rednet presentation

+

Zoe Davey ReDNet Project Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London [email protected]

Drug Education Forum AGM, London, UK 4th March 2010

Recreational Drugs European Network: an ICT prevention service addressing the use of novel compounds in vulnerable individuals

Dr Ornella Corazza ReDNet Project School of Pharmacy, University of Hertfordshire [email protected]

+Overview of the ReDNet Project Dr Ornella Corazza University of Hertfordshire [email protected]

+ReDNet Project Initial Situation: Problem Analysis

  Hundreds of websites dedicated to the dissemination of new drugs and provide detailed ‘recipes’ for synthesizing, growing, and consuming a variety

  These drugs are constantly appearing in more sophisticated forms

  Lack of scientific knowledge

  Can remain unregulated for a long period of time

  Often sold as ‘something’ else

  Young people targeted

  Attractive messages, accessible

  New products alerts via SMS, email, etc

+ReDNet Project Initial Situation: Problem Analysis

In the last decade there has been a dramatic change in the social context of substance misuse, which has shown rapid and unexpected developments. Not only have the types of recreational drugs changed, but also the modalities of intake, and the places where they are purchased and consumed

(Gordon et al., 2006; Schepis et al., 2008; Schifano et al., 2006; Corazza et al 2009).

+ReDNet Project Aims

  To develop an integrated ICT prevention approach focused on novel synthetic and herbal compounds and combinations, targeted at young and vulnerable individuals.

  To investigate the potential of ICT tools in drug prevention approaches focusing on novel psychoactive compounds

+ReDNet Project Working Hypothesis

  Traditional forms of intervention appear to be negatively appraised by those ‘at risk’:

  Fear based and moralistic

  Theoretical and didactic

  Focused on traditional drugs (which are not the only interest of young people)

+ReDNet Project Objectives

  To develop specific, balanced, non judgmental prevention/harm minimisation messages

  To pilot a number of ICT tools that are informed by available literature, accurate and up-to-date information on novel psychoactive compounds, and input from the target group(s)

  To assess the feasibility of a variety of the implemented ICT tools /prevention approaches

+ReDNet Project

  Target Groups   Young people (16-24) who don’t have access to appropriate drug

information and/or treatment services (the online community, high school students, university students etc)

  Health and other professionals working directly with the above group who are often no up-to-date with information about new drugs and novel compounds

  Methods   To develop and pilot a number of approaches using different ICT tools

e.g., SMS, Social networking (Facebook/Twitter), Multimedia ( YouTube), Smartphone applications (iPhone), Virtual worlds (Secondlife)

  Involve target groups(s) in the development of appropriate content (taking into account possible iatrogenic effects)

  Use the Psychonaut Web Mapping system as a source of information on new drugs and emerging trends (continue to update this resource)

+ReDNet Project

  Expected outcomes   Raise awareness of novel compounds and the potential harms associated

with their use

  To have contributed to the development of the first ICT prevention model of its kind that is functional at the European level

  To have developed a model for effectively targeting young people, making them more aware of the health risks associated with the use of ‘legal highs’ which are perceived as ‘safe’ by a number of users

  To enhance scientific knowledge and understanding of novel recreational drugs amongst relevant professionals

  To have piloted and assessed the risk associated with the dissemination of information on novel compounds to young people

+ReDNet Project

24 months (start date April 2010)

Funded by the EU Executive Agency for Health and Consumers in the framework of the Public Health Programme [2009 12 26]

Main Beneficiary: Professor Fabrizio Schifano University of Hertfordshire College Lane Hatfield Hertfordshire UK

[email protected]

University of Herfordshire, UK

Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK

Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland

Bergen Clinics Foundation, Norway

De Sleutel, Belgium

Servizio Salute Regione Marche, Italy

Consorci Mar Parc de Salut, Spain

LVR, University of Duisberg-Essen, Germany

National Institute for Drug Prevention, Hungary

DrugScope UK

ReDNet Research Group Project Details

+Drugs on the Internet Dr Ornella Corazza School of Pharmacy University of Hertfordshire [email protected]

+ Drugs on the Internet Examples from the Psychonaut Web Mapping Project 2008-2009   412 compounds

  Technical Reports

  Salvia divinorum   Spice   Mephedrone   Bromo-dragonfly   Lyrica (Pregabalin)   Sassafras   Wild Dagga   Gotu Kola   Jurema   Happy Caps   Norspan   Herkinorin   Minikikke/Superkikke   4-AcO-MET   Syrian Rue   5-MeO-MiPT

  Phalaris Arundinacea   Ephedra   Kola Nut   Benzydamine (Tantum Rosa)   HU-210   Sinicuichi   GBL, GHB, 1,4-BDO   2CB   Peyote   MDPV   5-MeO-AET   JWH-018   JWH-073   Ikathazo   Papaver somniferum

+ Psychonaut Web Mapping Project Technical Report

+ Psychonaut Web Mapping Project Example

+ Lyrica (Pregabalin)

+ Prescription drugs and other

  Darvon

  Prozac

  Lyrica

  Ritalin

  Viagra

  Anabolic Steroids

  Barbiturates

+ Online buyers often can

  Contact sellers directly

  Get alerts about new products advertised by the seller via text messages, or instant messages

  Email product to a friend

+ Second Life

+Emerging trends Further results of the Psychonaut Web Mapping Project Zoe Davey Institute of Psychiatry King’s College London [email protected]

+ Beta-ketones

  Synthetic stimulant compounds sharing psychoactive properties of cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and/or amphetamines

  Sold as ‘research chemicals’ as well as commercially as ‘plant feeder’, ‘bath salts’, ‘multivitamins’ and/or ‘not for human consumption’

  Examples include

  Mephedrone – structurally similar to methcathinone (beta-ketone analogue of methamphetamine)

  Methedrone (bk-PMMA) – beta-ketone analogue of PMMA (structurally similar to PMA)

  Methylone (bk-MDMA) – beta-ketone analogue of MDMA

  Flephedrone (4-FMC) – analogue of methcathinone

  Butylone (bk-MBDB) – beta-ketone analogue of MBDB (close analogue of MDMA)

  Ethylone (bk-MDEA) – beta-ketone analogue of MDEA (close analogue of MDMA)

  Buphedrone – analogue of methcathinone

  Ethcathinone – analogue of methcathinone

+ Mephedrone Miaow, 4-MMC, MMCat, Meph, Bubbles, Drone, Rush etc.

  4-methylmethcathinone

  (Semi-)synthetic compound related to cathinone (identified in khat)

  Appeared online in or around 2007

  Popularity in Sweden and Denmark in 2008

  Accelerated rise in popularity in 2009 (especially in the UK)

  Increased media attention, fatalities and non-fatal overdoses

  Compared variously to amphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine – has stimulant, empathogenic/entactogenic, and hallucinogenic properties

  Controlled in: Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Norway, Romania, Sweden

+ Mephedrone ‘Plant feeder’, ‘Bath Salts’, ‘Multivitamins’, and/or ‘Not for human consumption’

  Widely available to purchase online   “buy mephedrone” 105,000 hits in Google

  Marketed online and via social networking site (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)

  Commonly sold as powders or in capsules

  Sold as not for human consumption to avoid existing legislation such as the Medicines act

  Purchase price:   £10 for 2 capsules (250-300mg capsules)

  £10-15 for 1g powder

‘Intended to promote speedy growth in all plants without compromising quality. Guidance: Large shrubs use 1 feeder each, smaller shrubs and shoots use half a feeder. It is not recommended that you use more than 2 feeders in a single day as this could have adverse effects on your plants. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION’

‘Relax and soak away Concentrated bath salts, only use as advised, PLEASE do not use this as SNUFF!!! Add the contents to a hot bath to naturally soften the water which will leave you feeling very soothed and relaxed. This is used to mimic the natural hot springs of the greek sea. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION’

+

  ~40% of UK respondents to the 2009/2010 MixMag Drug Survey had tried the drug

  Most commonly administered orally (bombing, gums, dissolved), intranasally (snorting)

  Dose usually varies between 100mg – 1g, but can be upwards of 4g (incl. redose)

  Reportedly taken in combination with a variety of other compounds, including:   Alcohol   Other research chemicals   Cocaine   MDMA   Ketamine (‘Challenge’)   Heroin (similar to ‘speedball’   Cannabis, Kratom, depressants (during

comedown period)

+ Mephedrone Stimulant, empathogenic, and hallucinogenic effects

  Euphoria

  Empathy

  Sociability

  Stimulation

  Intensification of sensory stimulation

  Mild sexual stimulation

  Mood enhancement

  Hallucinations

  Similar to cocaine, MDMA, and Amphetamine

  Anorexia

  Nausea

  Respiratory difficulties

  Muscular clenching

  Ulcerations

  Amnesia

  Dermatitis like symptoms

  Discolouration of the joints

  Anxiety

  Depression

Desired psychoactive effects Side effects

+ Mephedrone Pharmacology and toxicology

  Little is known about the pharmacology and toxicology of mephedrone in humans   Limited to case studies, short reports, and focus groups

  According to users there is an addictive quality to the substance   Binges and redosing in a single session common

  Reported development of tolerance

  Five reported fatalities in which mephedrone has been implicated

  Denmark, May 2008

  Sweden, December 2008

  UK, November 2009 (14 year-old, female)

  UK, January 2010 (18 year-old, male)

  UK January 2010 (49 year-old female)

  Reported non-fatal overdoses in the UK

+Contact For further information about the ReDNet Project or the Psychonaut Web Mapping Project

www.psychonautproject.eu

Dr Ornella Corazza [email protected]

Zoe Davey [email protected]

[email protected]