Drugs
and Chemicals of Concern > 4-Bromo-2,5dimethoxyphenethylamine
4-Bromo-2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamine
(Street Names: 2C-B, Nexus, 2’s, Toonies,
Bromo, Spectrum, Venus)
August 2007
DEA/OD/ODE
I ntroduction:
4-bromoBromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine
(2C-B, 4-bromo-2,5-DMPEA, 2C-B) is a synthetic schedule I
hallucinogen. It is abused for its hallucinogenic effects
primarily as a club drug in the rave culture and
"circuit" party scene.
Licit Uses:
2C-B has no approved medical
uses in the United States.
Chemistry and Pharmacology:
4-bromoBromo-2,,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine
is closely related to the phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen
1-(4-bromo-2, ,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOB) and is
referred to as alpha-desmethyl DOB. 2C-B produces effects similar
to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and DOB. 2C-B displays
high affinity for central serotonin receptors. 2C-B produces dose
dependent psychoactive effects. Threshold effects are noted at
approximately 4 mg of an oral dose; the user becomes passive and
relaxed and is aware of an integration of sensory perception with
emotional states. There is euphoria with increased body awareness
and enhanced receptiveness of visual, auditory, olfactory, and
tactile sensation. Oral doses of 8 to 10 mg produce stimulant
effects and cause a full intoxicated state. Doses in the range of
20 to 40 mg produce LSD-like hallucinations. Doses greater than 50
mg have produced extremely fearful hallucinations and morbid
delusions. Onset of subjective effects following 2C-B ingestion is
between 20 to 30 minutes with peak effects occurring at 1.5 to 2
hours. Effects of 2C-B can last up to 6-8 hours.
Radioimmunoassay detection
system that is commonly used for testing amphetamine and
hallucinogens does not detect 2C-B. In the Marquis Reagent Field
Test-902, 2C-B produces a bright green color. 2C-B is the only
known drug to produce a bright green color when using this test.
Illicit Uses:
2C-B is abused for its
hallucinogenic effects. 2C-B is abused orally in tablet or capsule
forms or snorted in its powder form. The drug has been
misrepresented by distributors and sold as other hallucinogens
such as MDMA and LSD. Some user’s abuse 2C-B in combination with
LSD (referred to as a "banana split") or MDMA (called a
"party pack").
User Population:
2C-B is used by the same
population as those using "Ecstasy" and other club
drugs, high school and college students, and other young adults
who frequent "rave" or "techno" parties.
Illicit Distribution:
2C-B is distributed as
tablets, capsules or in powder form. Usually sold as MDMA, a
single dosage unit of 2C-B typically sells for $10 to $30 per
tablet. The illicit source of 2C-B currently available on the
street has not been identified by DEA. Prior to its control, DEA
seized both clandestine laboratories and illicit "repacking
shops." As the name implies, these shops would repackage and
reformulate the doses of the tablets prior to illicit sales.
According to the System to
Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence (STRIDE) data, first
recorded submission by law enforcement to DEA forensic
laboratories of a drug exhibit containing 2C-B occurred in 1986.
During 1986 to 2006, DEA laboratories analyzed 84 drug exhibits
from 50 different law enforcement cases pertaining to the
trafficking, distribution and abuse of 2C-B. The analyzed drug
exhibits comprised of 50,069 tablets, 13,837 capsules, 247.99
grams of powder, and 69.3 milliliters of fluid. In 2006, there
were two cases with two drug exhibits. The corresponding numbers
for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 were 3 cases with 3 exhibits, 1
case with 1 exhibit, 4 cases with 4 exhibits, and 4 cases with 4
exhibits, respectively.
According to the National
Forensic Laboratory Information system (NFLIS), during 2000
through 2006, state and local forensic laboratories analyzed 99
2C-B drug exhibits from 81 different law enforcement cases. In
2006, there were six cases with seven drug exhibits. The
corresponding numbers for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 were 15 cases
with 21 exhibits, 5 cases with 6 exhibits, 3 cases with 3
exhibits, and 4 cases and 5 exhibits, respectively.
According to STRIDE and
NFLIS, 2C-B has been encountered in a number of states including
Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New
Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Control Status:
The Drug Enforcement
Administration placed 2C-B temporarily in schedule I of the
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) on January 6, 1994 (59 FR 671),
pursuant to the temporary scheduling provisions of the CSA. On
June 2, 1995, 2C-B was permanently controlled as a schedule I
substance under the CSA (60 FR 28718).
Comments and additional
information are welcomed by the Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, FAX
202-353-1263 or telephone 202-307-7183.
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