Introduction
In the sweltering heat of a Miami day in 2014, toxicologist Barry Logan and his research team embarked on a quest for knowledge amidst the throes of an electronic music festival. Their mission? To understand the drugs that festival-goers were consuming. This seemingly innocuous experiment laid the groundwork for a critical nationwide initiative to identify recreational drugs as they infiltrate the United States swiftly. Supported by a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant, the program, known as NPS (novel psychoactive substances) Discovery, serves as a vital drug early warning system. It assists diverse stakeholders, from public health officials to emergency room physicians, crime labs, and law enforcement agencies.
The Rise of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
The Miami experiment was a pivotal moment that shed light on the ever-evolving landscape of recreational drugs in the United States. The NPS Discovery program emerged as a response to this growing concern. In its early years, it primarily focused on designer drugs commonly found at music festivals. However, as the illicit drug trade continued to evolve, so did the mission of NPS Discovery. The drugs that now flood the streets are no longer solely the “party” drugs of the past. The substances that once dominated the illicit drug scene have evolved from “party” drugs to a more lethal variety. The rise of opioids such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and nitazene analogs now poses a significantly more significant threat.
A Looming Public Health Crisis
The gravity of the situation becomes evident when we examine the statistics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths occurred in the U.S., representing an alarming increase of nearly 15% from the previous year. The majority of these deaths, approximately 81,000, were attributed to opioids, predominantly fentanyl. However, it’s not just opioids; deaths related to “psychostimulants” like Ecstasy and cocaine also surged.
The Ever-Changing Landscape
The journey of NPS Discovery began with Logan’s makeshift RV laboratory in Miami, which drove around music festivals to study drug usage. The revelation that participants were often unaware of the substances they had consumed triggered the need for a nationwide program to scrutinize and swiftly identify recreational drugs. The program operates under the stewardship of the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), situated in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Logan is at the helm of CFSRE and the NPS Discovery initiative.
The Challenge of a Dynamic Drug Landscape: The nature of the illicit drug trade continuously shifts, intending to evade the regulatory grasp of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). To keep pace with this evolving landscape, CFSRE, with the support of NIJ grants, analyzed drug samples from various sources, including seizures at the southern border, street samples, and those found with overdose victims. Since its inception in 2015, NPS Discovery has grown more sophisticated, bolstered by an extensive network of collaborators.
The Advent of Fentanyl and its Analogues
Fentanyl, an opioid approximately 30 times more potent than heroin, entered the illicit drug scene in the late 1970s. Its allure grew due to its potency, leading some individuals to scour medical waste for fentanyl pain patches. Over time, drug traffickers realized that fentanyl was not only easier to make but also simpler to distribute compared to heroin. This made it a prime candidate for the illicit drug trade.
Over the past decade, illicit drug manufacturers primarily focused on fentanyl analogs. By modifying the fentanyl molecule, drug labs, predominantly located in China, created analogs like alfentanil and carfentanil, which surpassed fentanyl in potency. Carfentanil, for instance, was initially developed to sedate large animals like elephants and rhinoceroses.
The “Whack-A-Mole” Game
The emergence of new fentanyl analogs led to a cat-and-mouse game with the DEA. Each time a new analog appeared on the streets, the DEA would categorize it as illegal. In response, illicit labs would create another analog, exploiting legal loopholes. This game of “Whack-A-Mole” persisted until 2018, when the DEA classified all fentanyl-related substances as illegal in a move referred to as class-wide scheduling.
The Shift to Nitazene Analogues
In 2020, China took action to curb the production of fentanyl and its analogs, leading to a slowdown in the supply chain. However, this also gave rise to a new class of drugs that emerged from the 2-benzyl benzimidazole family, known as nitazene analogs. Nitazenes are a diverse group of synthetic substances that pose a growing threat to public health. These analogs, which include compounds like isotonitazene, metonitazene, and others, have been associated with a rising number of overdose cases. While the DEA has issued public warnings about individual nitazene analogs, the agency has not yet categorized nitazenes as an illegal class of drugs.
The Complex Drug Distribution Network
A notable challenge in combating these drugs lies in their distribution network. China and Mexico are the primary sources of these substances, but the people selling them on the streets of U.S. cities are often several layers removed from the manufacturers. Localized outbreaks of drug-related problems can vary significantly depending on the region and the potency of the substances distributed.
The Battle Against a Shifting Landscape
The evolving drug landscape remains a dynamic challenge. Illicit drug trade actors change, and the drugs themselves adapt. NPS Discovery strives to mitigate the harm caused by this relentless evolution. With a comprehensive database of over 1,100 drugs, the program aims to predict emerging substances, respond quickly to new drugs, and share data with relevant agencies to aid in combating the proliferation of dangerous drugs.
A Vision for the Future
NPS Discovery is not just about analyzing existing drugs; it’s also about predicting future trends. The program constantly mines data to stay ahead of the curve, ensuring that it is well-prepared for emerging drugs. The battle against illicit drugs is dynamic and unceasing, with new substances infiltrating the drug supply regularly.
Conclusion
The NPS Discovery program stands as a beacon of hope in the face of a relentless surge in illicit drug use and overdose deaths. It represents the collective effort of scientists, researchers, and organizations committed to curbing the devastating impact of emerging designer drugs and opioid analogs. While the challenges are immense, this program’s commitment to lessening the harm remains unwavering.
Article: National Institute of Justice, “Fighting the Uphill War Against Illicit Drugs and Overdose Deaths: Detecting Emerging Designer Drugs and Opioid Analogs ,” September 18, 2023, nij.ojp.gov: https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/fighting-uphill-war-against-illicit-drugs-and-overdose-deaths-detecting-emerging
