4-Iodo-2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamine

August 2007 DEA/OD/ODE

4-bromoIodo-2,,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-I, 4-iodo-2,5-DMPEA, 2C-B) is a synthetic drug abused for its hallucinogenic effects. It has been encountered in a number of states by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Licit Uses:

2C-I has no approved medical uses in the United States.

4-bromoIodo-2,,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine is closely related to the phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen 1-(4-bromo-2, ,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOB). 2C-I produces effects similar to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and DOB. Like DOM and DOB, 2C-I displays high affinity for central serotonin receptors. 2C-I produces dose dependent psychoactive effects. User reports have mentioned oral doses between 3 and 25 mg, producing LSD-like hallucinations and visual distortions, and MDMA-like empathy. Onset of subjective effects following 2C-I ingestion is around 40 minutes with peak effects occurring at approximately 2 hours. Effects of 2C-I can last up to 6-8 hours. Various users reported delayed desired effects compared to related drugs, which may result in some users taking additional doses or other drugs which may increase the risk of toxicity or accidental over dosage.

Radioimmunoassay detection system that is commonly used for testing amphetamine and hallucinogens is not expected to detect 2C-I. In the Marquis Reagent Field Test, 2C-I produces a dark green to black color.

Illicit Uses:

2C-I is abused for its hallucinogenic effects. 2C-I is taken orally in tablet or capsule forms or snorted in its powder form. It has also been found impregnated on small squares of blotter paper for oral administration, which is a technique often seen for the distribution and abuse of LSD. The drug has been misrepresented by distributors and sold as other hallucinogens such as MDMA and LSD.

2C-I is used by the same population as those using "Ecstasy" and other club drugs, high school and college students, and other young adults in dance and nightlife settings.

2C-I is distributed as capsules, tablets, in powder form, or in liquid form. DEA identified occurrences of the drug being purchased through Internet retailers. In one instance, it was purchased in powder form through the Internet and encapsulated for retail, at a street value of $6 per capsule. In Europe, 2C-I has often been seized in tablet form with an ‘i’ logo which may be to signify that it is not ecstasy (MDMA).

2C-B has been encountered by law enforcement in many states including Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

According to the System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence data, since 2004, Federal law enforcement seized 16 drug exhibits and filed 8 cases pertaining to the trafficking, distribution and abuse of 2C-I. The seized exhibits comprised 2 capsules, 127.346 grams of powder, and 1.7 milliliters of fluid.

According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information system, during 2000 through July 2007, there were 29 state and local law enforcement cases that involved submission of 39 drug exhibits to state and local laboratories, mostly as powder and capsules. In 2006, there were 8 cases with 12 drug exhibits. The corresponding numbers for 2003, 2004, and 2005 were 1 case with 1 exhibit, 8 cases with 11 exhibits, and 11 cases with 14 exhibits, respectively.

Currently, 2C-I is not a scheduled drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, 2C-I can be considered an analogue of 2C-B, which is in schedule I hallucinogen under the CSA (60 FR 28718). As such, 2C-I can be treated on a case-by-case basis as if it were a schedule I controlled substance, if it is distributed with the intention for human consumption [21 U.S.C. 802 (32), 21 U.S.C. 813].