Drugs and Chemicals of Concern

4-Bromo-2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamine
(Street Names:  2C-B, Nexus, 2’s, Toonies, Bromo, Spectrum, Venus)

June 2009
DEA/OD/ODE

Introduction:
4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B, 4-bromo-2,5-DMPEA) is a synthetic schedule I hallucinogen.  It is abused for its hallucinogenic effects primarily as a club drug in the rave culture and “circuit” party scene.

Licit Uses:
2C-B has no approved medical uses in the United States.

Chemistry and Pharmacology:
4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine is closely related to the phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen 1-(4-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOB) and is referred to as alpha-desmethyl DOB.  2C-B produces effects similar to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and DOB.  2C-B displays high affinity for central serotonin receptors.  2C-B produces dose dependent  psychoactive effects.  Threshold effects are noted at approximately 4 mg of an oral dose; the user becomes passive and relaxed and is aware of an integration of sensory perception with emotional states.  There is euphoria with increased body awareness and enhanced receptiveness of visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile sensation.  Oral doses of 8 to 10 mg produce stimulant effects and cause a full intoxicated state.  Doses in the range of 20 to 40 mg produce LSD-like hallucinations.  Doses greater than 50 mg have produced extremely fearful hallucinations and morbid delusions.  Onset of subjective effects following 2C-B ingestion is between 20 to 30 minutes with peak effects occurring at 1.5 to 2 hours.  Effects of 2C-B can last up to 8 hours.

Radioimmunoassay detection system that is commonly used for testing amphetamine and hallucinogens does not detect 2C-B.  In the Marquis Reagent Field Test-902, 2C-B produces a bright green color.  2C-B is the only known drug to produce a bright green color when using this test.

Illicit Uses:
2C-B is abused for its hallucinogenic effects.  2C-B is abused orally in tablet or capsule forms or snorted in its powder form.  The drug has been misrepresented by distributors and sold as other hallucinogens such as MDMA and LSD.  Some user’s abuse 2C-B in combination with LSD (referred to as a “banana split”) or MDMA (called a “party pack”).

User Population:
2C-B is used by the same population as those using “Ecstasy” and other club drugs, high school and college students, and other young adults who frequent “rave” or “techno” parties.

Illicit Distribution:
2C-B is distributed as tablets, capsules or in powder form.  Usually sold as MDMA, a single dosage unit of 2C-B typically sells for $10 to $30 per tablet.  The illicit source of 2C-B currently available on the street has not been identified by DEA.  Prior to its control, DEA seized both clandestine laboratories and illicit “repacking shops.”  As the name implies, these shops would repackage and reformulate the doses of the tablets prior to illicit sales.

According to the System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence (STRIDE) data, the first recorded submission by law enforcement to DEA forensic laboratories of a drug exhibit containing 2C-B occurred in 1986.     

The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) database reports an increase of 2C-B items/exhibits submitted to federal, state and local forensic laboratories, from 9 in 2004 to 49 in 2008.
According to NFLIS, 2C-B has been seized in a number of states including Arkansas, Alabama, California, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. 

Control Status:
The Drug Enforcement Administration placed 2C-B in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).