Bio: Dr. Jones Chan is a Consultant Toxicologist of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China. He is also an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is currently the head of the Poison Treatment Centre and the Geriatric Division. His research interest includes management of patients with acute toxicology as well as geriatric problems. He has been the co-investigators of various research projects including risk assessment of medications, deprescribing in elderly patients, medication safety, as well as substance abuse and poisoning. He is currently a member of the Drinking Water Safety Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong SAR.　

Abstract: Psychedelics, commonly referred to as classical hallucinogens, constitute a subgroup within the diverse class of psychoactive drugs. These substances have the capacity to induce altered states of consciousness, characterised by modifications in perception, mood, and cognition. The effects of hallucinogens are mediated through the activation of 5-HT2A receptors. N-benzylphenethylamine (“NBOMe”) is a derivative of 2C-series of psychedelic phenethylamines, which possess a 2,5-dimethoxy substitution on the benzene ring. The introduction of an N-benzylmethoxy group has resulted in an increase in the potency of these compounds at 5-HT2 receptors. The use of NBOMe hallucinogens has been associated with numerous cases of toxicity, sometimes with fatal consequences, since these drugs became available on the market in 2010. Currently the UNODC Early Warning Advisory has reported the existence of 30 related substances within this group of new psychoactive substances. This talk reviews the structure-activity relationships, behavioral pharmacology, and metabolism of NBOMe hallucinogens, as well as the documented cases of toxicity and fatality associated with their use.