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Armenian P, Thornton S, Gugelmann H, Gerona RR.
“Ease of Identifying and Purchasing Popular Research Chemicals via the Internet”.
NACCT. 2015 Oct.
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Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) marketed as“research chemicals” (RC), are sold online for ill-defined medical and scientific “research”. This tactic—and the label “not for human consumption”—allows online RC retailers to avoid legal restric- tions. This study’s aim is to identify what RCs are currently popular, and ascertain whether they can be obtained from publicly-accessible websites.
RESULTS: Ten highly-trending RCs were identified: AB-CHMI- NACA, 6-MAPB, 5-MAPB, AL-LAD, methoxetamine, etizolam, deschloroetizolam, flubromazepam, flubromazolam and ethylphenidate. Ten user forum COIs were identified: MDBP, 25B-BOMe, 25C-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe, 25N-NBOMe, PX-2,MDPV, 5-MeO-DALT, 3MeO-PCP and 4MeO-PCP. Eight RC e-commerce websites meeting inclusion criteria were identified. They were based in the United Kingdom (UK) (4), Netherlands (1), Canada (1), China (1), and 1 was based in the UK but shipped from China. In February-March 2015, 8/10 highly-trending RCs and 6/10 COIs RC specimens were purchased from these websites. Methoxetamine, AL-LAD, MDBP, MDPV, 3MeO-PCP and 4MeO- PCP could not be purchased. In all 34 specimens representing 14 advertised RCs were ordered. Twenty-eight of 34 (82) were delivered by the end of the study period. LC-QTOF/MS confirmed 23/28 (82) specimens were the advertised chemical. These include 25B-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, and 25I-NBOMe which are illegal (US Schedule I, UK Class A). The other compounds are potential subjects for prosecution under the US Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act.
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| Notes # : Presented at NACCT October 2015 |
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