FUBINACA Powder refers to a family of potent, illicit synthetic cannabinoid substances that typically appear as a white or yellowish powder. These substances, such as AMB-FUBINACA (also known as FUB-AMB or MMB-FUBINACA) and ADB-FUBINACA, are primarily sold as designer drugs and have been linked to severe adverse health effects and numerous deaths.
Key Information
- Type of Substance: FUBINACA compounds are synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs). They are research chemicals that were originally developed by pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer for potential therapeutic uses (e.g., analgesics), but they were never approved for human use and were later abandoned.
- Appearance and Use: They are most often encountered in powder form and are dissolved in organic solvents to be sprayed onto plant material (marketed as “herbal incense” or “Spice/K2”) for smoking, or formulated into e-liquids for vaping. They can also be consumed orally in pills.
- Potency and Effects: These compounds are significantly more potent than Delta-9-THC (the main psychoactive component of cannabis) and act as full agonists at the body’s cannabinoid receptors, leading to more intense and unpredictable effects. Reported effects range from euphoria and relaxation to severe symptoms including seizures, psychosis, cardiotoxicity, kidney damage, and death.
- Legality: FUBINACA substances are illegal in many countries. In the United States, for example, AB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA are classified as Schedule I controlled substances by the DEA. They are internationally controlled under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971.
- Safety Risk: The powder form presents a high risk due to the lack of quality control in illicit manufacturing and the high potency of the substance, leading to a high risk of overdose from very small amounts (e.g., “hot spots” in adulterated products).
Common Forms of FUBINACA
- AMB-FUBINACA (FUB-AMB, MMB-FUBINACA): Associated with mass intoxication events and numerous deaths in New Zealand and the US. It typically appears as a white to yellowish powder.
- ADB-FUBINACA: Identified in herbal mixtures and pills, also associated with severe adverse reactions and deaths. It is often a white powder or crystalline solid.
- AB-FUBINACA: First identified in Japan, it is a white crystalline powder found in “Spice” products and has been linked to hospitalizations.
How potent is ADB Butinaca?
It is a potent CB1 agonist, with a binding affinity of 0.29nM for CB1 and 0.91nM for CB2, and an EC50 of 6.36 nM for CB1.
What is the drug ab fubinaca?
AB-FUBINACA (AMB-FUBINACA) is a psychoactive drug that acts as a potent agonist for the cannabinoid receptors, with Ki values of 0.9 nM at CB1 and 23.2 nM at CB2 and EC50 values of 1.8 nM at CB1 and 3.2 nM at CB2.
