Drug info sheet

DRUG INFORMATION RESOURCES - INTERNATIONAL

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

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‘Alarming’ amount of new drugs on dark web: ANU study

Australians have access to mass amounts of potent drugs online, equivalent to "billions of doses" every day, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU).

The report found "alarming" amounts of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil available on the dark web.

Carfentanil is not for human use and was originally designed to sedate elephants.

The researchers say the report lifts the lid on a significant new synthetic opioid market on the dark web.

"We are on the brink of a new opioid epidemic driven by synthetics like fentanyl and carfentanil that are driving a greater risk of overdose deaths," said lead author Professor Roderic Broadhurst, from the ANU Cybercrime Observatory.

"Fentanyl is a designer synthetic opioid about 100 times more powerful than morphine," said Professor Broadhurst.

"The average dose of fentanyl is 200 micrograms. We found millions of doses of fentanyl available to buy every day.

"Carfentanil is 10,000 times more powerful than morphine and there are alarming amounts of it available online."

"We were shocked by the amount of Carfentanil we found. Billions of doses are available online on any day."

Professor Broadhurst says fentanyl is being used by criminal networks to lace heroin and create synthetic heroin that is changing the landscape of narcotic sales.

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Measuring Aerosol Particle Emissions from Cannabis Vaporization and Dabbing

SUMMARY

Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogens and chemicals found in tobacco smoke (Moir, Rickert et al. 2008, Wei, Alwis et al. 2016). Exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke can impair endothelial function, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (Wang, Derakhshandeh et al. 2016). However, US data show that the perceived health risks of marijuana use are, in fact, declining among adults (Compton, Han et al. 2016). We measured the concentrations of airborne fine particles (PM2.5) and cannabinoids at an indoor cannabis event where dabbing and vaporizing were the only cannabis emissions. We found average particle concentrations of 200-600 micrograms per m3 and peak concentrations over 1,600 micrograms per m3. Particle concentrations this high are seen in extreme air pollution events like wildfires (Landis, Edgerton et al. 2018, Li, Han et al. 2018) and severe industrial pollution (Nagar, Singh et al. 2017, Li, Han et al. 2018). Exposure at these concentrations can cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease (Zheng, Ding et al. 2015, Li, Fan et al. 2016). We show that dabbing and vaporizing cannabis can create levels of indoor air pollution that are hazardous to human health, in the absence of actual combustion.

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VAPING IS DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO KIDS:

Flavors are chosen that entice young appetites, like cookies & cream, cups o’ peanut butter and bubble gum. Stanford University compiled a startling gallery of photos comparing actual vape products to their sugar-coated candy and dessert inspirations.

Regardless of how they are ingested, nicotine and THC hurt kids’ developing brains. Vaping can provide very high concentrations of these drugs. For example, one JUUL pod has as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.

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Vaping 'can damage vital immune system cells'

August 2018

Vaping can damage vital immune system cells and may be more harmful than previously thought, a study suggests.

Researchers found e-cigarette vapour disabled important immune cells in the lung and boosted inflammation. The researchers "caution against the widely held opinion that e-cigarettes are safe".

However, Public Health England advises they are much less harmful than smoking and people should not hesitate to use them as an aid to giving up cigarettes. The small experimental study, led by Prof David Thickett, at the University of Birmingham, is published online in the journal Thorax.

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Carfentanil

Similar to other fentanils, the most serious acute health risk from using carfentanil is likely to be rapid and severe respiratory depression, which in overdose could lead to apnoea, respiratory arrest, and death (Dahan et al., 2010; EMCDDA, 2017; Lindsay et al., 2016; Pattinson, 2008; Wax et al., 2003; White and Irvine, 1999). Factors that may exacerbate this risk include: the difficulty in diluting the substance, which can lead to a toxic dose being inadvertently used; the use of routes of administration that have high bioavailability (such as injecting, insufflation, and inhalation); a lack of experience with its effects and dosing; the use of other central nervous system depressants at the same time (such as other opioids, benzodiazepines, gabapentanoids, and alcohol); no or limited tolerance to opioids; and, using the substance alone (such as at home) which would make it more difficult for users to call for help in the case of poisoning. In addition, as discussed below, as carfentanil is being sold as or in heroin and other illicit opioids, many users will not be aware that they are using carfentanil.

Complete report see attached PDF

The Global SMART

(Synthetics Monitoring: Analyses, Reporting and Trends)

Programme improves the capacity of targeted Member States to generate, manage, analyse, report and use information on illicit synthetic drugs. The SMART programme was launched in September 2008 in Bangkok.

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Pill Testing may sound like a compassionate option...

but what really happens?

SCORING PILL TESTING

Well, if you're here reading this, you've at least had enough moxy in ya to start trying to 'get a clue'!

We know 'data' alone doesn't change behaviour, but at least it's a 'wake up' for those who give a damn – and you obviously do! The information in these 'Dalgarnowledge' sheets is up to date and accurate. They give a little more than mere 'facts' but the data integrity is not compromised….so read, learn, act and change!

See you again soon!