NBOMe is a class of designer drug available over the internet. It is a potent hallucinogen and is often sold as ‘legal’ LSD. Unlike LSD, however, NBOMe is a strong stimulant, which accounts for its increased toxicity.
The most commonly seen derivatives are 25B-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe. 25B-NBOMe appears to be the most widely manufactured. It is sold under various names, including Smiles, N-bomb, 25B, Cimbi-5 and Solaris.
Pharmacology
The chemical name for 25B-NBOMe is 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine. It was discovered in 2004 by a German chemist, Ralf Heim. Before 2004, variations of this compound were popular in the 1990s as a substitute for ecstasy.
The drug is a potent partial agonist of the 5HT2A receptor, which accounts for its strong hallucinogenic effect, and is active at concentrations as low as 250 to 500 µg. The effects appear to last up to 16 hours after ingestion. Its activity at such low concentrations significantly increases the risk of overdose and harmful side effects.
The 5HT2A receptor is linked to complex activity such as working memory and cognitive processes, and abnormal function is said to affect conditions such as schizophrenia and depression.
Very little is known about how addictive these compounds are or about their long-term side effects. There have been numerous reports of severe poisoning and fatal intoxication, as well as people behaving dangerously, sometimes fatally, after taking NBOMe.
NBOMe is usually smoked or swallowed. It is most commonly bought over the internet as a tablet or wafer. A review in the Australian Medical Journal of online marketplaces found NBOMe tabs available for purchase in Australia containing 1200 µg, while as little as 200 to 1000 µg may be an effective oral dose.
Side effects
Users of NBOMe have reported psychotic episodes, seizures, hypothermia, heart palpitations and nausea. Hallucinations, agitation and paranoia are also widely seen as side effects.
Misadventure, sometimes resulting in death, has been a recurring theme with NBOMe. In the 12 months before this article was written, two young men in Australia were widely reported to have jumped from apartment balconies. These deaths are in addition to another death from heart failure after taking NBOMe.
Detection
NBOMe cannot be detected using the drug detection cups currently available in Australia. As with all drugs, detecting the metabolites, rather than the parent compound, is critical. At present the only reliable way to detect this compound is liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS).
Prevalence
No statistics are available on NBOMe use in Australia. However, Google Trends, which measures the volume of search traffic, shows that interest began to rise in 2012 and has continued to rise. Based on data from the USA and Europe, use of NBOMe is largely confined to young men under 40.
Summary
NBOMe is cheap, easily available and promoted as ‘legal’. These factors alone will ensure that use of this drug increases and becomes a growing problem for both police and employers.
Source: Safe Work Laboratories.