Drug and alcohol dependence
February 1, 2015
Laura Hondebrink, Johanna J Nugteren-Van Lonkhuyzen, Daan van der Gouwe et al.
119 citations
The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) submitted for analysis in the Netherlands rose from 22 samples in 2007 to 431 in 2013. The most common NPS in 2013 were 2C-B, 4-FA, methoxetamine, and 6-APB. After 2012, more NPS were bought as the drug of choice rather than as adulterants. The Dutch Poisons Information Centre recorded 35 NPS exposures in 2013, most often involving 4-FA, mephedrone, MXE, 2C-B, and 6-APB. Neurological and psychological symptoms such as agitation and hallucinations, along with cardiovascular effects like hypertension and tachycardia, were frequently reported. The authors conclude that NPS availability and use are increasing and can cause pronounced clinical effects, recommending continued monitoring combined with clinical and analytical data.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
April 1, 2017
Daan van der Gouwe, Tibor M Brunt, Margriet Van Laar et al.
72 citations
Drug users in the Netherlands increasingly buy drugs online, especially new psychoactive substances. Analysis of 32,663 drug samples from 2013 to 2016, including 928 bought online, found that online purchases rose from 1.4% to 4.1% of samples. Purity and adulteration showed no large differences between online and offline drugs for most substances, though small variations existed for some: 4-FA was 59% pure online versus 52% offline, while MDMA powder was 45% pure online versus 61% offline. Online prices were 10–23% higher than offline for six of ten substances.
Drug and alcohol dependence
December 1, 2015
Johanna J Nugteren-Van Lonkhuyzen, Antoinette J H P van Riel, Tibor M Brunt et al.
48 citations
The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the illicit drug market has increased markedly. Users often perceive their risk as medium or low, but these substances can pose serious health risks and have been linked to drug-related deaths. In Europe, frequently detected NPS include 2C-B, 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA), and benzofurans (5-APB/6-APB). A review of existing literature found that the clinical effects of these NPS are comparable to common illicit drugs like amphetamine and MDMA, suggesting that NPS toxicity can be managed using existing treatment guidelines based on clinical effects rather than the specific drug. However, information on health risks is limited to case reports complicated by confounders.
Journal of forensic sciences
November 1, 2019
Antoinette S Spoelder, Jan K G Louwerens, Stefanie D Krens et al.
12 citations
Ingestion of the designer drug 2C-B by an 18-year-old man led to severe neurological consequences, including serotonin syndrome and severe brain edema. Although supportive therapy stabilized his condition, the patient suffered lasting severe neurological impairment months later. Routine drug screening in Dutch hospitals failed to detect 2C-B, highlighting a gap in identification. The case demonstrates that 2C-B carries risks of profound neurological damage that both users and healthcare providers may not recognize.
Therapeutic drug monitoring
April 1, 2020
Funda Inan, Tibor M Brunt, Ramon R Contrucci et al.
9 citations
The novel phenethylamines 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) are among the ten most used new psychoactive substances among high-risk users, and their use is also common in people with depression, ADHD, and those engaging in risky sexual behavior. A systematic review of literature on interactions between these phenethylamines and antidepressants, ADHD medications, and antiretrovirals found very limited pharmacokinetic data; only one case report suggested a possible interaction between 4-FA and ADHD medication. Pharmacodynamic profiles indicate potential interactions between both 4-FA and 2C-B with antidepressants and ADHD medications, primarily involving monoamine oxidases for both substances, with monoamine transporters more specific to 4-FA.