Long, Jean
(2010)
Further update on psychoactive substances sold in head shops and on line.
Drugnet Ireland,
Issue 35, Autumn 2010,
pp. 15-16.
Legislation
The Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 (No. 22 of 2010)1 came into operation on Monday 23 August 2010. The intention of the Act is to prevent the misuse of dangerous or otherwise harmful psychoactive substances by making it an offence to sell, import, export or advertise such psychoactive substances. The Act provides powers to the Garda Síochána (police) to investigate such offences and to issue prohibition notices. It allows the District Court to institute prohibition and closure orders in certain circumstances. The Act also amends the Customs and Excise (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1988.
Numbers of head shops
A Garda inventory of head shops in Ireland indicated that, at their peak in early 2010 there were 113 head shops in the country, with at least one in every county. On 11 May 2010 (the date of the government ban on a range of head shop products) there were 102 shops, 11 having closed for a variety of reasons. On 12 May, the gardaí visited all head shops and warehouses and seized all banned products. By 13 May there were 34 head shops selling psychoactive substances, and in early August the number increased to 39 shops. Following the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010, the gardaí visited head shops in early September, only 19 were open and none were selling psychoactive substances (Garda Síochána, personal communication, 2010).
New substances detected ‘post-ban’
Several additional psychoactive substances have been identified in head shop products by Dr Pierce Kavanagh and his laboratory team (at Trinity College and the Drug Treatment Centre Board) since the publication of Issues 33 and 34 of Drugnet Ireland. The team illustrated their results in a ‘post- Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010’ identification chart,2 reproduced on pages 16–17 A summary of the substances identified is given below.
Dimethocaine, also known as larocaine, is a local anesthetic with stimulant properties that are nearly as potent as those of cocaine. However, anecdotal user reports indicate no euphoria and only mild stimulating effects. This drug may induce a fast and irregular heart beat which could be problematic for those who continuously redose. The drug has induced respiratory arrest. Dimethocaine was identified in the head-shop products Amplified, Mint Mania and Mind Melt. The Ana Liffey Drug Project reported that a number of clients experienced negative effects of a product called Amplifier (most likely Amplified). The clients reported that the drug is available in two forms; a rock which is smoked by pipe and a tablet which is broken down to inject. According to the users of this drug, it has a stimulant effect and a bad come down. Some users reported paranoia or auditory or visual hallucinations.. In August 2010 three users, who had a previous mental health diagnosis, were admitted to a psychiatric hospital following hallucinations and depression.
AM-694 is a drug which acts as a potent and selective
agonist for the
cannabinoid receptor CB1. No public data about AM-694
metabolism is known. AM-694 has emerged as a
designer drug, and in Ireland, it was detected in the product Shamrock. Concerns have been raised over the possible toxicity of this compound, because of its likely metabolism to ω-fluoroalkanoic acids.
Glaucine is an alkaloid found in several different plant species. It has bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects and is used as a cough suppressant in some countries. Glaucine may induce fatigue or hallucinations (which are usually colourful visual images). This substance was detected as the active ingredient in the head-shop product Entrophy.
Phenethylamine (PEA) is a natural monoamine alkaloid and a psychoactive drug with stimulant effects. This substance was detected in the head-shop products Diablo, Dr Feelgood, Entrophy, Nemesis, and Party On.
Synephrine is the main active compound found in the
bitter orange which is an extract of a plant called
Citrus aurantium. It is a stimulant that constricts the blood vessels, increases
metabolic and heart rates. Synephrine has been identified in the head shop products Energy, Go-E, Empathy, Bio Happiness, Exotic and Molotov
Mitragynine, an opioid agonist, is a stimulant at low doses and a painkiller or sedative at higher doses. It can cause constipation, weight loss, dependence, psychosis and withdrawal symptoms. It is not controlled in Ireland. Mitragynine is an active ingredient in the products Kratom and Xscape.
Hordenine occurs in a variety of grassy plants and grains, and in some species of cactus. It stimulates the release of
norepinephrine in
humans, and also has antibacterial and
antibiotic properties. There are unsubstantiated claims that hordenine helps people lose weight. It was detected in the products Go-E and Dr Feelgood.
Desoxypipradrol was developed in the 1950s, and has been researched for applications such as the treatment of
narcolepsy (a condition which results in uncontrolled sleeping) and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and facilitation of rapid recovery from anaesthesia; for various reasons its development for application in these areas was not continued. The hydroxylated derivative,
pipradrol, was introduced as a clinical drug for the treatment of for
depression,
narcolepsy and cognitive enhancement in organic
dementia. Desoxypipradrol was detected in the head-shop product Whack.
Tests in recent weeks have identified yet more psychoactive substances that may be used as recreational drugs. There is very little information available about the uses or effects of these substances:
- 3',4'-Methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone (MDPBP) is a stimulant compound developed in the 1960s which has been reported as a novel designer drug.
- Oleamide was found in the smoking blends Smoke and Skunk alongside the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018, which was classified as the active ingredient. There is no evidence that oleamide is used specifically as a recreational drug.
- Octopamine and synephrine are the adrenergic amines in bitter orange.
- Buphedrone, also known as α-methylamino-butyrophenone, is a stimulant of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone chemical classes that was first synthesized in 1928. It has similar effects to methcathinone but is several times more potent by weight.
The products caffeine and lignocaine were found in numerous head shop products.
- Caffeine is a legal psychoactive stimulant and easy to acquire. Caffeine was found in the products Blowout, Bliss Bomb, Diablo, Dr Feelgood, Energy, Embrace, Extreme Star Dust, Go-E, Koru, Nemesis, NRG Now, Pure NRG, Pinkys, Raz, Sno*berry, Star Dust, and Party On.,
- Lignocaine (or lidocaine) is an anaesthetic drug; it is found in Extreme Star Dust, Pure NRG, Raz, Star Dust.
2. Kavanagh P, Spiers P, O’Brien J, McNamara S, Angelov D, Mullan D, Talbot B and Ryder S (2010) Head shop ‘legal highs’ active constituents identification chart (July/August 2010, ‘714’ – ‘823’). Dublin: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, TCD.