707
Views
10
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Clinical Research

Synthetic cannabis: adverse events reported to the New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon
Pages 472-479 | Received 18 May 2020, Accepted 18 Sep 2020, Published online: 06 Nov 2020

References

  • Longworth M, Banister SD, Mack JB, et al. The 2-alkyl-2H-indazole regioisomers of synthetic cannabinoids AB-CHMINACA, AB-FUBINACA, AB-PINACA, and 5F-AB-PINACA are possible manufacturing impurities with cannabimimetic activities. Forensic Toxicol. 2016;34:286–303.
  • Wouters E, Walraed J, Robertson MJ, et al. Assessment of biased agonism among distinct synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist scaffolds. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2020;3:285–295.
  • Zawilska JB. “Legal highs” – new players in the old drama. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2011;4:122–130.
  • Gamage TF, Farquhar CE, Lefever TW, et al. Molecular and behavioral pharmacological characterization of abused synthetic cannabinoids MMB- and MDMB-FUBINACA, MN-18, NNEI, CUMYL-PICA, and 5-Fluoro-CUMYL-PICA. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2018;365:437–446.
  • Banister SD, Moir M, Stuart J, et al. Pharmacology of indole and indazole synthetic cannabinoid designer drugs ab-fubinaca, adb-fubinaca, ab-pinaca, adb-pinaca, 5f-ab-pinaca, 5f-adb-pinaca, adbica, and 5f-adbica. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2015;6:1546–1559.
  • Theunissen EL, Hutten NR, Mason NL, et al. Neurocognition and subjective experience following acute doses of the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018: a phase 1, placebo-controlled, pilot study. Br J Pharmacol. 2018;175:18–28.
  • Theunissen EL, Hutten NR, Mason NL, et al. Neurocognition and subjective experience following acute doses of the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018: responders versus nonresponders. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2019;4:51–61.
  • Kassai S, Pintér JN, Rácz J, et al. Assessing the experience of using synthetic cannabinoids by means of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Harm Reduct J. 2017;14:9.
  • Cohen K, Weinstein AM. Synthetic and non-synthetic cannabinoid drugs and their adverse effects – a review from public health prospective. Front Public Health. 2018;6:162.
  • Ellison-Loschmann L, Pearce N. Improving access to health care among New Zealand’s Maori population. Am J Public Health. 2006;96:612–617.
  • MacFarlane V, Christie G. Synthetic cannabinoid withdrawal: a new demand on detoxification services. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2015;34:147–153.
  • Barratt MJ, Cakic V, Lenton S. Patterns of synthetic cannabinoid use in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2013;32:141–146.
  • Sutherland R, Bruno R, Peacock A, et al. Motivations for new psychoactive substance use among regular psychostimulant users in Australia. Int J Drug Policy. 2017;43:23–32.
  • Every-Palmer S. Synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 and psychosis: an explorative study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011;117:152–157.
  • Brown K. New Zealand bans synthetic cannabinoids. BMJ. 2011;343:d5395.
  • Wilkins C, Sheridan J, Adams P, et al. The new psychoactive substances regime in New Zealand: a different approach to regulation. J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2013;27:584–589.
  • Wilkins C. The interim regulated legal market for NPS (‘legal high’) products in New Zealand: the impact of new retail restrictions and product licensing. Drug Test Anal. 2014;6:868–875.
  • New Zealand Parliament. Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. 2013 [cited 2019 Nov 29]. Available from: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2013/0053/20.0/DLM5042921.html
  • Hammersley R. Dangers of banning spice and the synthetic cannabinoid agonists. Addiction. 2010;105:373.
  • Wilkins C. A critical first assessment of the new pre-market approval regime for new psychoactive substances (NPS) in New Zealand. Addiction. 2014;109:1580–1586.
  • Rizwan SB, Vernall AJ. To prohibit or regulate psychoactive substances: has New Zealand got the right approach? BMJ. 2017;356:j1195.
  • Dunne P. Drug law reversing onus of proof on way. 2012 [2019 Nov 20]. Available from: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/drug-law-reversing-onus-proof-way
  • Rychert M, Wilkins C, Witten K. Issues with monitoring the safety of psychoactive products under a legal regulated market for new psychoactive substances (‘legal highs’) in New Zealand. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2017;36:589–596.
  • Atmore B. Reporting adverse effects from psychoactive substances. Prescriber Update. 2013;34:40–41.
  • Rychert M, Wilkins C. A critical analysis of the implementation of a legal regulated market for new psychoactive substances (“legal highs”) in New Zealand. Int J Drug Policy. 2018;55:88–94.
  • New Zealand Parliament. Psychoactive Substances Amendment Act 2014. 2014 [cited 2019 Nov 29]. Available from: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2014/0024/latest/whole.html#DLM6099308
  • Rychert M, Wilkins C. The challenge of a ban on animal testing for the development of a regulated legal market for new psychoactive substances (NPS) (‘legal highs’) in New Zealand: Issues and options for resolution. Int J Drug Policy. 2015;26:1273–1278.
  • Somerville R, Hassan V, Kolbe E, et al. The identification and quantification of synthetic cannabinoids seized in New Zealand in 2017. Forensic Sci Int. 2019;300:19–27.
  • Kunac DL, Harrison-Woolrych M, Tatley MV. Pharmacovigilance in New Zealand: the role of the New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre in facilitating safer medicines use. N Z Med J. 2008;121:76–89.
  • Uppsala Monitoring Centre. The use of the WHO-UMC system for standardised case causality assessment. 2018. Available from: https://www.who-umc.org/media/164200/who-umc-causality-assessment_new-logo.pdf
  • Ministry of Health. Interim product approvals. 2018 [2020 Jan 10]. Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/psychoactive-substances-regulation/interim-product-approvals
  • Glue P, Courts J, MacDonald M, et al. Implementation of the 2013 Psychoactive Substances Act and mental health harms from synthetic cannabinoids. NZ Med J. 2015;128:15–18.
  • Glue P, Courts J, Gray A, et al. Influence of law changes affecting synthetic cannabinoid availability and frequency of hospital presentations: 4-year national survey. NZ Med J. 2016;129:37–40.
  • Rychert M, Wilkins C, Parker K, et al. Are government-approved products containing new psychoactive substances perceived to be safer and more socially acceptable than alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs? Findings from a survey of police arrestees in New Zealand. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2018;37:406–413.
  • Morrow PL. An outbreak of deaths associated with AMB-Fubinaca in Auckland, New Zealand. Paper presented at: RCPA: NZ ASM 2019 & Forensic Interim Meeting; 2019 Nov 17; Queenstown, New Zealand.
  • Ministry of Health. Cannabis use 2012/13. 2013 [2020 Jan 22]. Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/cannabis-use-2012-13-new-zealand-health-survey
  • Courts J, Maskill V, Gray A, et al. Signs and symptoms associated with synthetic cannabinoid toxicity: systematic review. Australas Psychiatry. 2016;24:598–601.
  • Papanti D, Schifano F, Botteon G, et al. “Spiceophrenia”: a systematic overview of “spice”-related psychopathological issues and a case report. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2013;28:379–389.
  • Vandrey R, Dunn KE, Fry JA, et al. A survey study to characterize use of Spice products (synthetic cannabinoids). Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012;120:238–241.
  • Stats NZ. 2013. Census ethnic group profiles: Māori. 2013 [cited 2020 Jan 29]. Available from: http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/ethnic-profiles.aspx?request_value=24705&parent_id=24704&tabname=#24705
  • Akram H, Mokrysz C, Curran HV. What are the psychological effects of using synthetic cannabinoids? A systematic review. J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2019;33:271–283.
  • Patton AL, Chimalakonda KC, Moran CL, et al. K2 toxicity: fatal case of psychiatric complications following AM2201 exposure. J Forensic Sci. 2013;58:1676–1680.
  • Shanks KG, Dahn T, Terrell AR. Detection of JWH-018 and JWH-073 by UPLC-MS-MS in postmortem whole blood casework. J Anal Toxicol. 2012;36:145–152.
  • Hurst D, Loeffler G, McLay R. Psychosis associated with synthetic cannabinoid agonists: a case series. Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168:1119–1119.
  • Hermanns‐Clausen M, Kneisel S, Szabo B, et al. Acute toxicity due to the confirmed consumption of synthetic cannabinoids: clinical and laboratory findings. Addiction. 2013;108:534–544.
  • Müller H, Sperling W, Köhrmann M, et al. The synthetic cannabinoid Spice as a trigger for an acute exacerbation of cannabis induced recurrent psychotic episodes. Schizophr Res. 2010;118:309–310.
  • Tung C, Chiang T, Lam M. Acute mental disturbance caused by synthetic cannabinoid: a potential emerging substance of abuse in Hong Kong. East Asian Arch Psychiatry. 2012;22:31–33.
  • Castaneto MS, Gorelick DA, Desrosiers NA, et al. Synthetic cannabinoids: epidemiology, pharmacodynamics, and clinical implications. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014;144:12–41.
  • Fattore L. Synthetic cannabinoids – further evidence supporting the relationship between cannabinoids and psychosis. Biol Psychiatry. 2016;79:539–548.
  • Roberto AJ, Lorenzo A, Li KJ, et al. First-episode of synthetic cannabinoid-induced psychosis in a young adult, successfully managed with hospitalization and risperidone. Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016;2016:7257489.
  • Finlay DB, Manning JJ, Ibsen MS, et al. Do toxic synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists have signature in vitro activity profiles? A case study of AMB-FUBINACA. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2019;10:4350–4360.
  • van Amsterdam J, Brunt T, van den Brink W. The adverse health effects of synthetic cannabinoids with emphasis on psychosis-like effects. J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2015;29:254–263.
  • Leweke F, Piomelli D, Pahlisch F, et al. Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry. 2012;2:e94.
  • Englund A, Morrison PD, Nottage J, et al. Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment. J Psychopharmacol. 2013;27:19–27.
  • Pertwee R. The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin. Br J Pharmacol. 2008;153:199–215.
  • Fantegrossi WE, Wilson CD, Berquist MD. Pro-psychotic effects of synthetic cannabinoids: interactions with central dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate systems. Drug Metab Rev. 2018;50:65–73.
  • Tait RJ, Caldicott D, Mountain D, et al. A systematic review of adverse events arising from the use of synthetic cannabinoids and their associated treatment. Clin Toxicol. 2016;54:1–13.
  • Hoyte CO, Jacob J, Monte AA, et al. A characterization of synthetic cannabinoid exposures reported to the National Poison Data System in 2010. Ann Emerg Med. 2012;60:435–438.
  • Zaleta S, Kumar P, Miller S. Chest pain, troponin rise, and ST-elevation in an adolescent boy following the use of the synthetic cannabis product K2. Ann Pediatr Cardiol. 2016;9:79–81.
  • Young AC, Schwarz E, Medina G, et al. Cardiotoxicity associated with the synthetic cannabinoid, K9, with laboratory confirmation. Am J Emerg Med. 2012;30:1320.e5–1320.e7.
  • Zarifi C, Vyas S. Spice-y kidney failure: a case report and systematic review of acute kidney injury attributable to the use of synthetic cannabis. Perm J. 2017;21:16–160.
  • Jinwala FN, Gupta M. Synthetic cannabis and respiratory depression. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2012;22:459–462.
  • Allen J, De Moore G, Heddle R, et al. Cannabinoid hyperemesis: cyclical hyperemesis in association with chronic cannabis abuse. Gut. 2004;53:1566–1570.
  • Darmani NA. Cannabinoid-induced hyperemesis: a conundrum – from clinical recognition to basic science mechanisms. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010;3:2163–2177.
  • Cooper ZD. Adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoids: management of acute toxicity and withdrawal. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18:52.
  • Nacca N, Vatti D, Sullivan R, et al. The synthetic cannabinoid withdrawal syndrome. J Addict Med. 2013;7:296–298.
  • Schlossarek S, Kempkensteffen J, Reimer J, et al. Psychosocial determinants of cannabis dependence: a systematic review of the literature. Eur Addict Res. 2016;22:131–144.
  • Lichtman AH, Martin BR. Marijuana withdrawal syndrome in the animal model. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;42:20S–27S.
  • Budney AJ, Hughes JR, Moore BA, et al. Review of the validity and significance of cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Am J Psychiatry. 2004;161:1967–1977.
  • Martin BR, Sim-Selley LJ, Selley DE. Signaling pathways involved in the development of cannabinoid tolerance. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2004;25:325–330.
  • Ferguson SS, Caron MG, editors. G protein-coupled receptor adaptation mechanisms. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 1998;9:119–127.
  • Krupnick JG, Benovic JL. The role of receptor kinases and arrestins in G protein-coupled receptor regulation. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 1998;38:289–319.
  • Hsieh C, Brown S, Derleth C, et al. Internalization and recycling of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. J Neurochem. 1999;73:493–501.
  • Grimsey NL, Graham ES, Dragunow M, et al. Cannabinoid receptor 1 trafficking and the role of the intracellular pool: implications for therapeutics. Biochem Pharmacol. 2010;80:1050–1062.
  • Sachdev S, Banister SD, Santiago M, et al. Differential activation of G protein‐mediated signaling by synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020;8:e00566.
  • Zanda MT, Fattore L. Old and new synthetic cannabinoids: lessons from animal models. Drug Metab Rev. 2018;50:54–64.
  • Brents LK, Prather PL. The K2/Spice phenomenon: emergence, identification, legislation and metabolic characterization of synthetic cannabinoids in herbal incense products. Drug Metab Rev. 2014;46:72–85.
  • Hazell L, Shakir SA. Under-reporting of adverse drug reactions: a systematic review. Drug Saf. 2006;29:385–396.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.