Ecstasy laboratory

The volume of 3,4-MDP-2-P seizures for 2003 was the lowest reported since 1998 other than the Netherlands, only Estonia reported seizures of the substance during 2003. The latter case is particularly noteworthy as the seizure of 3,4-MDP-2-P was made at an MDMA (Ecstasy) laboratory and, in addition to the precursor, 26,000 MDMA tablets and 60 litres of liquid MDMA were also seized. More importantly, the authorities of Estonia, in cooperation with their counterparts from the Russian Federation, launched backtracking investigations to identify the source of the seized 3,4-MDP-2-P. That investigation led to the identification and dismantling of a laboratory illicitly manufacturing 3,4-MDP-2-P in the Russian Federation... 

Fig. 108 Number of dismantled ecstasy laboratories, reported to UNODC, 1985-2005...

The vast majority of ecstasy consumed domestically is produced in Europe. It costs as little as 25 to 50 cents to manufacture an ecstasy tablet in Europe, but the street value of that same ecstasy tablet can be as high as 40, with a tablet typically selling for between 20 and 30. A limited number of ecstasy laboratories operate in the United States. Law enforcement seized 17 clandestine ecstasy laboratories in the United States in 2001 compared to 7 seized in 2000. United States Customs Service statistics show a dramatic increase in seiznres of MDMA tablets. In fiscal year 1997, approximately 400,000 MDMA tablets were seized, compared to approximately 7.2 milhon tablets seized in fiscal year 2001. On Inly 22,2000, approximately 2.1 milhon tablets worth an estimated 40 million were seized in Los Angeles. To date this is the largest seiznre of MDMA tablets in the United States. ... 

MDMA, or Ecstasy Positive feelings of elation, euphoria and closeness to others replaced by depression and lethargy in the days afterward regular use is neurotoxic in laboratory animals extensive but indirect evidence for similar serotonin nerve damage in human recreational users. 

Neurodegeneration Localised or widespread death of neurons, a feature of a number of brain disorders, such as Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s disease and cerebrovascular stroke. It can also be caused by neurotoxic drugs like MDMA/Ecstasy, although there is debate over whether this occurs in humans as well as laboratory animals. 

For this reason, the initial evaluation of a patient during an episode of mania or hypomania must include a review of all prescribed medications and illicit substance use, and collection of a urine drug screen. We must bear in mind, however, that many of the newer designer drugs such as Ecstasy are not typically detected by most commercial laboratory tests for drugs of abuse. 

Finally, a laboratory evaluation completes the initial evaluation. This includes a battery of blood tests to rule out infection, metabolic abnormality, or hormonal disturbance. It must also include a drug screen. Unfortunately, most drug screens do not detect the designer drugs like Ecstasy that are an ever-increasing cause of acute psychosis. The initial evaluation should always include a CT or MRI brain scan, preferably the latter. 

Together with GFIB and ecstasy, amphetamines are often referred to as "club drugs," because they are increasingly popular in the club scene. They are often produced in small clandestine laboratories, which makes their precise chemical identification difficult. They differ from ecstasy chiefly in the context of use intravenous administration and "hard core" addiction is far more common with amphetamines, especially methamphetamine. In general, amphetamines lead to elevated catecholamine levels that increase arousal and reduce sleep, whereas the effects on the dopamine system mediate euphoria but may also cause abnormal movements and precipitate psychotic episodes. Effects on serotonin transmission may play a role in the hallucinogenic and anorexigenic functions as well as in the hyperthermia often caused by amphetamines. 

The largest numbers of ecstasy labs dismantled in 2005 were reported from Canada (19) and the USA (18), followed by the Netherlands (8) and Belgium (5). In addition, some ecstasy labs were dismantled in Australia, but were included under the category of ATS laboratories, with no detailed breakdown provided. Ecstasy labs were also seized in Indonesia and India in 2005. 

Over the 2000-2005 period, the largest numbers of ecstasy labs were dismantled in the Netherlands (111), followed by the USA (83), Canada (71) and Belgium (26). Double-digit numbers of seized labs were reported from Australia, Indonesia and China. Five or more laboratories were dismantled in the UK, South Africa, Hong Kong SAR of China and Estonia. Non-European seizures of labs included New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Egypt, India and Malaysia. 

F. T. Noggle, C. R. Clark, and J. DeRuiter, Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of samples from a clandestine laboratory involved in the synthesis of Ecstasy from sassafras oil, J. Chromatogr. Sci., 29 168 (1991). 

The authors observed that three of the six patients had been exposed to ecstasy outside of a rave and had hyperthermia despite not having vigorous muscle activity, thereby questioning previous assumptions about pathogenesis. There were no contaminants in the tablets, based on laboratory analyses. The authors speculated that another cause of hyperthermia and acute toxicity could be a genetic predisposition to defective metabolism of ecstasy, especially CYP2D6 deficiency. They postulated that hyperthermia in ecstasy users could be heterogeneous and was more likely to be due to a combination of causes. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state/local law enforcement authorities throughout the United States have noted an alarming trend involving illicit MDMA production. MDMA (Ecstasy) is a major drug problem in the United States. All businesses engaged in the sale of safrole and essential oils rich in safrole, such as, sassafras oil, brown camphor oil or camphor oil 1.070, also referred to as Chinese sassafras oil, should be aware of the use of these products by clandestine MDMA laboratory operators. 

Rohypnol is a benzodiazepine and has a risk of sedation, ataxia, slurred speech, amnesia, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension. These effects are compounded if other medications are co-ingested. GHB s risk includes coma, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and seizures. Rohypnol ( roofies ) and GHB (liquid ecstasy) are not manufactured or sold legally in the United States. Rohypnol is legally sold in Europe, Latin America, and Mexico and is smuggled into this country and transported illegally throughout the country. GHB is easy to produce in clandestine laboratories. Until 1997 it was readily available on the Internet or in health food stores. The FDA made it illegal to sell or produce GHB in 1997. 

Khat is a plant material widely chewed in East Africa and Yemen for its stimulant properties these are due to the alka-loidal cathinone, a compound similar to amphetamine. Methcathinone, a congener with similar effects, has been synthesized in clandestine laboratories, but widespread use in North America has not been reported. MDMA ( ecstasy ) also has stimulant properties. 

In 2005 and 2006, first-time users of illicit drugs in the United States increased by 40%, one third under the age of 18. Shutting domestic laboratories has substantially reduced the supply of methamphetamine. Yet, first-time users in the United States increased to 860,000 in 2005 from 615,000 in 2006. At the United States northern border, federal law enforcement officials seized 5,485,619 doses of Ecstasy in 2006, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, compared with 568,220 in 2003. 

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