CURRENT STATUS OF

DESIGNER DRUGS

Bert Toivola, Ph.D.

Scientific Director

Norchem Drug Testing Laboratory

Cordant Forensic Solutions

Flagstaff, Arizona

AGENDADefinition

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 JWH - 073 JWH - 200

CP 47,497 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

• JWH _ 073NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

DESIGNER DRUGSSPICE: 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 DRUGSSPICE: 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.”

JANUARY 26, 2011

CHEMICAL & ENGINEERING NEWS

John W. Huffman, Ph.D.

Professor, Emeritus

Chemistry Department

Clemson University

DESIGNER DRUGSBRIEF 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 DRUGSBATH 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

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

DESIGNER DRUGS

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

4-Methylmethcathinone

Mephedrone

4-MMC

MethyloneMethedrone

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)

Alpha-PVP (alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone)

aka: Flakka, Gravel

Increase blood pressure and heart rate

Extreme hyperthermia

Hallucinations

Paranoid Delusions

Bouts of rage with extreme strength

DESIGNER DRUGS

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

btoivola@cordanths.com