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25I-NBOMe and other designer drugs proving difficult to police

25I-NBOMe can be sold as a cube, liquid, powder, or blotted onto paper. (Thinkstock)
25I-NBOMe can be sold as a cube, liquid, powder, or blotted onto paper. (Thinkstock)

A relatively new hallucinogenic drug, 25I-NBOMe, was thrown into the spotlight again this week after a CBS News story out of Boston highlighted the case of two young people who were arrested “for displaying strange, self-destructive behavior” while under its influence.

A similar case occurred just before New Year’s in the quiet bedroom community of Stouffville, Ont. just north of Toronto.

Police say the drug is being marketed as a cheap version of LSD, but is less predictable and potentially more dangerous.

“25I-NBOMe is much more potent than LSD, and if taken accidentally or in excess, can lead to erratic behavior, seizures, cardiac arrest and possibly death,” says Constable Andy Pattenden of the York Region Police, which investigated the Stouffville case.

“It comes in a variety of forms, including cubes, liquid, powder and blotted onto paper. Its common street names are 2-5-I, N-Bomb, Wizard, Future and Smiles.”

A big part of the attraction? It’s cheap. Gauging the price of street drugs is an inexact science, but a big part of this substance’s drawing power – aside from the chemical high – is that the price is low.

Drug currently exists outside of the law

Detective Jeffrey Ross, head of operations for the Toronto Police drug squad, says it’s hard to warn people about dangerous new substances, because many have not yet been declared illegal.

“It’s not even classified as a drug,” he tells Yahoo Canada. “25I-NBOMe is a chemical substance that is currently marketed as a research drug – one without status in Canada. It is one that has never been marketed as a medicine, and has no current industrial use.”

Ross calls this a “gray market,” where chemists and drug dealers continually develop new compounds, supplying their customers with substances that – at least temporarily – are one step ahead of the law.

“There are a number of substances out there, being created or spun out of other substances that pop up every day.” he explains. “Because of their likeness to other illegal drugs, there are people that are willing to experiment with these at their own risk.”

The lure of a psychedelic high is strong for many recreational drug users. And the less known a chemical is, the more dangerous it can suddenly become. Ross says drug squad detectives find this frustrating, because they’re not just there to crack down on crime.

“First and foremost, we’re here to protect the public,” he says. “It’s not realistic to think anything in this world that someone puts into their body should be made illegal. I don’t think that’s possible, or really necessary. But we have to take the position of raising public awareness, and being present in the community to be present to advise people of the risks.”

25I-NBOMe happened to the designer drug that made the news this week. But Ross cautions there are “quite a number” of other gray-area intoxicants that could be next.

“It’s endless. There really is no end to the ingenuity of the producers and people that may be seeking a specific feeling or desired effect. They’re using a substance because it is not illegal, but that clearly doesn’t mean that it is less dangerous.”