Download 1. Name, synonyms, street name, CAS number

Assessment Form
Date 8.1.2016
ANNEX
5
Register No
006122/06.08.04.01/2015
1. ------IND- 2016 0080 FIN EN- ------ 20160215 --- --- PROJET
§ 3(a) of the Narcotics Act (373/2008)
SUBSTANCE
Deschloroetizolam
Deskloroetizolam
1. Name, synonyms, street name, CAS number
IUPAC: 2-ethyl-9-methyl-4-phenyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine
Other names: ETIZ-2, etizolam-2
Street names: Etiz-dechlorinate, Legal-Eti
CAS: 40054-73-7
2. Molecular structure
C17H16N4S
Drug class: Benzodiazepines
On the right, structure of etizolam (classified as a medicine)
3. Physical properties
Physical state: The substance has been found as blue or pink tables and white powder ('6 mg
buttons')
Molecular weight: 308.40 g/mol
Lääkealan turvallisuus- ja kehittämiskeskus | Säkerhets- och utvecklingscentret för läkemedelsområdet | Finnish Medicines Agency
P.O. Box 55, 00034 FIMEA | Tel. 029 522 3341
Unique identifier 0921536-6
| [email protected]
|
www.fimea.fi
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Assessment Form
4. Effects mechanism
Structurally, deschloroetizolam is a benzodiazepine. It is an analogue of etizolam, which is
classified as a medicine, in that it has one less chloroatom in its benzene ring structure.
The pharmacological effect of benzodiazepine is based on the molecule binding to the gammaaminobutyric acid receptor (GABA) in the central nervous system. As a result of this binding, it will
strengthen the effect of the GABA inhibitor. This will result in a nonspecific slowing down of the
nerve paths, causing sedative, hypnotic, anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects. The effect of
benzodiazepine is targeted almost entirely at the central nervous system.
On internet forums, the effect of deschloroetizolam has been described as similar to that of
etizolam, albeit longer lasting; its effects have been described as lasting more than 8 hours. Thus
it is comparable to medium-lasting benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam and oxazepram.
5. Manufacture
The synthesis of deschloroetizolam has been described in a patent in 1988.
6. Effective dosage, abuse dosages
According to internet forums, the abuse dose for beginners is 5-10 mg. Once tolerance has been
built, the dosage can be up to ten times that amount.
As is typical of the designer drug market place, even though designer benzodiazepines may be
sold in pill form that might indicate their strength, these products do not have a marketing channel
subject to supervision, and so there are no quality control requirements in place. Therefore, user
reports do not provide a reliable account of the substance’s purity or strength.
7. Mixed use
According to users' reports, diclazepam and other designer benzodiazepines are often used
together with other sedatives or alcohol.
8. Health risks
Health risks to the individual
The known adverse effects of benzodiazepines include muscle weakness, motor skills
impairment, nausea, memory impairment and sleepiness. The paralysing effect on the nervous
system will increase if benzodiazepines are used together with alcohol other psychoactive drugs,
such as sleep aids, sedatives or anti-psychotic drugs.
The use of benzodiazepines will easily result in tolerance build-up, and long-term use may result
in physical and psychological dependency on the substance. The dependency risk will grow along
with dosage and use, and it will increase if the substance is used together with different
benzodiazepines.
Public health and social risks
The public health and social risks of deschloroetizolam are comparable to at least the risks of
other benzodiazepine use, such as the risks caused by loss of memory or fatigue at work or when
driving. The development of tolerance and dependency and the resulting need to obtain more of
the substance may, in the worst case, lead to criminal acts and the neglect of other obligations.
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9. Connection with other criminality
No data available
10. Documented observations on substance use
Medical and industrial use
There is no known medical or industrial use for deschloroetizolam.
Reported appearance in Finland
Deschloroetizolam has been discussed on internet forums during spring of 2015, also in Finnish,
based on a comment dated 27.3.2015 stating that the substance is available in Finland. The
substance has not been identified in confiscation databases of authorities.
Reporting in the EU and the EMCDDA Early Warning System (EWS)
Deschloroetizolam was first reported to the EWS system by the United Kingdom in September
2014 and after that, reports have been made by four countries, including in Scandinavia (Table 1).
Table 1. Confiscations reported to the EMCDDA
Country
and date
United
Kingdom
01/09/2014
Sweden
08/09/2014
United
Kingdom
18/12/2014
Germany
15/09/2015
Norway
24/09/2015
Norway
26/10/2015
Amount and form
Official
Other information
blue tablet
0.07 g white powder
Police
light pink tablet
8.55 g blue tablets and 320 g
pink tablets
102 blue tablets
Police
74 blue tablets
Police seizure
Customs
11. Availability
Deschloroetizolam can be ordered online. According to internet forums, deschloroetizolam was on
the market in Finland in autumn of 2015, marked as 6 mg tablets (10 for €25, 20 for €40).
12. Usage profile
Based on reports to the EMCDDA Early Warning System, national databases and scientific
literature, the abuse of benzodiazepine derivatives has grown over the last few years. The abuse
of these substances may be an attractive alternative to benzodiazepines subject to a prescription.
Benzodiazepines are often used as a recreational drug together with other sedatives or alcohol.
They have also been used to relieve the side effects of stimulant use. Based on reports from
internet forums, users of designer benzodiazepine are often familiar with benzodiazepines.
However, there are also instances of users who are unfamiliar with the drug.
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13. Current status
At this point, deschloroetizolam is not a controlled substance in Finland. In Russia, the substance
was classified as a controlled substance in summer of 2015.
14. Other information
With regard to their abuse, deschloroetizolam and other designer benzodiazepines are usually
equivalent to benzodiazepines used for medicinal purposes. The effective duration of
deschloroetizolam is comparable to those of benzodiazepines classified as medium-term
narcotics. Benzodiazepines with a long-term effect, upon accumulation in the body, may affect
driving ability or other motor or cognitive skills long after the last dose.
There is no certainty regarding the quality of substances that are similar to medicinal substances
but outside of the legal channels of production and distribution. Therefore there is no information
on the purity of these substances and the products containing them, which makes their use more
dangerous than the use of quality-controlled known medicines.
15. References
1. EMCDDA., European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction,
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu (password-protected file, viewed 15.12.2015)
2. Pubchem database. http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/827322#section=Top (viewed
15.12.2015)
3. Internet forums
http://www.hollilla.com/reader.php?action=thread&thread=7041697&offset=60 (viewed 20.10.2015)
https://tqn3fywqa5s2ojso.onion.cab/tori/res/233979.html (viewed 20.10.2015)
https://www.flashback.org/t2378736 (viewed 20.10.2015)
4. Syvälahti E and Hietala J. Ahdistuneisuus- ja unihäiriöiden lääkeaineet [Medicines for anxiety and
sleep disorders]. In book Koulu, Mervaala, Tuomisto (editor) Farmakologia ja toksikologia, Medicina,
2012.
5. Moriwaki M et al. Thieno-(triazolo)diazepine compound and medicinal application of the same.
Patent. EP0315698A1.
6. Micromedex database; http://www.micromedexsolutions.com (viewed 10.12.2015)
7. Chemicals Register. Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). (viewed 20.10.2015)
8. Internet shops
https://www.brc-finechemicals.com/pellet-products/deschloroetizolam/6mg-deschloroetizolampellets.html (viewed 20.10.2015)
9. Forensic laboratory data, written communication, 31.8.2015
10. Forensic Medicine data, 7.12.2015
11. Customs laboratory data, written communication, 31.8.2015
12. Moosmann B, King LA, Auwärter V. Designer benzodiazepines: a new challenge. World Psychiatry.
2015;14:248
13. Förordning om kontroll av narkotika. Svensk författningssamling 1992:1554
http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Forordning19921554-om-kont_sfs-1992-1554/ (viewed 20.10.2015)
16. Alternatives to classification as an intoxicating substance and classification proposal
resulting from evaluation
Based on the reports obtained on the substance, the Finnish Medicines Agency recommends that
the substance be added to Annex IV to Government Decree (543/2008) on substances,
preparations and plants to be classified as narcotics.