After a recent encounter with the powerful psychedelic drug 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (also known as DOC), I felt the need to get the drugs information out to law enforcement agencies regarding its use.
Incident
On February 8, 2013, I responded to a residential dorm in reference to the odor of marijuana. During a consent search, a piece of aluminum foil was located which contained two pieces of blotter paper which is consistent with the use of LSD. The suspect advised the blotter paper contained LSD and also advised he was currently under the influence of LSD. A field test kit was performed with a negative result for LSD. The pieces of blotter paper were seized and sent to a lab for analysis. On April 16, 2013, I received the lab analysis which identified the drug as 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine(DOC).
DOC is a powerful psychedelic drug similar to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB) which is often mistaken to be LSD. This is particularly dangerous, as DOC is not known to have the safety profile of LSD. DOB behaves almost identically to LSD but last 3-6 times longer than LSD. DOC is similar to DOB but exhibits full-range visual, audio, physical, and mental effects.
Effects
Unlike simple amphetamines, DOC is considered a chemical that influences cognitive and perception processes of the brain. The strongest supposed effects include open and closed eye visuals, increased awareness of sound and movement, and euphoria. There have been reports of people having adverse effects from DOC causing erratic behavior. Onset of the drug is 1–3 hours, peak and plateau at 4–8 hours, and a gradual come down with residual stimulation at 9-20 hours. The after effects can last well into the next day.
Dangers
The toxicity of DOC is not known, but nausea, chest pains, and vasoconstriction have been reported by some users. It can be particularly unsafe, in comparison to LSD, for those suffering from hypertension, as amphetamine compounds are known to cause sharp increases in systolic blood pressure. There has been at least one case of anion gap metabolic acidosis with respiratory failure requiring care in an intensive care unit following ingestion of the drug, as well as a fatality via respiratory depression currently awaiting autopsy to check for a possible drug combination interaction.
Legality
DOC is an unscheduled drug in the United States. The Department of Justice considers it to be an analogue of DOB and, as such, sales for human consumption or possession with the intent to ingest could be prosecuted under the Federal Analogue Act. In the United States, the analogues DMA, DOB, and DOM are Schedule I controlled substances. DOC is scheduled in many other countries including Australia, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Sweden, and Canada.
Federal Analogue Act
A section of the United States Controlled Substances Act passed in 1986. The act allows any chemical “substantially similar” to a controlled substance listed in Schedule I and II to be treated as if it were also listed in those schedules, but only if intended for human consumption.
Please circulate this information as this drug may be encountered and the side effects are not widely known.