Emergence of new psychoactive substance 2-fluorodeschloroketamine: Toxicology and urinary analysis in a cluster of patients exposed to ketamine and multiple analogues.
Forensic Science International May 7, 2020 M. H. Tang, Terence C. Li, C. Lai et al.
A new ketamine-like drug called 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2F-DCK) has been identified in patients, often alongside other similar substances. Between January and July 2019, 20 cases of confirmed 2F-DCK exposure were reported, with 19 involving at least one other ketamine-type drug, most commonly ketamine (90%), deschloroketamine (50%), and 2-oxo-PCE (45%). Six patients had four different ketamine-type drugs in their urine. Clinical effects were primarily neurological (impaired consciousness, agitation, abnormal behavior) and cardiovascular (hypertension, tachycardia); five patients experienced loss of consciousness or convulsions. All patients recovered with supportive care. This is the first clinical case series of 2F-DCK, highlighting the need for awareness of this expanding class of drugs and frequent co-ingestion of multiple analogues.