DOI: 10.12809/hkmj166018
© Hong Kong Academy of Medicine. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Desoxy-D2PM: a novel psychoactive substance in convenience stores
Nike KC Lau, MB, ChB, MA;
YK Chong, MB, BS, FHKCPath;
Magdalene HY Tang, PhD;
CK Ching, FRCPA, FHKAM (Pathology);
Tony WL Mak, FRCPath, FHKAM (Pathology)
Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory, Princess Margaret
Hospital, Laichikok, Hong Kong
Corresponding author: Dr Tony WL Mak (makwl@ha.org.hk)
To the Editor—Novel psychoactive substances
(NPSs) are recently available unlicensed drugs
that are chemically or pharmacologically similar
to conventional drugs of abuse. Their rapid and
protean emergence has created many challenges
for clinicians, laboratories, social workers, and
regulatory authorities. Our laboratory has repeatedly
identified NPSs.1 2 We report the discovery of 2-(diphenylmethyl)-pyrrolidine (desoxy-D2PM),
an NPS present in an over-the-counter slimming
product available in local convenience stores.
Undeclared desoxy-D2PM was detected in a
slimming product branded “B-finn” purchased in
Thailand by a patient. Subsequently, we obtained
a slimming product of the same brand in a local
drugstore and detected the presence of desoxy-D2PM. The Department of Health was notified and
a product recall was initiated.3 Shortly after, desoxy-D2PM was detected in the urine specimen of another
unrelated patient.
Desoxy-D2PM is structurally related to
methamphetamine, which inhibits noradrenaline
and dopamine re-uptake. Desoxy-D2PM has been
reported to have appetite suppressing, euphoric,
and stimulant effects.4 Overdose of desoxy-D2PM
may lead to violent behaviour, hallucinations, and
sympathomimetic toxicity.4
In Hong Kong, desoxy-D2PM is yet to be
listed as a dangerous drug under the Dangerous
Drugs Ordinance at the time of writing. Nonetheless
its ready availability in drugstores and convenience
stores before the recall, and its presence in the urine
of an unrelated patient, raise concern about its
unintentional use by the general public. This case
and our previous local reports of NPS1 2 5 highlight
the importance of a toxicology surveillance system
in Hong Kong.
References
1. Tang MH, Ching CK, Tsui MS, Chu FK, Mak TW. Two
cases of severe intoxication associated with analytically
confirmed use of the novel psychoactive substances
25B-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe. Clin Toxicol (Phila)
2014;52:561-5. Crossref
2. Tang M, Ching CK, Tse ML, et al. Surveillance of emerging
drugs of abuse in Hong Kong: validation of an analytical
tool. Hong Kong Med J 2015;21:114-23. Crossref
3. Recall of slimming product with undeclared Western drug
ingredients (with photo). 25 Jul 2016. The Government
of the HKSAR press release. Available from: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201607/25/P2016072500603.htm.
Accessed Aug 2016.
4. Dargan P, Wood D. Novel psychoactive substances:
classification, pharmacology and toxicology. UK: Academic Press; 2013.
5. Poon WT, Lai CF, Lui MC, Chan AY, Mak TW. Piperazines:
a new class of drug of abuse has landed in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Med J 2010;16:76-7.