LONDON, United Kingdom – April 2015: Based on the recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) from 31 March, five methylphenidate-related NPS were placed under temporary control, following the issuance of a temporary class drug order (TCDO) under the section 2A(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (in force since 10 April 2015).
The substances banned include the following:
1) ethylphenidate
2) 3,4-dichloromethylphenidate (3,4-DCMP)
3) methylnaphthidate (HDMP-28)
4) isopropylphenidate (IPP, IPPD)
5) propylphenidate
These substances are reported to show chemical similarity to methylphenidate and are being misused as NPS. Methylphenidate is listed in Schedule II of the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In the United Kingdom, methylphenidate is a licensed stimulant pharmaceutical and is controlled as a Class B controlled drug. According to the ACMD, the methylphenidate-related NPS have psychoactive effects similar to the parent compound and can be expected to present similar risks to users.The TCDO expires after one year, or earlier, if the ACMD decides to place these substances under permanent control.
Two of these substances had been previously reported to the UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS (EWA), namely ethylphenidate and 3,4-DCMP. Since 2011 ethylphenidate has been reported to the EWA by 43 countries, which are mainly located in Europe (85 per cent). However, at the global level, the emergence of ethylphenidate has increased considerably over the past two years (84 per cent), compared to the previous years. The second NPS that is closely related to methylphenidate, 3,4-DCMP, has been reported to the EWA since 2013 by 12 countries, which are also mainly located in Europe (88 per cent).
Figure 1 Structures of methylphenidate-related compounds: (a) methylphenidate, (b) ethylphenidate, (c) isopropylphenidate, (d) 3,4-dichloromethylphenidate, (e) methylnaphthidate
For further information please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/420983/TCDO_methylphenidate_NPS.pdf
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1027/pdfs/uksi_20151027_en.pdf