Public Alerts

Medetomidine (Domitor®) has recently been identified as an adulterant in illicit drug material. Since July 2022, it has been detected in several seized drug samples across the state of Maryland, and in drug paraphernalia and illicit drug seizures submitted to public health and law enforcement agencies. It was most frequently observed in samples containing fentanyl and xylazine, though medetomidine has also been identified together with fentanyl analogs, heroin, and cocaine. Medetomidine has also been detected in overdoses in St. Louis and clandestine laboratory seizures in Ohio, Florida, and Canada. It is typically a minor component in the these samples, but is of toxicological concern.
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The 3rd International Symposium of Forensic Drug Testing Lab Directors was held from May 14-16, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, UAE to discuss current threats and emerging trends caused by toxic adulterants in the world-wide drug supply. The Colombo Plan’s Global Toxic Adulterant Project has been a world leader in testing and analysis of seized drug samples and street level drug samples since 2016 for composition and quantification of active drug, and for toxic adulterants in the drugs. The xylazine adulteration of the US drug supply reminds public health and public safety officials of the harmful and deleterious effects of adulterants. Yet, toxic adulterants detected in street drug samples across the globe have long been associated with adverse health outcomes, including anemia, bone marrow damage, cancers, cardiac arrythmias, leukopenia, renal failure, and many other conditions, including death.

The Colombo Plan’s International Lab Director’s Symposium allows member countries to gain visibility and collaboration into emerging drug trends, adulterant trends associated therewith, and the evolution and emergence of harmful new toxic adulterants. The Colombo Plan’s gathering of International Lab Directors also provided opportunity for the scientists to preview the impending upgrade to the International Toxic Adulterant Database (ITAD) hosted by the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) and resourced by the Colombo Plan.

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N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene is a new synthetic opioid and the latest to emerge among the nitazene analogue (or 2-benzyl benzimidazole) subclass. N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene bears structural resemblance to both protonitazene and N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, two previously encountered nitazene analogues. N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene is dissimilar in chemical structure to fentanyl. New synthetic opioids, namely the nitazene analogues, have sustained proliferation following the 2018 scheduling of fentanyl related substances. Most nitazene analogues encountered among the recreational drug supply retain opioid receptor activity and exhibit potency similar to or greater than that of fentanyl. Recently acquired in vitro pharmacological data show that N-pyrrolidino protonitazene is an active opioid with potency approximately 25 times greater than that of fentanyl [source: L. De Vrieze and C. Stove, Ghent University].

To date in August 2023, N-pyrrolidino protonitazene has been confirmed in 20 forensic toxicology cases, all of which were medicolegal death investigations. N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene was first reported by CFSRE’s NPS Discovery in January 2023; however, the date of first sample collection was as early as December 2022. Cases originated from seven states across many regions within the United States, as well as the United Kingdom. Decedent age ranged from mid-20s to mid-70s (mean: 45 years, median: 44 years). Quantitative blood concentrations for N-pyrrolidino protonitazene ranged from 0.1 to 55 ng/mL (mean: 6.9 ng/mL, median: 1.1 ng/mL). The toxicity of N-pyrrolidino protonitazene has not been examined or reported but recent association with overdoses among people who use drugs leads professionals to believe that this synthetic opioid has the potential to cause harm and is of high public health concern globally.

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Captagon®, the trade name for fenethylline, an amphetamine prodrug, was originally developed by a German company in 1961 as a psychostimulant and eventually used in the treatment of narcolepsy and attention deficit disorder. Because of its side effects, fenethylline became a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States in 1981, was scheduled internationally in 1986, and its licit manufacture ceased. Most of the remaining stock of Captagon® was destroyed, but some was exported to the Middle East, where it became popular as an illicit stimulant. Once the original supply ran out and fenethylline was no longer available, counterfeit captagon tablets bearing the same monogramming of two offset stylized “C’s” (photo), but containing amphetamine in place of fenethylline began to appear. Today, these tablets also contain a variety of adulterants as discussed below. Counterfeit captagon tablets containing amphetamine are now the major drug used illicitly in the Middle East, where they are predominantly manufactured, although their distribution has now spread to parts of Europe. Although there is illicit demand for amphetamine-type substances (ATS) in the US, as of August 2023, there is no evidence of widespread presence of counterfeit amphetamine-containing captagon tablets in the US. CFSRE and the Colombo Plan encourage vigilance for the emergence of these characteristic counterfeit dosage forms in the US drug supply and would encourage any investigators or laboratories who encounter them to notify us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent that is FDA approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute manic episodes, and major depressive disorder. The drug also has several off-label indications, such as generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and chronic PTSD. Daily doses in adults usually range from 150 to 800 mg, but higher doses are utilized with QT interval monitoring. Somnolence, dizziness, and orthostatic hypotension are common adverse effects. QTc interval prolongation is associated with torsade de pointes, a potentially lethal dysrhythmia.
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In utero drug exposure is a significant public health threat to the well-being and normal development of the neonate. Recently, testing of umbilical cord tissue (UCT) has been employed to measure illicit drug exposure. UCT testing is a well-established method which uses a segment of the newborn's cord collected at the time of delivery. UCT shares a detection window similar to that of meconium, as drugs consumed by the mother during the third trimester may be retained. The in utero effects of illicit drug adulterants and cutting agents have not been well studied in humans, nor has their presence been demonstrated to be an effective means for assessing adverse health effects in the neonate.
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Lidocaine, like the other local anesthetics (LA) discussed in this report, is a synthetic compound useful in medical procedures as an anesthetic, usually available as an over-the-counter (OTC) topical cream, transdermal patch, or injectable solution administered in a medical procedure. The numbing sensation is caused by the blockade of neuronal sodium channels, thus reducing the transmission of pain signals. Because local anesthetics produce a numbing sensation, they may be added in minor amounts to reduce the discomfort involved with injecting or snorting drugs. While lidocaine is the LA most frequently combined with illicit drugs, other LA compounds that could be added to drug samples include benzocaine, procaine, tetracaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine.
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Diphenhydramine (e.g. Benadryl) is an over-the-counter first generation antihistamine approved for allergy treatment by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1946. Diphenhydramine can also be used for its sedative and antiemetic effects. It acts as an antagonist for the histamine 1 (H1) receptor, reversing the effects of histamine in the body and reducing allergic reactions. Due to its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and antagonize the H1 receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), diphenhydramine can cause drowsiness and suppress the medullary cough center. Diphenhydramine also acts as a competitive antagonist for muscarine acetylcholine receptors and as a sodium channel blocker, and higher doses may lead to cardiotoxic effects. It is metabolized in the liver to desmethyldiphenhydramine and diphenylmethoxyacetic acid.
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Phenylbutazone (“Bute”, Phenylcare®) has been identified as an adulterant in illicit drug material. In a review of case data from NMS Labs from 2016-2021, 116 seized drug samples  from Pennsylvania were identified as containing phenylbutazone. This represents a small percentage of total samples analyzed during the time frame. Xylazine, which is now a national concern, first emerged in the northeast (principally Pennsylvania) before spreading across the United States. As phenylbutazone has been gaining prominence in Pennsylvania over a five-year period, the possibility exists that it too can spread nationwide. This adulterant was most frequently observed in samples containing heroin, fentanyl and/or fentanyl derivatives. In addition to illicit drug samples, there have been reports in the literature of adulteration of herbal medicines and supplements with phenylbutazone and self-medication with phenylbutazone prescribed by veterinarians. The serious adverse effects of phenylbutazone can include gastrointestinal bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and blood disorders.
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A partnership between the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Intelligence Group at the Pittsburgh District Office was established to evaluate vape products that were recovered from high schools. The main objective was to differentiate nicotine from cannabis vape products (or others) through comprehensive drug testing, in addition to determining if potentially harmful substances were present and if there was any evidence of mixing, substitution, and/or adulteration with other drugs or substances. 
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