterations and substitution of an already banned drug.