Designer synthetic drugs are flooding the United States at an unprecedented pace. Since 2009, more than 200 different compounds and eight different structural classes of drugs have surfaced in U.S. abuser markets, according to information reported by DEA during a November 13 media briefing. At the briefing, DEA described new trends in designer synthetic drugs, challenges, and efforts to combat this growing epidemic. "It's a public health and safety challenge because these drugs—these compounds—are being marketed as legal alternatives to the controlled substances," said Alan G. Santos, Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator, DEA Office of Diversion Control. Just since July 2012, DEA has seen more than 80 new compounds—that's a new compound every 5 or 6 days. Given the extent of the problem, Santos said it wasn't hyperbole to call it a "new frontier of drug law enforcement and drug abuse." Finished products, with packaging and names (such as "Smiles" or "Scooby Snacks") that are designed to appeal to the young, are showing up on U.S. drug abuser markets. But where are they coming from? "During the drug-discovery process, drug manufacturers and scientists manufacture compounds, and many of these compounds—the vast majority of these compounds—just never make it to the final stages of being a medicine; they are abandoned for whatever reason," said Santos. Because of psychoactive properties, for example, these compounds may be discontinued early on. "Then, we have a treasure trove of chemists out there who are scouring the scientific literature, and the only research they are doing is researching which compound can get people high," added Santos. Santos reported that the drugs are being made in foreign environments, predominantly Southeast Asia and China, then shipped into the United States. The compounds are being finished via a variety of different delivery mechanisms, including spraying or impregnating synthetic cannabinoids onto an inert plant material (in order to mimic the effects of marijuana), converting the compounds into powder form, or solubilizing the compounds."For the drug abuser, you're really playing Russian roulette here, because you really don't know what you're taking." As a result of the manufacturing process for these compounds being inconsistent, Santos said, "For the drug abuser, you're really playing Russian roulette here, because you really don't know what you're taking." The problem surrounding drugs with the tag name "Molly" (also known as "Ecstasy"), which Santos said is a historical reference to the powdered form of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphet- amine (MDMA), illustrates the challenges that DEA is facing with designer synthetic drugs. Santos said that about six different compounds are being marketed as MDMA subsitutes and sold to "abusers who don't want to take a controlled substance or what they believe to be a controlled substance." While DEA seizures of MDMA-mimicking compounds are increasing, seizures for MDMA have decreased considerably in the United States since 2008 (Table 1).Table 1U.S. MDMA seizures since 2008Source: DEA20082,438.8 kg20093,073.6 kg20102,079.4 kg2011943.8 kg2012432.7 kg Open table in a new tab DEA intelligence reports indicate that a kilogram of the MDMA replacement methylone can be purchased wholesale for about $1,500 to $5,000. However, after the methylone is put into individual dosage units and sold on the street, a very conservative estimate is $50,000 to $100,000 in profit, with wide variation depending on how the methylone is cut. Many states have taken action such as legislation, pharmacy board regulations, and consumer affairs department regulations. On the federal level, drugs can be scheduled through statute (i.e., Congress passes a law and drug is controlled) or the administrative process (i.e., DEA working with HHS to control a compound by moving it up, down, or out of the drug schedules).MORE ONLINE■A full-length version of this article is available at www.pharmacist.com/deadiscusses-new-frontier-designer-synthetic-drugs. ■A full-length version of this article is available at www.pharmacist.com/deadiscusses-new-frontier-designer-synthetic-drugs. Santos said that because of the lack of controls that were in place for these new compounds, DEA took unprecendented action in exercising its emergency scheduling authority. He explained that the attorney general, working with the DEA administrator, has the authority under the Controlled Substances Act "to temporarily or emergency schedule a compound if it's an imminent threat to public health and safety." "Any of these tools that Congress can give us to help control these compounds is really going to help us get ahead of the curve," said Santos. "The problem is, with a new compound coming in every 5 or 6 days, controlling our way out of this is going to be very difficult."
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