Synthetic cathinone adulteration of illegal drugs

Oliver, Chicora F.; Palamar, Joseph J.; Salomone, Alberto; Simmons, Steven J.; Philogene-Khalid, Helene L.; Stokes-McCloskey, Nick; Rawls, Scott M.

doi:10.1007/s00213-018-5066-6

Cited by 55 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…These mainly include synthetic stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and cannabinoids (EMCDDA, 2017;Nelson, Bryant, & Aks, 2014), but some plant-based drugs may also be classified as NPS (Schifano, Orsolini, Duccio Papanti, & Corkery, 2015). In cases where sales information or labels exist, these may be inaccurate or misleading due to intended mislabeling or adulteration of common drugs with NPS (Oliver et al, 2019;Palamar et al 2017;Scherbaum, Schifano, & Bonnet, 2017;UNODC, 2016) or the chemical name may be difficult to remember. Hence, even when reporting to the best of their knowledge, users may still do so incorrectly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug Use by Music Festival Attendees: A Novel Triangulation Approach Using Self-Reported Data and Test Results of Oral Fluid and Pooled Urine Samples

Gjerde

Gjersing

Baz-Lomba

et al. 2019

Substance Use & Misuse

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Background: Self-reported data are commonly used when investigating illicit substance use. However, self-reports have well-known limitations such as limited recall and socially desirable responding. Mislabeling or adulteration of drugs on the illicit market may also cause incorrect reporting. Objectives: We aimed to examine what could be gained in terms of illicit drug use findings among music festival attendees when including biological sample test results in the assessment. Methods: We included 651 attendees at three music festivals in Norway from June to August 2016. Self-reported drug use was recorded using questionnaires, and samples of oral fluid were analyzed to detect use of illicit drugs. In addition, we analyzed samples of pooled urine from portable toilets at each festival. Results: All methods identified cannabis, MDMA, and cocaine as the most commonly used drugs. Overall, 6.6% of respondents reported use of illicit substances during the previous 48 hours. Oral fluid testing identified a larger number of drug users as 12.6% tested positive for illicit drugs. In oral fluid testing, we identified ketamine and three new psychoactive substances (NPS) that had not been reported on the questionnaire. In pooled urine testing, we identified amphetamine and three additional NPS that were neither reported used nor found in oral fluid samples. Conclusions/Importance: Drug testing of biological samples proved to be an important supplement to self-reports as a larger number of illicit substances could be detected.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug Use by Music Festival Attendees: A Novel Triangulation Approach Using Self-Reported Data and Test Results of Oral Fluid and Pooled Urine Samples

Gjerde

Gjersing

Baz-Lomba

et al. 2019

Substance Use & Misuse

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“…Monitoring the extent of use of new or emerging drugs can guide public health efforts, particularly those targeting synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones—two of the most commonly used classes of NPS associated with tens of thousands of poisonings in the United States as evidenced by survey, Poison Control, and emergency department data. Even though prevalence of use of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones has decreased in recent years (Kann et al, ; Miech et al, ; Oliver et al, ), these compounds continue to emerge at an alarming rate (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, ). Moreover, some of these compounds are highly potent and dangerous (Dalton, Wang, & Zavitsanou, ; Watterson & Olive, ), leaving users at risk for dependence or other serious adverse outcomes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of new and uncommon synthetic psychoactive drugs among a nationally representative sample in the United States, 2005–2017

Palamar

2019

Human Psychopharmacology

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Objectives: This study aims to examine patterns and first mentions of reported use of new or uncommon drugs across 13 years, among nationally representative samples in the United States.Methods: Participants (ages ≥12) in the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (2005-2017, N = 730,418) were provided opportunities to type in names of new or uncommon drugs they had ever used that were not specifically queried. We examined self-reported use across survey years and determined years of first mentions. Results: From 2005 to 2017, there were 2,343 type-in responses for use of 79 new or uncommon synthetic drugs, and 54 were first-ever mentions of these drugs. The majority (65.8%) of mentions were phenethylamines (e.g., 2C-x, NBOMe), which were also the plurality of new drug mentions (n = 22; 40.7%). Mentions of 2C-x drugs in particular increased from 30 mentions in 2005 to 147 mentions in 2013. We estimate an upward trend in use of new or uncommon drugs between 2005 and 2017 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although type-in responses on surveys are limited and underestimate prevalence of use, such responses can help inform researchers when new compounds are used. Continued surveillance of use of new and uncommon drugs is needed to inform adequate public health response.

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“…It should be noted that although prevalence of (known) use of Flakka or other "bath salts" among adolescents is relatively rare, surveys likely underestimate use because these compounds are often used unknowingly as adulterants in drugs such as ecstasy in the US (Oliver et al, 2018). For example, a recent study that saliva-tested EDM festival attendees in Florida found that 30% of ecstasy users tested positive for "bath salts", including some cases of unknown Flakka exposure (Krotulski et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Flakka” use among high school seniors in the United States

Palamar

Rutherford

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2019

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background: Use of synthetic cathinones, commonly referred to as "bath salts", has been associated with tens of thousands of emergency department visits in the US; however, few national studies have estimated prevalence of use and we know very little about use among adolescents. In this study we estimate prevalence and correlates of use of "Flakka" (alpha-PVP), a highly-potent "bath salt" associated with at least 80 deaths in the US. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2016/2017 Monitoring the Future study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of high school seniors in the US (n=3,786). Bivariable and multivariable models were used to determine demographic and drug-related correlates of use. Results: Overall, 0.8% (95% CI: 0.5-1.2) of high school seniors in 2016/2017 is estimated to have used Flakka in the past year. Students whose parents have less than a high school education were at higher odds for use (aOR=4.12, 95% CI: 1.00-16.94). Flakka users reported high prevalence of use of other drugs, particularly synthetic cannabinoids (85.6%), ketamine (72.3%), marijuana (59.1%), and GHB (47.5%). Flakka use was also associated with use of a higher number of other drugs and higher frequency of use of other drugs, with 51.7% using 4-12 other drugs and 22.4% using 4-12 other drugs >6 times. Conclusions: Students who use multiple drugs are elevated risk for Flakka use, suggesting synthetic cathinone use alone is rare and the use of multiple substances may compound adverse effects of these drugs. Socioeconomic disparities are concerning given reduced access to prevention and intervention.

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Synthetic cathinone adulteration of illegal drugs

Cited by 55 publications

References 66 publications

Drug Use by Music Festival Attendees: A Novel Triangulation Approach Using Self-Reported Data and Test Results of Oral Fluid and Pooled Urine Samples

Drug Use by Music Festival Attendees: A Novel Triangulation Approach Using Self-Reported Data and Test Results of Oral Fluid and Pooled Urine Samples

Use of new and uncommon synthetic psychoactive drugs among a nationally representative sample in the United States, 2005–2017

“Flakka” use among high school seniors in the United States

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