Risk reduction on new drugs, a spanish experience (iván fornís)

• Energy Control-ABD. Iván Fornís Espinosa.• [email protected] | [email protected] | www.energycontrol.org | www.abd-ong.org

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Risk Reduction on New Drugs,

a Spanish Experience

Iván Fornís Espinosa


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1. The evolution of the use of new synthetic drugs in Spain. Information collected by Energy Control through its Drug Checking service and the online counseling service adressed to drug users.

2. Our proposal to provide objective information to the users of these drugs in order to conduct low-risk consumptions.


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1. Risk reduction project in Spain.2. Peer to peer actions.3. Responsible drug use.4. Resources:

Development and dissemination of information

Drug Checking service aimed at drug users.

What is ?


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1. An increment in the number of samples of new drugs provided by the users.

2. An increment of types of new drugs, also called research chemicals or legal highs.

3. An increment in the number of requests for information about new drugs.

In recent years we have observed in our project three phenomena:


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Increment in the number of samplesM

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2006 (n=392) 2007 (n=509) 2008 (n= 1082) 2009 (n= 1622) 2010 (n=1680) 2011 (n=2115)

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Increment of types of new drugs

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Increment in the number of requests for information about new drugs.

2008 2009 2010 20110

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Peculiarities of our country on New Drugs

1. In Spain there hasn´t been a big expansion of the use of new drugs.

2. Little presence of the smart-shop phenomenon (or head-shop). The most important distribution channel has been on the Internet and grow-shops.

3. Adaptation of the comercial product names to spanish topics such as Mazazo, Fuego, Cocopollo, etc.


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Peculiarities of our country on New Drugs

4. we began to observe the presence of new drugs as adulterants of illicit drugs

Sold as composition Samples

Ecstasy pill 2C-B 53

Ecstasy pill 2C-I 4

Ecstasy (crystal) Methylone 12

Ecstasy (pill, crystal) Mephedrone 11

Cocaína Mephedrone 2

Methamphetamine Mephedrone 2

Ketamine Mephedrone 4

Ketamine Methoxetamine 6


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Our approach1. Development and dissemination of update and objective information about risk reduction on new drugs:

Scientific articlesTrip reports and personal communicationGive information in recreational placesGive information in our drug checking servicesGive information through web, forums and social networks


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Our approach2. Direct communication to general drug users about the emergence of new drugs as adulterants of other drugs to inform them (ex. PMMA in legal highs).


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Our approach3. Notice the proper agencies of the findings, especially the

- EMCDDA

- Ministry of Health

- regional councils


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Our approach4. Updating the analysis service to expand its capacity to detect new substances in timeframes as short as possible.

5. Training project staff to have updated knowledge as possible of the phenomenon.


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Conclusions (1)Energy Control has only had access to samples provided voluntarily by consumers; this has allowed us to observe particularly the phenomenon of adulteration of other drugs with these new compounds.

Studies of new drugs, which keep track of the products sold in stores or online head-shops, have failed to detect this phenomenon.

This could add risk to consumers because these people do not take precautions to consume.

Thus, having information of samples submitted by users becomes a source of invaluable information complementary to information obtained by other means (for example, direct purchases or police seizures).


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Conclusions (2)

In this sense, having services such as drug checking service, a web-site for drug users or be present in recreational contexts allows us direct contact with consumers and work specifically with these aspects as the information on these new drugs and taking care strategies and the associated demystify certain beliefs such as greater security in front of these illegal drugs.


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Conclusions (3)

The phenomenon of new drugs is extremely dynamic and is able to rapidly introduce new substances on the market.

This causes, at times, when we are able to prepare and distribute updated information about these new drugs, these leaving the market and appear new ones.

This is produced by the application of prohibitive legislation on new drugs as the only way to address the problem.


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Thank you

Iván Fornís Espinosa(Energy Control – ABD)

[email protected]@enrgycontrol.org

Health & Medicine

Risk reduction on new drugs, a spanish experience (iván fornís)