Table 1.
History, Cause of Death and Toxicology, 58 Non-Traumatic Deaths Associated with AMB-FUBINACA and pFPP, May 2017- February 2019, Auckland, NZ.
| Brief History of Circumstances of Death | Primary COD2 at Autopsy | Contributory COD at Autopsy | AMB-FUB3 | AMB-FUB acid (ng/mL) | pfPP4 (ng/mL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Witnessed sudden collapse. Initially thought to be sleeping. CPR initiated by ambulance. Died in ICU after 2 days. | Hypoxic Encephalopathy (due to AMB-FUB Toxicity) | — | NT5 | C6 | NT |
| Found dead in foetal position between bed and bicycle in room. | Positional Asphyxia due to Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND7 | 45 | <4 |
| Found collapsed in car park. | Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis | AMB-FUB Toxicity | C | 680 | 27 |
| Found unresponsive. Intoxicated associate gave history of syn can8 use prior to collapse. Brain death declared after 2 days in ICU. | Hypoxic Encephalopathy (due to AMB-FUB Toxicity) | Cardiac Hypertrophy | ND | 70 | ND |
| Smoked syn can with family member, who passed out and awoke to find him unresponsive. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 690 | 51 |
| Drinking and smoking syn can in doorway on street, became unresponsive. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis | ND | 48 | ND |
| Found collapsed in bedroom at home. Evidence of sudden fall. | Morbid Obesity | — | ND | 280 | ND |
| Found by police apparently sleeping on steps of church during routine patrol. | HASCVD9 | AMB-FUB Toxicity | ND | 220 | ND |
| Found dead in bed, lying on face with vomitus. History of nausea and vomiting for several days. | Undetermined | — | ND | 250 | 10 |
| Found slumped on kitchen floor. Noted earlier to be severely intoxicated and vomited in friend's room. | Undetermined | — | ND | 150 | ND |
| Drinking and smoking with friends, passed out on floor. After about 40 min, noted not breathing. CPR initiated by ambulance. Brain dead in ICU after 1 day. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 110 | ND |
| Had been using syn can. Subsequently found "blue," not breathing. CPR initiated by ambulance. Died in ICU. Previous admission for "seizure" due to syn can use. | Hypoxic Encephalopathy (due to AMB-FUB Toxicity) | HASCVD; Morbid Obesity | ND | 160 | ND |
| Smoking syn can with flat mate, both passed out about half hour later. Subsequently found unresponsive after 1–2 h. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Morbid Obesity | ND | C | ND |
| Found dead on floor of room. Known to smoke syn can. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | <45 | ND |
| Smoking syn can on street with girlfriend (GF) who passed out. GF was awakened by ambulance responding to call from bystanders who found both unresponsive. | Drug (Meth10), Alcohol, and AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | C | NT |
| Found on bathroom floor after having gone for shower earlier. Earlier in day had apparently smoked syn can. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Obesity related Heart Disease | ND | 90 | 6 |
| Found collapsed on toilet. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Obesity related Heart Disease | I | <45 | <4 |
| Found dead on kitchen floor in puddle of water from overflowing sink. Unknown postmortem interval: last seen alive about 2 weeks earlier, but not decomposed. | Hypothermia | Multiple Drug (Morphine, AMB-FUB, Diazepam, Zopiclone, Haloperidol, Citalopram) Toxicity | ND | C | NT |
| Found in crouching position, propped up on knees, creamy substance coming from mouth and nose. | Undetermined | AMB-FUBINACA Toxicity | ND | C | NT |
| Found by flat mates on floor in his own vomitus. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Cardiomyopathy; Renal Failure | ND | 780 | 44 |
| Smoked syn can with another, both fell asleep. Companion awoke to find victim dead. ED admission for syn can about 7 months earlier. | Alcohol and Drug (AMB-FUB, Zopiclone) Toxicity | — | C | 120 | 5 |
| Found dead by flat mates. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 120 | 4 |
| Family member heard "crash" and came out to find victim collapsed on porch at home. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | C | C | NT |
| Had been drinking at home. Joined others outside and collapsed after smoking cone of syn can. Found by police, companions severely intoxicated. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | I | 100 | ND |
| Had been drinking and consuming drugs with compatriots throughout the day, found unresponsive on floor. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 150 | 6 |
| Found dead on couch in room where he had been sleeping. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 720 | ND |
| Several years’ history of syn can addiction, recent release from rehab. Relapsed the night before found unresponsive at home. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Obesity related Heart Disease | ND | 430 | 10 |
| Drinking heavily, collapsed onto floor, unresponsive but breathing. Found dead in same position later that day. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Alcohol Intoxication; Complications of Chronic Alcohol Abuse | ND | C | NT |
| Found dead lying on face in bed in same position as seen about 2 h earlier. Too intoxicated to go to work the day before. | AMB-FUB and Alcohol Toxicity | Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis | ND | 70 | <4 |
| Developed seizure about 2 min after smoking syn can, became unresponsive, snoring. About an hour later found not breathing. | AMB-FUB and Meth Toxicity | — | ND | 140 | ND |
| Found decomposed on bed. Last seen alive about 2 weeks earlier, drug paraphernalia in room. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 110 | ND |
| Found dead and decomposed on bed in barricaded apartment. Had not been seen for 10 days and had not responded to knock on door 2 days earlier. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Fatty Liver | ND | C | NT |
| Smoked syn can cigarette, started seizing and vomited. Put in recovery position, started snoring, then stopped breathing and turned blue. | Drug (AMB-FUB, Zuclopenthixol) Toxicity | — | ND | 100 | ND |
| Began "acting strange" after smoking syn can with friend. Seizure and became unresponsive after a second hit. Subsequently found unresponsive, and friend "asleep". | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | C | NT |
| Found slumped over the wheel at rural parking spot. Bystanders initiated CPR. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | C | NT |
| Found deceased in stairwell of car park. Smoking paraphernalia nearby. | Undetermined | AMB-FUB Toxicity; Dilated Cardiomyopathy | ND | 70 | ND |
| Had been smoking syn can for two days, blacked out and vomited. Brought around and moved to chair where he continued smoking. Subsequently found unresponsive in chair, head over knees. | Undetermined | AMB FUBINACA Toxicity; Atherosclerosis; Dilated Cardiomyopathy | C | 230 | 41 |
| Found dead wrapped in blanket near back stair of unoccupied residence frequented by homeless people. | AMB-FUBINACA Toxicity | — | C | 470 | 30 |
| Bystanders noticed victim lying on sidewalk with two companions standing nearby. Bystanders called ambulance and initiated CPR. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | 160 | ND |
| Arrived at friend's house, beer in hand, apparently intoxicated. Smoked syn can with friend who went to sleep. Friend awakened shortly afterwards to find victim unresponsive sitting on floor leaning against refrigerator | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | I | 140 | ND |
| Found slumped in bedroom in kneeling position, had not been seen for over 24 h. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | C | NT |
| Found unresponsive by passers by who called ambulance, CPR for cardiac arrest of no avail. History of ischaemic heart disease. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Myocarditis; HASCVD | I | 350 | 20 |
| Smoked syn can with friends. All fell asleep. When friends awoke in the am, victim was dead in chair | Obesity related Heart Disease | AMB-FUB Toxicity | ND | 50 | ND |
| Broke into car with mate and forced driver to take them to minimart. On return trip decedent started seizing in back seat of car. Subsequently pulled from car. Ambulance called. CPR of no avail. According to driver, had smoked leafy material in car with mate. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Morbid Obesity; HASCVD | I | 240 | ND |
| Found unresponsive. Had been seen heavily intoxicated in same room earlier, sleeping with others who had been smoking sync can. | AMB-FUB Toxicity | Alcohol Intoxication; HASCVD | ND | C | NT |
| Found dead, partway between bed and a space heater by wall in unusual position. | Positional Asphyxia due to AMB-FUB Toxicity | — | ND | <45 | ND |
| Homeless man found dead on street with his bedding, etc., when checked on by friend. Bottles of alcohol and syn can with body. History of seizures often attributed to alcohol withdrawal. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | Coronary Artery High Takeoff | I | C | NT |
| Found collapsed and unresponsive on wash house floor, after loud banging noise and sounds of vomiting. Initially thought to be asleep, checked periodically and emergency services called when victim felt cold. | Undetermined | — | C | C | NT |
| Found dead. Had been sleeping outside on street and consuming syn can. | Synthetic Cannabinoid Toxicity (AMB-FUB, 5F-ADB, 5F-MDMB PICA acid) | HASCVD | ND | <45 | ND |
| Found dead in bed in am. Had been heard snoring in middle of the night. Had slept most of day before death. | Stroke | HASCVD; AMB-FUB Toxicity | ND | 70 | ND |
| Found collapsed on toilet, evidence of vomiting. | Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (n.o.s.11) | AMB-FUB Toxicity | I | 430 | 4 |
| Seemed out of breath when arrived at acquaintance's house. Given some water which he vomited. About 10 min later, went to sleep on couch. When checked about 20 min later, face and fingertips had turned blue. CPR unsuccessful. | Ischaemic Heart Disease | AMB-FUB | ND | 80 | ND |
| Fell asleep in vehicle during visit to family members. Subsequently found unresponsive. | Drug (AMB-FUB, Meth) Toxicity | — | I | >1000 | 7 |
| Found dead outside doorstep where had been "sleeping rough." | Obesity related Heart Disease | AMB-FUB Toxicity | ND | <45 | ND |
| Had been drinking. Arrived at friend's house intoxicated, suddenly collapsed, hitting head. CPR to no avail. | Alcohol and AMB-FUB Toxicity | Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (n.o.s.) | ND | C | NT |
| Found collapsed beside car after dropping off family member at home. | HASCVD | AMB-FUB Toxicity | ND | C | NT |
| Found decomposed at home. | HASCVD | AMB-FUB Toxicity | ND | C | NT |
| Found collapsed in bathroom after housemate heard vomiting. | Synthetic Cannabinoid (5F-MDMB PICA, AMB-FUB), Meth, and pFPP Toxicity | — | I | 100 | 17 |
Notes: 1M=Male, F=Female;.
2
Cause of Death;.
3
AMB-FUBINACA;.
4
Para-fluorophenylpiperazine;.
5
Not Tested;.
6
Confirmed;.
7
Not Detected;.
8
Synthetic Cannabis;.
9
Hypertensive Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease;.
10
Methamphetamine;.
11
Not Otherwise Specified.