Using Internet Snapshot Surveys to Enhance Our Understanding of the Availability of the Novel Psychoactive Substance Alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT)

Abstract

Alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT) is a novel psychoactive substance available over the Internet. This study used European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Internet snapshot methodology to investigate the availability and cost of AMT in March/October 2012. From March to October 2012, there was a decrease in the number of Internet sites selling AMT (44 to 31). AMT powder was cheaper in “bulk” (100 g) than in “recreational-user” (100 mg) quantities, and there was a decrease in price. Data from Internet snapshot surveys complement and allow triangulation of data from other sources to build a more detailed picture on availability and use of novel psychoactive substances.

RÉSUMÉ

L'Alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT) est une nouvelle substance psychoactive disponible sur Internet. Cette étude a utilisé la méthodologie de ‘photo instantanée de sites internet’, développée par l'Observatoire Européen des Drogues et des Toxicomanies pour analyser la disponibilité et le prix de l'AMT de mars à octobre 2012. Durant cette période, le nombre de sites internet vendant de l'AMT a diminué. L'AMT sous forme de poudre était vendue moins chère ‘en gros’ (100 gr) qu'en quantité destinée à un usage récréatif (100 mg), et les prix ont diminué. Les données des études de ‘photo instantanée de sites internet’ complètent et permettent de trianguler les données provenant d'autres sources et permettent d'obtenir une image plus précise de la disponibilité et de l'usage des nouvelles substances psychoactives.

RESUMEN

Alfa-metiltriptamina (AMT) es una nueva substancia psicoactiva que se puede adquirir a través de internet. Este estudio hizo uso del procedimiento de rastreo rápido en internet establecido por el Observatorio Europeo de las Drogas y las Toxicomanías (OEDT) a fin de investigar la disponibilidad y coste de Alfa-metiltriptamina en marzo y en octubre del 2012. Desde marzo a octubre del 2012 se apreció un descenso en el número de sitios en internet en que se vendía AMT (de 44 a 31). AMT en polvo era mas barata en porciones “al por mayor” (100 g) que en preparados para los “consumidores recreativos” (100 mg), y se encontró un descenso en el precio. Estos datos de investigaciones rápidas realizadas en internet complementan y permiten una triangulación de datos de otras fuentes, lo que conduce a dibujar un cuadro más detallado sobre la disponibilidad y uso de las nuevas substancias psicoactivas.

Keywords :

• recreational drug
• tryptamine
• Internet
• availability

THE AUTHORS

David Michael Wood, MD, MRCP (UK), FRCP, FACMT, FBPharmacolS, is a Consultant Physician and Clinical Toxicologist at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, United Kingdom. He is also a Senior Lecturer at King's College London. He has a clinical, research, and academic interest in the epidemiology of use and acute harms (toxicity) associated with the use of classical recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and review articles, the majority focused on these specific interests. He is a coopted member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) novel psychoactive working group and the polysubstance working group. He has acted as an expert adviser to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction (EMCDDA), including jointly leading the risk assessment for 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and 4-methylamphetamine (4-MA).

Paul Ivor Dargan, FRCPE, FACMT, FAACT, is a Consultant Physician and Clinical Toxicologist and the Clinical Director at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, United Kingdom. He is also a Reader in Toxicology at King's College London. He has an active research and teaching program with a focus on recreational drug toxicity, self-poisoning, and heavy metal toxicity. He has published more than 170 peer-reviewed papers and numerous book chapters. He sits on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) and is an expert adviser to a number of other bodies including the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs Addiction (EMCDDA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).