Designer Drugs on the Internet: A Phenomenon Out-of-Control? The Emergence of Hallucinogenic Drug Bromo-Dragonfly
Ornella Corazza, Fabrizio Schifano, Magı́ Farré, Paolo Deluca, Zoe Davey, Colin Drummond, Marta Torrens, Zsolt Demetrovics, Lucia di Furia, Liv Flesland, Barbara Mervó, Jacek Moskalewicz, Agnieszka Pisarska, Harry L. Shapiro, Holger Siemann, Arvid Skutle, Cinzia Pezzolesi, Peer van der Kreeft, Norbert Scherbaum
Current Clinical Pharmacology May 1, 2011 DOI: 10.2174/157488411796151129 via OpenAlex
Summary
Bromo-Dragonfly (B-fly) is a potent, long-lasting hallucinogenic drug similar to LSD, associated with acute intoxications and fatalities in several countries. This paper reviews its pharmacology, chemistry, toxicology, and behavioral effects using both scientific literature and web sources. The authors critically discuss the potential for misuse and the methodological limitations of analyzing non-peer-reviewed online material. They conclude that online information about novel psychoactive drugs like B-fly poses a public health challenge and call for better international collaboration to address this growing phenomenon.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Phenethylamines Hallucinogen The internet Psychoactive substance Internet privacy |
| Citations | 98 |
| Key finding | Online availability of information on Bromo-Dragonfly poses a public health challenge, requiring better international collaboration. |
Abstract
Based on the material available in both the scientific literature and on the web, the present paper provides an updated pharmacological, chemical, toxicological and behavioural overview of Bromo-Dragonfly (1-(8-bromobenzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']difuran-4-yl)-2-aminopropane; 'B-fly'). B-Fly is a powerful, long lasting, LSD-like, hallucinogenic drug, which has been associated with a number of acute intoxications and fatalities in a number of countries. A critical discussion of the potential of misuse of B-fly but also of the methodological limitations, which are intrinsically associated with the analysis of online, non-peer reviewed, material, is presented. It is concluded that the availability of online information on novel psychoactive drugs, such as B-fly, may constitute a public health challenge. Better international collaboration levels may be needed to tackle this novel and fast growing phenomenon.