Historique
Article de Périodique
Cannabis adulterated with the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist MDMB-4en-PINACA and the role of European drug checking services (2022)
Auteur(s) :
OOMEN, P. E. ;
SCHORI, D. ;
TOGEL-LINS, K. ;
ACREMAN, D. ;
CHENORHOKIAN, S. ;
LUF, A. ;
KARDEN, A. ;
PAULOS, C. ;
FORNERO, E. ;
GERACE, E. ;
KONING, R. P. J. ;
GALINDO, L. ;
SMIT-RIGTER, L. A. ;
MEASHAM, F. ;
VENTURA, M.
Année
2022
Page(s) :
art. 103493
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
MAR (Marchés / Markets)
Thésaurus mots-clés
CANNABIS
;
ADULTERANT
;
CANNABINOIDES
;
DROGUES DE SYNTHESE
;
PHENOMENE EMERGENT
;
ANALYSE CHIMIQUE
Thésaurus géographique
EUROPE
Résumé :
Background: European drug checking services exchange information on drug trends within the Trans European Drug Information (TEDI) network, allowing monitoring and coordination of responses. Starting in Spring 2020, several services detected the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist MDMB-4en-PINACA in adulterated low-THC cannabis products.
Methods: Cannabis products suspected of adulteration were analyzed for the presence of MDMB-4en-PINACA by 9 services in 8 countries within the TEDI network. If available, phytocannabinoid analysis was also performed.
Results: 1142 samples sold as cannabis in herbal, resin and e-liquid form were analyzed, of which 270 were found to contain MDMB-4en-PINACA. All cannabis samples contained low THC (<1%), except the e-liquids which contained no phytocannabinoids. Three serious health incidents requiring hospitalization after use of an adulterated cannabis sample were reported.
Conclusion: Adulteration of cannabis with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists is a new phenomenon that carries risk for people who use it. Given that cannabis consumers are not a usual target group for drug checking services, services and associated harm reduction interventions could be reconfigured to include them.
Highlights:
• Low-THC (Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) cannabis adulterated with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) emerged in early 2020.
• The most commonly seen adulterant was the highly potent MDMB-4en-PINACA.
• By April 2020, 9 drug checking services in 8 countries identified this adulteration.
• Effective monitoring and warning require international cooperation.
Methods: Cannabis products suspected of adulteration were analyzed for the presence of MDMB-4en-PINACA by 9 services in 8 countries within the TEDI network. If available, phytocannabinoid analysis was also performed.
Results: 1142 samples sold as cannabis in herbal, resin and e-liquid form were analyzed, of which 270 were found to contain MDMB-4en-PINACA. All cannabis samples contained low THC (<1%), except the e-liquids which contained no phytocannabinoids. Three serious health incidents requiring hospitalization after use of an adulterated cannabis sample were reported.
Conclusion: Adulteration of cannabis with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists is a new phenomenon that carries risk for people who use it. Given that cannabis consumers are not a usual target group for drug checking services, services and associated harm reduction interventions could be reconfigured to include them.
Highlights:
• Low-THC (Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) cannabis adulterated with synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) emerged in early 2020.
• The most commonly seen adulterant was the highly potent MDMB-4en-PINACA.
• By April 2020, 9 drug checking services in 8 countries identified this adulteration.
• Effective monitoring and warning require international cooperation.
Affiliation :
Trans European Drug Information (TEDI), NEWNet, Paris, France
Cote :
Abonnement