25I-NBOMe related death in Australia: a case report

Abstract

We present a toxicologically confirmed 25I-NBOMe related death from Australia. 25I-NBOMe is a synthetic new psychoactive substance (NPS), which is a derivative of the 2C-X series of phenethylamines. NBOMe compounds have hallucinogenic and stimulant properties and are potent agonists of the human 5HT2A receptor. They have been associated with severe toxicity and fatalities. No case reports on deaths related to 25I-NBOMe toxicity from Australia have been published thus far. Very limited toxicological data is available in the current literature. The decedent in the presented case had a post mortem aortic non-preserved blood concentration of 25I-NBOMe of approximately 28 μg/L, a concentration that appears to be much higher than those previously reported in non-fatal cases of toxicity and analytically confirmed 25I-NBOMe related fatalities. The publication of new data is essential in improving knowledge and awareness amongst the forensic community regarding emerging psychoactive substances, such as the NBOMe compounds.

Keywords: 25I-NBOMe; Fatality; NBOMe; NPS.