Conventional and emerging drugs of abuse: the current situation

Transcription

1 Conventional and emerging drugs of abuse: the current situation NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES -THE HIGHS AND LOWS Maritim Hotel, Munich, November 2015 Michael Uhl Director of Chemistry Unit Bavarian State Criminal Police Office Munich, Germany

2 Orders The chemical laboratories of the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office receive orders exclusively from Police Prosecutor s office Court 2

3 Main duties Main duties for the chemical laboratories of the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office are: Analysis of conventional (illicit) drugs, seized in Bavaria Identification of new psychoactive substances of abuse (NPS) Committee work for government institutions concerning different kind of drugs (conventional, illicit and new psychoactive substances) 3

4 Situation in Bavaria 2015 Drugs of abuse - the current situation A. Conventional (illicit) drugs... - Perennial favourites, evergreens - Dinosaurs, phase-out models B. Conventional drugs of special interest, more popular than ever... -Crystal Meth: Methamphetamine(-hydrochloride) -Fentanyl 4

5 Situation in Bavaria 2015 Drugs of abuse - the current situation C. New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)*, formerly known as legal highs... - herbal blends (synth. cannabinoids) - party pills, bath salts, ATS, research chemicals frequently labelled as not for human consumption *Definition (accord. UNODC from 2013): NPS are substances of abuse in a pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled [ ], but which may pose a public health risk. 5

6 The golden age (until 2008)... Little diversification in controlled substances for a long period! 6

7 The golden age (until 2008)... For a long period 300 different substances were listed on the German controlled drug schedule....but in the great majority of cases only: Cannabis Cocain(-hydrochloride) Amphetamine(-sulphate) Ecstasy (XTC) Heroin Crystal Meth LSD 7

8 A. Conventional (illicit) drugs... Perennial favourites still remain: Cannabis: Marijuana and Hashish 8

9 A. Conventional (illicit) drugs Concentration of THC in Cannabis 9

10 A. Conventional (illicit) drugs... Cocaine(-hydrochloride) Amphetamine(-sulphate) 10

11 A. Conventional (illicit) drugs... Ecstasy: MDMA per tablet Ø mg 2014 Ø 111 mg 11

12 A. Conventional (illicit) drugs... Dinosaurs and phase-out models: popularity of Heroin and LSD is decreasing 12

13 B. Conventional (illicit) drugs of special interest Crystal Meth Prevalence in Bavaria, Saxonia, Thuringia > 99% of the samples (2S)-N-Methyl-1-phenylpropane-2-amine 13

14 B. Conventional (illicit) drugs of special interest Quality of Metamphetamine

15 B. Conventional (illicit) drugs of special interest Fentanyl A very potent synthetic opioid, At least 100 times as potent as morphine, available for therapeutic use 15

16 B. Conventional (illicit) drugs of special interest Available as solutions, transdermal patches, lozenges buccal tablets, nasal spray but 16

17 B. Conventional (illicit) drugs of special interest Fatal fentanyl abuse cases in Bavaria: a special phenomenon in this state Year Drug related deaths Fatal fentanylabuse cases (11 %) (16 %) (24 %) (31 %) (30 %) (27 %) 17

18 Growing interest in alternative psychoactive substances Uncontrolled alternative drugs psychoactive plant material: kratom, salvia divinorum GHB, GBL (culmination 2007 to 2010) 18

19 C. The new era: Spice, first generation of herbal smoking blends Prototype marketed and used as Marijuana alternative 19

20 C. The new era: Spice, first generation of herbal smoking blends The first generation products we declared as incense or herbal blends usually 1 g to 3 g of finely cut plant material, presented in colourful and professionally designed packets. It was claimed by the producer, that only the herbs produce cannabis-like effects when consumed. 20

21 C. Identification of synthetic cannabinoids OH D9 -THC O O JWH-018 N OH OH CP 47,497 21

22 Legislator s response in Germany After the identification of JWH-018 D 9 and -THC CP 47,497 these cannabimimetics were included very quickly in the German controlled drug schedule in order to JWH-018 solve this problem caused by synthetic cannabinoids. CP 47,497 22

23 C. A thin layer of synthetic cannabinoid sticks on herbal blends 23

24 C. Inhomogenous mixtures Consumers report inconsistent effects: No effects vs. overdose! 24

25 C. Synthetic cannabinoids: the second generation Soon after JWH-018 and compounds found in the first generation (mainly agonists at receptor CB1 ) were put under legal control, many other similar compounds of the aminoindole family were brought on the market. Since then, the number of these products and new synthetic cannabinoids has increased continuously. Source: EMCDDA 25

26 C. Synthetic cannabinoids: the next generations Rapid replacement of synthetic cannabinoids Source: EMCDDA 26

27 C. Synthetic cannabinoids model to make the chemistry of the synthetic cannabinoids more readily understandable help explain the chemical make-up of these compounds structure of the majority of synthetic cannabinoids can be broken down into four key parts: core and substituents link section ring and substituents tail section Source: EMCDDA 27

28 Legislator s response in Germany The trends on the synthetic drug market evolve quickly each year. JWH-018 D 9 -THC The list of controlled synthetic cannabinoids has to be updated again and again Last update on May 18th 2015 Next update will be in November 2015 Around 50 synthetic cannabinoids listed on the German controlled drug schedule now CP 47,497 28

29 C. A case with many packets Some cases cause a lot of work 31 different products 1215 packets 6 different synthetic cannabinoids 0 controlled substances 29

30 C. A case with many packets AB-CHMINACA AB-CHMINACA AB-CHMINACA 30

31 C. A case with many packets BB-22 / 5F-PB-22 AB-CHMINACA AB-CHMINACA 31

32 C. A case with even more packets 32

33 C. Important synthetic cannabinoids The most important synthetic cannabinoids D 9 -THC according to empirical data from our labs are in the fall of 2015: CP 47,497 33

34 C. There are additional NPS EMCDDA update on new drugs Last year many NPS were detected in the EMCDDA, the reference point on drugs in Europe A total of 101 NPS were reported to the EU EWS in 2014 This brings the total number of substances being monitored by the agency to over 450 Risk assessments of NPS, if necessary 34

35 C. General information about NPS 101 new substances reported to the EU EWS in cathinones 30 cannabinoids 9 phenethylamines 5 opioids 5 tryptamines 4 benzodiazepines 4 arylalkylamines 13 others 35

36 C. General information about NPS Number of NPS reported to the EU EWS Source: EMCDDA 36

37 General information about NPS Number of NPS reported to the UNODC 37

38 C. Alexander Shulgin godfather of drug design Shulgin, died in

39 C. Synthetic cathinones Formerly sold as legal replacements for stimulants basic structure: Cathinone monoamine alkaloid shrub Catha edulis (khat) 39

40 C. Synthetic Opioids AH-7921 MT-45 Highly potent and sold as heroin to unsuspecting users A high risk of overdose and death Three of the five opioids reported to the EWS 2014 were fentanyls More than 40 deaths caused by the opioids AH-7921 and MT-45 Both substances were sold as research chemicals 40

41 C. New benzodiazepines: Phenazepam Benzodiazepine O Dose: 0,5-2 mg HN N Cl Danger of overdose Br Phenazepam 41

42 C. So called research chemicals S O NH CH 3 CH 3 Thiothinone 42

43 C. Potent research chemicals Marketed in small packets: e.g. 25B-NBOMe, 3-MeO-PCP, 4-HO-MET 43

44 C. Potent NPS Design like a famous LSD preparation containing the hallucinogen 25I-NBOMe 44

45 C. Potent new hallucinogens LSD dosage 50 µg LSZ dosage 50 to 150 µg 45

46 C. Potent Party Pills Tablets with 2C-P (hallucinogen) 46

47 C. Can NPS be harmful? How much pure drug for 10,000 doses? Source: EMCDDA 47

48 C. Special NPS Four substances risk-assessed in 2014 Source: EMCDDA 48

49 Controlled substances in Germany Many NPS are subject to regulations of the German controlled drug schedule now: 50 synthetic cannabinoides 22 synthetic cathinones 29 others (ATS, piperazines, etc.) More than 400 different substances are listed on German controlled drug schedule in the fall of

50 C. Situation in the Bavarian Crime Laboratories In 2014 from 2,913 drug cases > 600 NPS relevant Important synthetic cathinones: still MDPV 2-MMC 3-MEC Alpha-PHP 50

51 C. A lot of substances from the NPS are for sale In the summer of 2015, you could find on the list of Cayman Chemical Cannabin. (prim. synth.) Cathinones Tryptamines Piperazines Phenetylamines and Stimulants

52 Conclusion The market of new substances of abuse will grow continuously and you have to be aware: 52

53 The End Thank you for your attention! 53