4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B): presence in the recreational drug market in Spain, pattern of use and subjective effects.
Fernando Caudevilla-Gálligo, Jordi Riba, Mireia Ventura, Débora González, Magí Farré, Manel J Barbanoj, José Carlos Bouso
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) July 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1177/0269881111431752 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe psychoactive drug 2C-B, an analogue of mescaline, is increasingly used as a rave and club drug. Analysis of drug samples in Spain showed that the percentage containing 2C-B doubled between 2006 and 2009, shifting from powder to tablet form with low falsification rates. Recreational users typically took about 20 mg orally. Subjective effects included perceptual changes similar to those from ayahuasca and Salvia divinorum, but not from amphetamine or MDMA. Pleasure and sociability were comparable to MDMA, while incapacitation was lower than with the other psychedelics studied. The findings indicate 2C-B is consistently present in Spain's illicit market, producing psychedelic-like perceptual effects but with lower impairment and higher pleasurable effects akin to entactogens.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Recreational users of 2C-B in Spain |
| Intervention | 2C-B |
| Dose | about 20 mg |
| Duration | 2006 to 2009 |
| Keywords | 2c-b drug Synthetic drug 2c-b 2c-b substance Drug trends Drug prevalence |
| Citations | 99 |
| Key finding | 2C-B presence in Spain's illicit drug market doubled from 2006 to 2009, with perceptual effects similar to other psychedelics but lower incapacitation and higher pleasure comparable to MDMA. |
Abstract
4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) is a psychoactive analogue of mescaline that is becoming increasingly popular as a rave and club drug. We investigated its presence in the illicit drug market in Spain, its pattern of use and profile of subjective effects. Drug material was analysed for 2C-B and information on pattern of use and subjective effects was obtained from recreational users. Scores were statistically compared with previously collected data on psychostimulants (d-amphetamine), entactogens (MDMA) and psychedelics (ayahuasca and Salvia divinorum). The percentage of samples containing 2C-B doubled between 2006 and 2009, evolved from powder to tablet form and showed low falsification rates. Respondents reported taking 2C-B orally in doses of about 20 mg. Subjective effects involved perceptual modifications analogous to those observed after ayahuasca and salvia but absent after amphetamine and MDMA. Pleasure and sociability effects did not differ from those after MDMA and incapacitation was lower than for the psychedelics used as comparators. In conclusion, we found 2C-B is consistently present in the illicit drug market in Spain. While it elicits perceptual modifications that are analogous to other psychedelics, the lower impairment and higher pleasurable effects make it comparable with entactogens.