Minors and young adult's hospitalizations after “chimique” consumption in Mayotte Island: Which substances are involved?

A current overview of the pharmacological composition of “La Chimique” consumed in Mayotte: Preliminary results of the CHASSE‐MAREE protocol

“…Positive toxicological results for drugs and toxic compounds are shown in Table 1. The results are presented in qualitative form only, ADB-BUTINACA [15], AFUBIATA [11], 4F-MDMD-BICA [7], CH-PIATA [14], 5C-APINACA [3], BZO-HEXOXIZID [2], and 4F-ABINACA [1]), nicotine (68), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD) (2), medications (amantadine [11], cyamemazine [6],…”

“…and acetaminophen [3]), and a designer benzodiazepine (bromazolam [4]). It should be noted that 61 out of the 80 samples contained SCRAs and that most of them contained more than one: 20 contained one SCRA, 21 contained two SCRAs, 17 contained three SCRAs, 1 contained four SCRAs, and 2 contained five SCRAs.…”

“…1 Between March 1 and June 30, 2019, toxicological investigations were performed in blood samples of 12 patients hospitalized in the Emergency Department of Mayotte Hospital after using "La Chimique": An SCRA (MDMB-4en-PINACA) was detected in blood of 2 out of these 12 patients. 3 In these preliminary results of the CHASSE-MAREE protocol, the Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC]), in which participating laboratories provided information on NPSs that had been identified in their laboratories, 13 and was placed under international control under Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, at the 64th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Mach 2021, and by the European Union (EU) 2 months later. 14 ADB-FUBIATA, closely resembling ADB-FUBICA but carrying an additional methylene between the core and the amide, has recently been identified in seized materials in China, Russia, the United States, and Belgium.…”

“…Indeed, this mixture, prepared by people nicknamed “the cooks,” generally (but not exclusively) takes the form of alcohol‐soaked tobacco to which SCRAs have been added. Nevertheless, this pharmacological composition of “La Chimique” remains extremely rarely documented in literature 1–3 . Anyway, mainly used by young men in precarious situations, causing psychiatric decompensation, fainting, and aggressive behavior, “La Chimique” is a major public health problem in this region 4 and Mayotte is currently experiencing a demographic, health, and safety crisis.…”

“…Nevertheless, this pharmacological composition of "La Chimique" remains extremely rarely documented in literature. [1][2][3] Anyway, mainly used by young men in precarious situations, causing psychiatric decompensation, fainting, and aggressive behavior, "La Chimique" is a major public health problem in this region 4 and Mayotte is currently experiencing a demographic, health, and safety crisis. In this context, the CHASSE-MAREE protocol aims to monitor changes in the composition of "La Chimique" and its use.…”