Analysis of Designer Drugs Detected in the Products Purchased in Fiscal Year 2006

In Japan, 32 psychotropic substances were controlled under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law starting April 2007 to curb drug abuse, but new designer drugs continue to emerge. Just before a law amendment, 7 designer drugs were detected in 15 products using NMR, GC-MS, and LC-MS analyses. These included three methylone derivatives (MDPV, bk-MBDB, bk-MDEA), a MDMA derivative (N-OH MDMA), a methamphetamine derivative (N-Me-4-FMP), a tryptamine derivative (5-MeO-EIPT), and indan-2-amine. 5-MeO-EIPT was newly identified in this study.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many psychotropic substances are easily available in Japan via the Internet, thus the spread of drug abuse is becoming more serious problem. To avoid drug abuse, 32 substances have been controlled in Japan since April in 2007 by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law as designated substances (Shitei-Yakubutsu, classified as 11 tryptamines, 11 phenethylamines, 2 piperazines, 6 alkyl nitrites, 1 diterpene and 1 plant). Although the distributions of these drugs have been decreased through this regulation, new designer drugs are still being found. In this study, we detected 7 designer drugs in 15 products, which purchased just before the amendment of the law, by NMR, GC-MS and LC-MS analyses. Three methylone derivertives (1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-1-pentanone: MDPV, 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one: bk-MBDB, 2-ethylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-1-one): bk-MDEA, a MDMA derivative (N-hydroxy-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane: N-OH MDMA), a methamphetamine derivative (N-methyl-1-(4-fluorophenyl)propan-2-amine: N-Me-4-FMP), a tryptamine derivative (5-methoxy-N-ethyl-N-isopropyltryptamine: 5-MeO-EIPT) and indan-2-amine were detected. 5-MeO-EIPT was newly identified in this study.