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.
Origin
1980-85
British Dictionary definitions for designer drugs

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 drugs in Medicine

designer drug de·sign·er drug (dĭ-zī'nər)
n.
A drug 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 drugs in Science
designer drug
  (dĭ-zī'nər)   
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 drugs in Culture

designer drug definition


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

Note: 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.
Slang definitions & phrases for designer drugs

designer drug

noun phrase

A synthesized narcotic, often of much higher potency than those produced from plants: These new ''designer drugs'' or ''super narcotics'' are triply dangerous/ Out here urine testing has spawned the ''designer'' drug game (1980s+)