Expert Peer Review No. 2 Agenda Item 4.5: Ethylone

Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Thirty-eighth Meeting Geneva, 14-18 November 2016

Expert Peer Review No.2 for Ethylone

1. Comments based on the review report

a. Evidence on dependence and abuse potential There are few data available in the published literature at this stage but the existing information suggests that ethylone displays abuse liability. Ethylone substituted fully for the cocaine and methamphetamine stimulus in rats. Data obtained from in vitro studies suggest that ethylone inhibits uptake of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin and that it might function as a substrate-type releaser of serotonin, thus, potentially exhibiting some form of ‘hybrid’ character. Data on dependence potential, both in animals and humans, are not available. Case reports and discussions available on drug user forums document that some drug users consumed ethylone.

b. Risks to individual and society because of misuse Ten fatalities and a non-fatal intoxication have been reported in the scientific literature with the majority of death cases being linked to violence. A clear cause-and- effect relationship could not be established in all cases. Ethylone does currently not appear to pose a risk to society but is suspected to be restricted to individual users with a history of psychostimulant use in various social settings.

c. Magnitude of the problem in countries (misuse, illicit production, smuggling etc) Detailed information about prevalence of ethylone use, illicit production and smuggling are not available. In countries where ethylone is not subject to control, it may be purchased from various sources including Internet retailers, either in the form of branded products or in pure form. In a study reported by researchers in the US, ethylone was detected in 16 out of 34,561 random urine samples collected between 2011 and 2013 (0.05%). Ethylone has been seized in various countries around the globe but increasing numbers of seizures have been reported particularly in the United States (US).

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d. Need of the substance for medical (including veterinary) practice Ethylone is currently not used in medical practice.

e. Need of the substance for other purposes (e.g. industrial) Ethylone has currently no industrial application apart from being used for scientific research.

f. Measures taken by countries to curb misuse Ethylone is controlled in some countries although it remains unclear how or whether this affected prevalence of ethylone use.

g. Impact if this substance is scheduled In the absence of medical or industrial use no discernable impact is expected apart from manageable bureaucratic burden to researchers and laboratories that carry out research.

2. Are there absent data that would be determinative for scheduling?

More information about prevalence of ethylone use and the extend of ill-effects comparable to related substances already under international control would be helpful.

3. Other comments or opinions

No comments.

4. Expert reviewer’s view on scheduling with rationale

The available information currently suggests that ethylone might show some mixed pharmacological features comparable to the new psychoactive substance 4-methyl-N- ethcathinone (4-MEC). Ethylone appears to have the capacity to produce abuse liability, ill-effects and central nervous system stimulation, which is shared by other ring- substituted cathinones under international control such as methylone (Schedule II of the 1971 Convention). The data available at this stage place a challenge on the ability to characterize the extent of a public health and social problem that would warrant the placing of the substance under international control. However, it is recognized that ethylone has been increasingly seized in the US (amongst other countries), possibly reflecting a more recent introduction to the market following control of 4- methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methcathinone (methylone)

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and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), respectively. From this perspective, it is recommended to keep ethylone under surveillance.

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