Legal but risky: Chandler DUI case highlights concerns over ‘designer drugs’

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Chandler police arrested a man for DUI even though he had no alcohol in his system.

Instead, police say he was impaired by what they call designer drugs.

Video released by Chandler police shows a man in custody struggling to walk in a straight line. Police said the man had taken kratom he purchased from a smoke shop that made him impaired. The toxicology report found multiple synthetic compounds that are not regulated or approved by the FDA in his system, according to police.

RELATED: Phoenix parents push to ban kratom-derived substance after teen’s rehab stay

Kratom, which has effects similar to opioids, is one of several designer drugs currently available at gas stations and smoke shops. Moshe Williams, a biochemical engineer in the east valley who researches Schedule 1 substances, said designer drugs are substances that are chemically altered or modified versions of existing drugs. 

Other designer drugs include bath salts, spice and magic mushroom chocolate bars. All are federally illegal, but experts are able to find ways to get them on store shelves.

“Chemists slightly alter these molecules of a known compound, often a controlled substance, to create a new version that gives you a similar effect,” Williams said. “Because it’s been slightly altered, it’s not yet listed under the controlled substance law.”

Williams said the substances fall into a legal gray area until regulators catch up. In Arizona, kratom is restricted. Buyers must be at least 18 years old and certain compounds are prohibited.

While some products are advertised as natural, Williams said they are not regulated.

“There’s hardly any research, typically, on any of these drugs. So we don’t know how they’re going to respond. They’re unpredictable,” Williams said.

He added that the drugs can sometimes cause serious harm.

“There’s been people that have been blinded, there’s been obviously death and psychosis. So these, these aren’t drugs that you per se want to just go into a smoke shop and buy in all these other compounds,” he said.

Some research shows kratom has helped people suffering from opioid withdrawals, according to Williams but it can also be abused.

In December, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called on lawmakers to implement further protections and restrictions on kratom, seeking to give law enforcement a clearer path for enforcement.

RELATED: Kratom being used by millions in US despite lack of FDA approval and raising safety concerns

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