▼ Summary
– A new and unexpected adulterant, BTMPS, has rapidly appeared in US illicit drugs, unlike previous gradual introductions of sedatives like xylazine and medetomidine.
– BTMPS is a chemical used in plastics and coatings as a light stabilizer, with no known psychoactive effects on humans.
– Researchers are unsure why BTMPS is being added to drugs or its impact, as it has never been tested for human use.
– BTMPS was first detected in June 2024 in Portland and Philadelphia but spread to nearly every state by September.
– The rapid and widespread emergence of BTMPS in illicit drugs was documented in a JAMA Internal Medicine study.
A surprising and concerning trend has emerged in the illicit drug market, with an unexpected plastic additive now contaminating street drugs across the United States. Unlike previous adulterants like xylazine or medetomidine, this chemical serves no apparent purpose in drug formulations, it doesn’t enhance psychoactive effects or alter drug potency. Instead, it’s a compound typically used to protect plastics from sunlight damage, raising alarming questions about why it’s suddenly appearing in substances like fentanyl.
The substance in question, bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate (BTMPS), belongs to a class of industrial chemicals known as hindered amine light stabilizers. Manufacturers commonly add it to plastics, paints, and adhesives to prevent degradation from UV exposure. What makes its presence in street drugs so baffling is that it has no known physiological effects on humans, it was never meant for ingestion or medical use.
Despite this, BTMPS has spread through the drug supply with startling speed. According to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the chemical first appeared in drug samples from Portland and Philadelphia in mid-2024. Within months, testing revealed its presence in nearly every state where samples were analyzed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The rapid nationwide infiltration suggests a coordinated or widespread contamination source, though researchers remain uncertain about the motive behind its inclusion.
The health implications of BTMPS exposure are unknown, adding another layer of risk to an already dangerous illicit drug market. Unlike adulterants that amplify sedation or euphoria, this chemical serves no clear purpose, leaving experts scrambling to understand its role, and its potential dangers, in an unregulated and unpredictable drug supply.
(Source: Ars Technica)
