[Klever-Won]

As I high school AP Chemistry student I have taken a liking to chemistry and considered it as my major in college. Coming from a long line of attorneys I am expected to fallow the family trade, but with my sister recently switching to business school I think I too will abort the plans for law school.

My question for you is this,
Is there a chemistry related career that involves working with or researching drugs? By drugs I am referring to recreational drugs such as ecstasy(3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), acid (lysergic acid diethylamide), cocaine, etc.

I personally do not use illegal substances (producing, using, or selling any such drug is not at all my intention here) but I have always been drawn to learning about drugs (anything such as how they work or their effects) and I am intrigued by the chemist Alexander Shulgin.

So, does anyone have any information regarding careers that relate to chemistry and "recreational drugs", or perhaps researching for new drugs, similar to Shulgin?

[Fluorine]

Excellent to hear.

The closest options, both which I am aiming for personally, are medicinal chemist and pharmacologist. The former will allow you to synthesize newer drugs and send them off to be researched. The latter is allowed to research drugs on animals or cells for various purposes. If they have the chemistry background, they can do both.

I don't think any medicinal chemist will be able to do what Dr. Shulgin did in the 60~70s due to different legal situations then. Even if you do get a Schedule I license to posses these compounds where would your funding come from? I'm not familiar of any non-pharmacologist doing this type of research. Chemistry is merely the tip of the iceberg required to fully understand these (or any other drug) and suggest you read into pharmacology if you have the passion.

I've been interested in serotonin research for many years, especially 5-HT_2A agonists (d-LSD, 25x-NBMeO, 2C-x, etc.), including receptor elucidation, heterodimerization, selective signaling, docking and so forth. If you wish to discuss this deeper feel free to send me a message.

All the best,
Fluorine

[Klever-Won]

Great to find someone with similar interests and insightful information, will be messaging you shortly