Council investigating whether new synthetic drug here

The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) has launched an investigation into the possible presence here of two synthetic drugs first discovered in Argentina, amid rising concerns over their potential impact on youth and public safety.

NCSA Deputy Manager Troy Wickham made this revelation on Wednesday during an early warning system and new psychoactive substances workshop held at Courtyard Marriott.

Wickham said the council recently received a report about two new psychoactive substances — 5-MeO-MiPT combined with Xylazine and 5-MeO-MiPT combined with Xilacina — both with the street name ‘Moxy’ and the council was on high alert.

“Information coming out of CICAD [Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission], their arm of the early warning system, disseminated two reports [we received] last week about two new synthetic drugs that have been discovered in Argentina. The hemisphere is actively investigating these two new psychoactive substances.

“If these substances are discovered in one part of the hemisphere they are likely to be discovered in other areas,” he said. “It is important for us to stay abreast of any new psychoactive substances that enter into the market, especially throughout the hemisphere. As you know, drugs are transhipped throughout the region and it is important that we stay on the cutting edge as it relates to psychoactive substances entering the local [market] and the region. So we are currently investigating these drugs and hopefully, they’re not on island.”

NCSA Chairman Hadford Howell (left) engaging Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Yvette Goddard. (SZB)

Wickham added that new psychoactive substances were being discovered at an alarming rate and he was deeply concerned about the potential impacts of these drugs on young people.

“Since the launch of the early warning system in 2019, we have issued two alerts as it relates to new psychoactive substances on the market; those alerts came in 2023. However, since then, there have been several anecdotal reports of new psychoactive substances on island. We have been hearing reports of persons using ‘Molly’ using various synthetic cannabinoids; we are actively investigating that as well. We know that any substance that can alter how your mind operates can lead to adverse behaviours and violence is one.

“I know recently we have been seeing an upsurge in violent crimes across the island. I cannot say it is directly linked to using these substances however, I can say that the alerts we had issued before, as it relates to synthetic cannabinoids and methamphetamine as well as ecstasy, one of the adverse effects of using those substances is violent behaviour, “ he added

The NCSA deputy manager said the agency was working with a number of government programmes, including the National Peace Programme, to target young people and seek to uplift their lives.  

Wickham said: “Barbados Drug Information Network reports have consistently shown us that young males, persons under 40, are negatively impacted by the use of substances, whether coming into contact with the criminal justice system or presenting themselves for treatment. We have also recognised that in some instances, as it relates to screening, positive tests have increased over the last few years and that is a concern for us. This is pertaining to nanogrammes and the TSE [transmissible spongiform encephalopathy] levels. We cannot say it is linked to them using more cannabis or [perhaps], the strength of the cannabis has increased and that is something we will be investigating in the near future as well with the help of the Barbados Forensic Science Centre. Testing is very important and it is important that we identify the chemicals in these substances which cause the psychoactive effects for persons using them.”

The workshop was held to engage first responders such as law enforcement personnel and those involved in treating people who had been adversely affected by psychoactive substances.

In his remarks, NCSA Chairman Hadford Howell said synthetic substances were of major concern for first responders because the compounds could be both harmful to consume and handle. Using an example, he said methamphetamine could be produced at home or in clandestine labs and is associated with explosions, fires, the release of cancer-causing substances and the disposal of toxic waste.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Yvette Goddard said illegal substances posed a serious public health threat and what made new psychoactive substances even more dangerous was the fact that they were not prohibited by conventions on international narcotics. (SZB)