CURRENT STATUS OF DESIGNER DRUGS

CURRENT STATUS OF
DESIGNER DRUGS
Bert Toivola, Ph.D.
Scientific Director
Norchem Drug Testing Laboratory
Cordant Forensic Solutions
Flagstaff, Arizona
AGENDA
Definition
History
1960s-1970s
Hallucinogens (LSD)
1980s
Fentanyl analogues
Ecstasy
Methamphetamines
1990s
Phenylethyamines
Tryptamines
AGENDA
2000s
Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice)
Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts)
Mitragynine (Kratom)
Desomorphine (Krokodil)
Kava Kava
Acetylfentanyl
DESIGNER DRUGS
“drugs which are created ( or marketed, if they
had already existed) to thwart existing drug laws
(CSA) usually by modifying the molecular
structure of existing drugs to varying degrees”
DESIGNER DRUGS
WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN?
METHAMPHETAMINE
ECSTACY
DESIGNER DRUGS
 TERM COINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN 1980’S
 REFERRED TO VARIOUS HEROIN-LIKE SYNTHETIC
SUBSTANCES, MOSTLY BASED ON THE FENTANYL
MOLECULE
 TERM GAINED POPULARITY WITH BOOM OF
ECSTACY (MID 80’S)
DESIGNER DRUGS
SECOND INTERNATIONAL OPIUM CONVENTION
 HELD IN 1925, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
 SPECIFICALLY BANNED MORPHINE AND DIACETYL ESTER OF
MORPHINE (HEROIN)
 ALSO INCLUDED CONTROLS OVER CANNABIS (“INDIAN HEMP”)
 APPEARANCE SHORTLY THEREAFTER OF ALTERNATIVE
ESTERS INCLUDING:
 Dibenzoylmorphine
 Acetylpropionylmorphine
 LEAGUE OF NATIONS (1930) EXTENDS CONTROL TO OTHER
ANALOGUES
DESIGNER DRUGS
Designer Drugs: 1960s – 1970s
 INTRODUCTION OF A NUMBER OF SYNTHETIC
HALLUCINOGENS (MODIFICATIONS OF LSD AND
PCP)
 DOM/STP (“SERENITY, TRANQUILITY, PEACE”)
 LITTLE SCOPE TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE OVER
DRUG ANALOGUES
 UNITED STATES V. SAND, 1973
 ALD-52 (ACETYLAMIDE OF LSD)
DESIGNER DRUGS
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT - CSA (1970)
 Title II of Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and
Control Act of 1970
 Scheduled Drugs – I, II, III, IV, V
 Schedule depends on medical utility and abuse potential
 Controlled Substances Analogue Enforcement Act of
1986- “substantially similar” to Schedule I or II drugs
DESIGNER DRUGS
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT - CSA (1970)
 Schedule I – heroin, psylocibin, LSD, marijuana, synthetic
cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones
 Schedule II – cocaine, methadone, oxycodone, morphine,
hydrocodone, methamphetamine
 Schedule III – buprenorphine, marinol
 Schedule IV – benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax), Z-drugs (Zolpidem,
Zopiclone)
 Schedule V – antitussives with small amounts of codeine,
pyrovalerone
DESIGNER DRUGS
WHAT DRIVES THE PRODUCTION OF
DESIGNER DRUGS?
Consumer preference
Law enforcement control
DESIGNER DRUGS
• PHENYLETHYLAMINES
• Hallucinogenic
• 2-C drugs
• 25I-NBOMe (n-bomb)
• TRYPTAMINES
• DMT-Dimethyltryptamine
• 5-Methoxy-N,N diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT)
• “Foxy Methoxy”
THE QUEST FOR LEGAL HIGHS
• PUBLISHED IN 1991
• AUTOBIOGRAPHY
• DETAILED SYNTHESIS
INSTRUCTIONS
• OVER 200 COMPOUNDS
• “ESSENTIAL
AMPHETAMINES”
• “MAGICAL HALF-DOZEN”
THE QUEST FOR LEGAL HIGHS
• PUBLISHED IN 1997
• AUTOBIOGRAPHY
• DETAILED SYNTHESIS
INSTRUCTIONS
• OVER 55 COMPOUNDS
• PUBLIC ACCESS
DESIGNER DRUGS
PHENYLETHYLAMINES AND TRYPTAMINES
• Euphoria
• Hallucinations
• Empathy
• Visual and Auditory Disturbances or Distortions
• Disinhibition
• Dilated Pupils
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Seizures
• Death
THE COST
DESIGNER DRUGS
This is your grandmother’s
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
SPICE
This is not your grandmother’s
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
DESIGNER DRUGS
CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS
• SPICE
• 2010
2,915 calls
• 2011
6,890 calls
• 2012
5,228 calls
• 2013
2,668 calls
• 2014
3,595 calls
• 2015 (7/06)
4,337 calls
DESIGNER DRUGS
• Designer drugs that are CB1 and CB2 agonist.
• Synthetic cannabinoids started out as legitimate
scientific endeavors.
• More than 400 synthetic cannabinoids
synthesized.
DESIGNER DRUGS
• ∆9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL
• HU - 210
SPICE: FIVE BANNED COMPOUNDS- 2011
JWH - 018
CP 47,497
JWH - 073
JWH - 200
CP 47,497 C8 Homolog
Cannabicylohexonal
∆9 -THC
DESIGNER DRUGS
• HEBREW UNIVERSITY
• HU 210
• HU 211
• HU 243
• HU 308
• HU 331
• PFIZER PHARMACEUTICAL
• CP 47, 497
• CP 55,490
• STERLING-WINTHROP PHARMACEUTICAL
• WIN 55,512
DESIGNER DRUGS
• JOHN W. HUFFMAN,PH.D., CLEMSON UNIV.
• JWH – 007
• JWH – 015
• JWH – 018
• JWH – 019
• JWH – 073
• JWH – 081
• JWH – 122
• JWH – 200
• JWH – 250
• JWH – 251
• JWH – 398
SPICE:
• NOLA GOLD
• BOTANICAL
INCENSE
• BAY BEAN
• SIBERIAN MOTHERWORT
• MARSHMELLOW
• STEVIA LEAF
• LEONOTIS LEONURUS
• BLUE LOTUS
• PASSION LEAF
• AROMA ESSENCE
• DAMIANA
• JWH _ 018
NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
• JWH _ 073
DESIGNER DRUGS
SPICE: PHARMACOLOGY
• Euphoria (“high”) similar to Marijuana
• Relaxation
• Altered state of consciousness
• Distortion of sensory experiences
• Impaired motor control
• Increased reaction time
• Decreased cognition
• NO effect on appetite
DESIGNER DRUGS
SPICE: ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS
• Elevated Blood Pressure
• Increased Heart Rate
• Hyperventilation
• Anxiety and Agitation
• Paranoia
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Death (unsubstantiated media reports)
SPICE
WHEN ASKED IF HE FELT ANY
RESPONSIBILITY THAT HE
MADE THE DRUG………
“YOU CAN’T BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR WHAT IDIOTS ARE GOING TO
DO.”
John W. Huffman, Ph.D.
Professor, Emeritus
Chemistry Department
Clemson University
JANUARY 26, 2011
CHEMICAL & ENGINEERING NEWS
DESIGNER DRUGS
BRIEF HISTORY OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
• 2004 First appearance on the Internet
• 2004 First Appearance in Europe
• 2008 Wide Spread use in Europe
• 2008 First Appearance in United States
• 2008 First Analysis of SPICE at University of Freiburg
• 2009 Wide Use in United States
• 2009 First inquiry Fall 2009
• 2010 Laboratory Testing of Spice Available
• 2011 Temporary Ban by DEA
• 2012 Temporary Ban Extended by DEA
• 2015 18 synthetic cannabinoids are on schedule 1
DESIGNER DRUGS
• SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
• JWH-018 *
• JWH-073 *
• AM-2201
• UR-144 *
• XLR-11 *
• PB-22 *
• 5F-PB-22 *
DESIGNER DRUGS
• SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
• RCS-4
• AKB-48 *
• AB-PINACA *
• 5F-AB-PINACA
• AB-FUBINACA *
• ADBICA
• 5F-ADBICA
DESIGNER DRUGS
• SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS
• AB-CHEMINACA *
• WHAT NEXT?????
DESIGNER DRUGS
BATH SALTS THE REAL STUFF
• Epsom salts or sea salt, or both
• Baking soda
• 1 or 2 teaspoons
of glycerin (optional)
• Essential oils – mandarin
orange, lavender,
sandlewood and patchouli
DESIGNER DRUGS: BATH SALTS
DESIGNER DRUGS: BATH SALTS
DESIGNER DRUGS
CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS
• BATH SALTS
• 2010
303 calls
• 2011
6,137 calls
• 2012
2,691 calls
• 2013
995
calls
• 2014
582
calls
• 2015 (6/30)
267
calls
CATHINONES--KHAT PLANT
• FRESH LEAVES CHEWED OR CONSUMED AS
TEA
• ORIGINATED IN ETHIOPIA
• CAUSES RELEASE OF DOPAMINE FROM
BRAIN AREAS
• SALE OF KHAT LEGAL IN  Australia by permit
 Oman
 Yemen
 United Kingdom
CATHINONES - EFFECTS
• MILD EUPHORIA AND EXCITEMENT
• TALKATIVE, UNREALISTIC, EMOTIONALLY
UNSTABLE
• CONSTIPATION
• ANORECTIC
• MANIC BEHAVIORS
• DROWSY HALLUCINATIONS
DESIGNER DRUGS: BATH SALTS
• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• Similar in action to methamphetamine
• Thought to be highly addictive
• MDPV is 5–8x potency of methylphenidate
• Available as research chemical in 2007
DESIGNER DRUGS
BATH SALTS: ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS
• Elevated Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
• Anxiety and agitation
• Hallucinations
• Extreme Paranoia
• Delusions
• Seizures
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Death
BATH SALTS
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone
MDPV
Methylone
4-Methylmethcathinone
Mephedrone
4-MMC
Methedrone
4-Methoxymethcathinone
DESIGNER DRUGS
• SYNTHETIC CATHINONES (BATH SALTS)
• CATHINONE
• METHCATHINONE
• MDPV
• MEPHEDRONE
• METHYLONE
• BUTYLONE
• ETHYLONE
DESIGNER DRUGS
SYNTHETIC CATHINONES (BATH SALTS
• NAPHYRONE
• FLEPHEDRONE
• METHEDRONE
• 4F-METHCATHINONE
• 4F-METHAMPHETAMINE
• DMAA
• Alpha-PVP (flakka, gravel)
DESIGNER DRUGS
Alpha-PVP (alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone)
aka: Flakka, Gravel
Increase blood pressure and heart rate
Extreme hyperthermia
Hallucinations
Paranoid Delusions
Bouts of rage with extreme strength
BATH SALTS: SIDE EFFECTS
DESIGNER DRUGS
• KRATOM
• Mitragyna speciosa
• Indigenous to SE Asia
• Mitragynine
• 7-OH Mitragynine
• Mild stimulant at low doses
• Opioid at higher doses
• Legal
• DEA-drugs of concern list
DESIGNER DRUGS
• KAVA KAVA
• Piper methysticum
• South Pacific Islands
• Kavalactones
• Sedative (social anxiety)
• Anesthetic effect
• Hepatoxicity
• Legal
• DEA-drugs of concern
DESIGNER DRUGS
ACETYLFENTANYL
Potent fentanyl analogue
Spiked into heroin
Numerous deaths reported
Schedule 1
DESIGNER DRUGS
• KROKODIL
• Russian Heroin
• Synthesized from Codeine OTC
• Ethanol, HCl, gasoline, iodine,
• red phosphorous, paint thinner
• Desomorphine
DESIGNER DRUGS
• KROKODIL
• Desomorphine
• Sedative, analgesic more potent than
morphine, very addictive
• Patented in 1934
• Discontinued 1981
• Schedule 1
DESIGNER DRUGS
Krokodil lab
DESIGNER DRUGS
Krokodil syringe
DESIGNER DRUGS
Effects of Krokodil injection
DESIGNER DRUGS
[email protected]