By tweaking the molecular structure of banned chemicals, new drugs have been developed to circumvent the law. Despite little information about their toxicity, these new and emerging drugs have been sold online and in Australian adult stores. They are typically professionally packaged and labeled as ‘not for human consumption’. This presentation aims to provide participants with a brief overview of the context within which this phenomenon has developed and the types of products that have been available in Australia. This is a rapidly shifting market – each time one of these new drugs is banned, it seems like two more drugs emerge to replace it. As such, the limitations of legislative responses will be explored and alternative policy options considered. The presentation will also explore the need for better monitoring systems that are able to help us remain abreast of the rapid changes in the market.
5. Outline
• Brief History of Designer Drugs
• New and Emerging Drugs in Australia?
oVarious powders/pills:
Plant Food, Bath Salts, Research Chemicals …
o Synthetic Cannabis (incense)
• Reasons For Use
• Harm, Prevalence and Monitoring Systems
• Policy Options
8. First Designer Drugs
1925: 2nd International Opium
Convention (revised)
- controlled the manufacture & sale of heroin
- new drugs (e.g., benzoylmorphine)
1930: First „analogues act‟ introduced
22. 2nd Generation Synthetic Cocaine
•
•
•
•
May 2012: MDPV Banned in Australia by TGA
No published analysis of “synthetic cocaine”
Shaman’s dust “white bull”, etc.
After US banned MDPV, new bathsalts
contained:
• α-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP)
• Methyl-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone
(Shanks et al., 2012)
23. Research Chemicals
Methoxetamine (MXE)
“Overdose pair had
luck and an expert on
their side”
(Canberra Times, April 13 2013)
25I-NBOMe
“NSW teen dies after
taking LSD”
(National Nine News, December 6 2012)
24. How harmful are these new drugs?
• >1 alleged death
• Little data
Is this a public
health crisis
waiting to
happen?
28. Kronic
April: First indication of media interest, which
quickly grew
June: WA government bans 7 synthetic
cannabinoids
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
JWH-018
JWH-073
JWH-122
JWH-200
JWH-250
CP 47,497
The C8 Homologue of CP 47,497
33. Federal responses
May 2012: 8 broad groups of synthetic
cannabinoid agonists
Benzoylindoles, Cyclohexylphenols, Dibenzopyra
ns, Naphthoylindoles, Naphthylmethylindoles, N
aphthoylpyrroles, Naphthylmethylindenes &
Phenylacetylindoles
Synthetic cannabinomimetics
34.
35.
36. How harmful are these new drugs?
• At least 1 Death reported in the media
• Little data: new blends more harmful?
– Barratt, Cakic & Lenton (2013)
– 2012 Global Drug Survey
• No Cannabidiol (CBD) psychosis/seizures
• Shorter duration of effect dependence
37. Why do people use this stuff?
•
•
•
•
They work!
Media and online user forum
It’s apparently legal & safe
Avoid drug tests
39. Why do people use this stuff?
•
•
•
•
•
•
They work!
Media and online user forum
It’s apparently legal & safe
Avoid drug tests
Availability of new drugs vs. Ecstasy
Unwittingly
40. The Merry-Go-Round Policy
• Banning individual chemicals as they emerge:
- No “real” decrease in availability
- New and more harmful drugs enter market
44. Early Warning System
• Current Monitoring Systems
- EDRS
- Wastewater analysis
- Acute presentations
• An Ideal Monitoring System:
-
Monitoring the web
Monitoring stores
Verification via current systems
Strategic Communication
45. Conclusion
“Drug taking is here to stay and one way
or another, we must all learn to live with
drugs”
(Gossop, 2007, p. 207)
Stephen Bright – PenDAP & Youth
sbright@phcn.vic.gov.au
03 9784 7108