Health, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – Chemists at Australia’s sole fixed-site drug checking service, CanTEST in Canberra, have uncovered three previously unidentified recreational drugs in the country. The Australian National University (ANU) scientists and clinicians, led by Professor Malcolm McLeod, made these discoveries, suggesting the substances may produce effects akin to familiar stimulants like MDMA and ketamine. Professor McLeod highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the safety and potential short- and long-term health impacts of these substances.
Among the substances submitted for testing was one believed to be a derivative of Ritalin, used to treat ADHD. However, analysis revealed it to be a novel variant of cathinone, commonly known as ‘bath salts’—a hazardous group of chemicals with documented cases of lethality. Professor McLeod expressed concern about the discovery of a new cathinone variant, emphasizing the unknown risks and health consequences associated with its use.
“The second substance we analysed, which the client believed to be a ketamine-like substance, was in fact a new type of benzylpiperazine (BZP) stimulant, often used as a substitute for MDMA. While derivatives of these stimulants first emerged in New Zealand in the early 2000s, we actually don’t know a lot about them.
“As for the third one, the client reported some uncertainty about the identity of the substance. They thought it was a cathinone drug, a stimulant that can have similar effects to amphetamines, but wanted to have it tested to avoid any nasty surprises.
“We later identified the drug to be a new phenethylamine drug known as propylphenidine. Phenethylamines are a category of stimulant drugs that includes amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA.”
CanTEST’s initial on-site analysis of the three substances dismissed the anticipated identities but yielded inconclusive results. Subsequent laboratory examinations conducted at the ANU Research School of Chemistry were instrumental in allowing scientists to accurately determine the true nature of the drugs.
Following the revelations, CanTEST personnel promptly informed the community about the newly discovered substances and their potential risks, according to Dr. David Caldicott, who serves as the Clinical Lead for both CanTEST and Pill Testing Australia.
He indicated that these findings highlight the often-underestimated capacity of services like CanTEST to educate and guide individuals regarding their choices.
Dr. Caldicott, also pointed out that it appears that drug checking services not only influence consumer behavior but, when conducted with rigor, can also detect entirely new drugs as they emerge, potentially even before gaining traction in local markets.
He also indicated that the implications of this discovery extend beyond Canberra, reaching global significance in public health. This aspect may not have been fully recognized until now.
CanTEST has identified novel substances in the community, marking a recurrent trend. In October 2022, chemists uncovered a mysterious recreational drug resembling ketamine but featuring a distinctive chemical composition, previously unseen in Australia.
Since its inauguration in July 2022, CanTEST has scrutinized over 1,700 samples. In the latter part of 2022, chemists made a crucial discovery by identifying a highly perilous opioid in pills fraudulently sold as oxycodone, prompting a public health alert.
Dr. Caldicott, an emergency doctor at North Canberra Hospital, emphasized the positive impact of drug checking services like CanTEST in altering drug behaviors and minimizing harm for users. He urged other states and territories to emulate the ACT’s example and implement similar services nationwide.
An evaluation conducted by the Australian National University (ANU) on the initial six months of CanTEST revealed that one in ten samples submitted for testing were discarded once clients became aware of their composition. Additionally, over half of the drugs analyzed at the clinic did not match users’ expectations.
The ANU-led research on the analysis of three new substances has been published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis.
