Episode #30: Bromazolam, Etonitazene, and Carfentanil Walk into a Bar – Trends in Novel Illicit Drugs with Dr. Alex Krotulski

The Poison Lab

In this episode Ryan interviews Dr. Alex Krotulski PhD from the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education. Together take a look at trends in novel opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, hallucinogens, synthetic cannabinoids, and "hemp products" that are showing up in your patients, drug products, and fatal overdoses. The conversation takes places around the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education quarterly report on Novel Psychoactive Substances found in patients and drug products.

The episode starts with a discussion of the novel benzodiazepines market, highlighting bromazolam and how long it may remain in the market. Then they discuss the opioids highlighting where we are seeing carfentanil, what is happening with Para Fluorofentanyl, and other super potent opioids emergening (such as N -pyrrolidino etonitazene). After a quick discussion of synthetic cathinone's and PCP/ketamine derivatives they jump to synthetic cannabinoids, examining the history of brodifacoum contamination and how regulation has led to market changes.

1. Resources
   1. https://www.cfsre.org/
   2. Quarterly report discussed on this episode
   3. More on Dr. Krotulski
   4. Poster from Dr. Kortulksi on naming conventions for NPS
2. Time stamps to jump to any portion of the episode you want to revisit
   1. Introduction-5:00-32:50
      • 06:30-25:16- Discussion CSFRE mission, history of NPS reports, and other available reports
      • 25:14- "Miscellaneous drugs: Furanyl UF17, medetomidine"
      • 28:15- Difference between GC/MS and LCqTOF
   2. Novel Benzodiazepines- 32:50
   3. Novel Opioids-43:00
   4. Stimulants and hallucinogens- 1:01:43
   5. Synthetic cannabinoids- 1:07:40
   6. Novel psychedelics markets, hemp products, phenibut, tianeptine, and kratom-1:25:12