Drug Alert: 25B-NBOH being sold as powdered ‘LSD’ in Melbourne – Victoria July 2021

NEW DRUG ALERT FROM VICTORIAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

25B-NBOH (mis)sold as powdered ‘LSD’ in VICTORIA.

Associated with several recent hospitalisations and no other drugs were involved.

MORE INFORMATION:

25B-NBOH (also known as 2C-B-NBOH and NBOH-2C-B) is novel synthetic psychedelic substance of the phenethylamine chemical class that produces an array of visually-dominant and stimulating psychedelic effects when administered. It is a closely related analog of 25B-NBOMe and is reported to share most of its properties with the exception of a moderately reduced potency and a shorter duration.

25B-NBOH’s extreme potency means it should not be insufflated (snorted) as this method of administration has been associated with many deaths and hospitalizations with closely related members of the 25x-NBOMe series.

Anecdotal reports suggest that this substance may be difficult to use safely due to its highly sensitive dose-response and unpredictable effects.

Reference: VRSupplies Netherlands (2021)

HARM REDUCTION ADVICE

LSD in powder form is extremely rare. If you encounter something being described as LSD in powder form you should be highly suspicious that it is being misrepresented.

LSD and 25B-NBOH are extremely difficult to dose safely in powder form – the dose is too small to eyeball/weigh.

DO NOT SNORT. Risk is higher if snorted, injected, or used sublingually (under tongue). Swallowing may reduce your risk.

DANGERS

There is little data on 25B-NBOH, but it is closely related to NBOMes, which have been associated with deaths & hospitalisations in Victoria, Australia and worldwide.

It’s known to be highly potent with unpredictable effects.

We know that there is risk of serious harm including seizures, extreme agitation, acute kidney injury, hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature) and death.

You can find out a bit more about this substance here: https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/25B-NBOH

TESTING

Reagents will not adequately identify this risk. However they can provide some information:

If using an Ehrlich reagent, NBOHs will give NO COLOUR (vs LSD will give purple).

Marquis and Mecke reagents may return yellow, depending on concentration: https://drugsdata.org/view.php?id=5013