Session 01 - Introduction to New Psychoactive Substances.pptx

New Psychoactive Substances

1. Course: ‘New Psychoactive Substances and Synthetic Narcotics’ Lesson: ‘Introduction to New Psychoactive Substances’ Day 1 Teaching session 01

2. Psychoactive Substances - introduction 1 Synthetic cathinones: Cathinone 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) M ethylone (d)  P yrovalerone (e) 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (f) N aphyrone   (1991) (1997) (2023) Many of the substances classified as N( ew )PS/PS have origins in research for use in medicine, science & industry, as early as the 1920’s. However (often due to discovered side effects) they were not utilised at the time and remained dormant.

3. E ffect description awareness 2 Psychedelics – alter or distort perception of reality. Psychoactives – effect mental processes, consciousness, cognition, mood and emotions. Central Nervous System Stimulants – reduce tiredness, increase alertness, heighten senses. Hallucinogenics – change the way people see and hear, altering the state of consciousness. Dissociatives – distort sight and sound and produce feelings of detachment from the environment or self. Deliriants – confused and potentially chaotic state of mind, unable to focus or rationalise. Euphoriants – intense feelings of happiness, pleasure or excitement. Empathogens – enhanced emotional openness, empathy, sympathy and communion. Anti-depressant – mood lifting and anxiety reducing, greater confidence to achieve stressful tasks. Hypnotics – sleep inducing. This knowledge is helpful to know but remains the responsibility of medical clinicians and scientists. As law enforcement officers you are not required to become experts in this information or assessments of effects. NPS and synthetic narcotics are not sub-classified based upon the effects they create. It is important to note that some could cause a combination of effects. Forensic science testing will confirm classification.

4. Definition: A new psychoactive substance (NPS) is defined as 'a new narcotic or psychotropic drug’, in pure form or in preparation, that is not controlled by the United Nations drug conventions, but which may pose a public health threat comparable to that posed by substances listed in these conventions'. Overview of ‘New’ Psychoactive Substances UN Convention on 1961 Narcotics 1971 Psychotropic Substances 1988 Trafficking Pakistan participant 9 th June 1977 Green List Yellow List Narcotic Drugs under International Control Red List Precursor Chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychoactive substances under international control Psychotropic Substances under International Control Synthetic Cannabinoids Synthetic Cathinones Common categories Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA) are a group of substances that mimic the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Synthetic Cathinones are a group of stimulant substances related to cathinone, the main psychoactive substance in khat ( Catha edulis ). Monitoring & early warning Europe EWS Global EWA Project ION & GRIDS 3 Pakistan participant 25 th October 1991

5. Understanding the definition 4 A new psychoactive substance (NPS) is defined as 'a new narcotic or psychotropic drug’, in pure form or in preparation, that is not controlled by the United Nations drug conventions, but which may pose a public health threat comparable to that posed by substances listed in these conventions'. Green List Yellow List What do we think it is? What have we recovered? What is the forensic confirmation? How does this compare? What harm can it cause? What crime has been committed? What public health measures are necessary? ‘New’ ‘Narcotic’ ‘Psychotropic’ Not controlled ‘Pure form’ ‘Preparation’ ‘comparable health threat’ Intelligence? Recovery? Forensic analysis? Other evidence Description Confirmation Identify Check Clarify Legislation

6. 141 narcotic drugs are covered by the 1961 Convention, strengthened by the 1972 Protocol. Mainly natural products and derivatives but also some synthetic drugs. Parties to the 1961 convention undertake to limit the production, manufacture, export, import and distribution of stocks of, trade in, use and possession of the controlled drugs – so that they are used exclusively for scientific and medical purposes. Narcotic Drugs and Psychoactive Substances 5 The 1971 Convention was adapted to limit the diversion and abuse of certain Psychotropic substances , such as central nervous stimulants, sedative-hypnotics and hallucinogens – which had resulted in public health and social problems in some countries. The list grows constantly. Parties to the Convention should comply with the dual-aim of limiting the use to medical and scientific purposes and ensuring their availability for those purposes.

7. Psychoactive Substances – common categories 6 Cathinones Cannabinoids Phenethylamines Tryptamines Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA) are a group of substances that mimic the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Synthetic Cathinones are a group of stimulant substances related to cathinone, the main psychoactive substance in khat ( Catha edulis ). Most illicit Tryptamines are psychoactive hallucinogens found in plants and fungi. DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) 25B-MBOMe Psychedelic drugs Substances with documented psychoactive and stimulant effects and include amphetamine, MDMA and methamphetamine. 2CB, PMMA, PMA (often sold as ‘Ecstasy’) Eutylone . Central Nervous System Stimulants ‘Smoking mixture’. “Spice” then many brand names. Chemicals on plant material. Psychoactive compounds Mephedrone (4MMC), ‘M-CAT’, MDPV, Methylone, 3MMC, 3-CMC, A-PHP, ‘bath salts’ Central Nervous System Stimulants

8. Psychoactive Substances - Global 7 Global emergence of new psychoactive substances up to 2023

9. Internet resources INCB Green List INCB Yellow List INCB Red List Narcotic Convention 1961 PS Convention 1971 UN Convention 1988 INCB 2022 report EMCDDA Drug Report 2023 UNODC 2023 NPS Threats https://www.incb.org/documents/Narcotic-Drugs/1961-Convention/convention_1961_en.pdf https://www.incb.org/documents/Narcotic-Drugs/Yellow_List/62nd_edition/YL_62nd_E.pdf https://www.incb.org/documents/Psychotropics/forms/greenlist/2024/2311984E.pdf https://www.incb.org/documents/Psychotropics/conventions/convention_1971_en.pdf https://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/AnnualReports/AR2022/Annual_Report/E_INCB_2022_1_eng.pdf https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2023_en https://www.unodc.org/res/scientists/ewa/Current_NPS_Threats_VI.pdf 8 These resources are accurate as of January 2024. Updated versions will become accessible. https://www.incb.org/documents/PRECURSORS/RED_LIST/2024/RedList_21st_edition_E.pdf https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1988_en.pdf