Gutter Blue

A drug made by the Cartel and distributed by the Los Muertos Gang. It was first found by Trailblazer in the Fogarty base, and the Yakuza confirmed that it was made by the Los Muertos. Upon tasting it, 13 declared that it was some kind of amphetamine mixed with LSD.

Over Spring Break, several Halcyon High students ended up in the hospital because the drug started finding its way to the youth of the city. Nagadevi declared that anyone found with Gutter Blue on their person or in their system would be expelled. The Unstable Elements figured out that due to the Yakuza's presence in the city, the Los Muertos called in the Cartel as backup, who used Dr. Glass to manufacture Gutter Blue. The Cartel then began using the Los Muertos as well as prominent and intelligent members of The South Side to increase packing and distribution all over Halcyon City.

A Write-Up by Dr. Docikyrila Bayuesa
Binding of (S)-N-methylamphetamine to lysergic acid diethylamide

aka “Gutter Blue”

Docikyrila Bayeusa April 10, 2021

1. Description
The sample first presented to the lab in a small plastic bag partially filled with a substance believed to be an illicit drug commonly known on the street as “Gutter Blue”. Upon removal and careful inspection, the substance is a translucent blue crystal that has been crushed into a powder similar to crystal methamphetamine, see 5. The origin of the substance is unknown at this time, however, it is currently being sold by the Los Muertos street gang. The intern who brought the substance to the lab mentioned that others had compared it to methamphetamine mixed with LSD. The bag itself does not appear to be in perfect condition and is likely not sterile.

2. Chemical Make-Up
After careful inspection and testing, it appears that the intern’s report of “methamphetamine mixed with LSD” was not far off. The methamphetamine component is slightly restructured to (S)-N-methylamphetamine and binds to an optical isomer of lysergic acid diethylamide. This optical isomer was once purely theoretical and has not been previously identified or named. The substance itself is approximately 97% pure with the remaining ingredients being other additives such as sugar or cough syrup, unevenly intermixed. In- dividually, both of these component molecules are pharmacologically potent.

(S)-N-methylamphetamine has been previously shown to produce greater ef- fects in both humans and animal models than the more common R isomer.

Although this compound is very pure as is, a more refined version of the drug is possible, however, would require significantly more testing as well as specialized equipment.

3. Animal Testing
Both N-methylamphetamine and lysergic acid diethylamide have been ex- tensively tested in humans and animals individually and intermixed. Am- phetamines are CNS stimulants. When mixed with psychedelic drugs such as LSD, the result is often an energized person who is experiencing hallu- cinations. This can be quite dangerous as subjects often act strangely and may injure themselves and/or others.

All stimulants accelerate function in the nervous system and increase heart rate. LSD can also increase heart rate, putting extra strain on the cardiovascular system, which could put subjects at risk for heart attack or stroke. Higher doses can increase blood pressure and body temperature, and cause brain oxidative stress. Combining LSD and amphetamines increases all these safety concerns. Mixing the two can be overstimulating, which may result in anxiety or panic.

When tested in mice, this molecule caused a sudden increase in dopamine levels, blood pressure, and body temperature. The subjects’ pupils dilated and displayed frequent sudden eye movements. The subjects also exhibited erratic behavior such as random vocalizations or movement, indicative of hallucinations, mood swings, or both. Several subjects died during testing due to heart attack. Once the effects of the drug wore off, the mice exhib- ited signs of distress and their circadian rhythm was significantly disrupted causing temporary insomnia.

4. Discussion
(S)-N-methylamphetamine-lysergic-acid-diethylamide, aka “Gutter Blue”, is a highly sophisticated compound that poses severe danger risks to subjects that ingest it. The complexity of the molecule itself indicates that it was synthesized in a lab with specialized equipment that is not typically street-available. Additionally, the scientist responsible is highly capable and has created a molecular structure that has not been previously seen, discussed, or theorized, and should be considered potentially dangerous. Should this individual be associated with the distributor, Los Muertos, it is possible that they will be heavily guarded and should not be handled lightly. Lastly, sub- jects who have ingested the drug should be treated as a danger to themselves and others due to the erratic behavior of the drug. Should a subject be found to have already ingested the substance, they should be restrained as soon as possible and brought to the nearest hospital rapidly to have their symptoms managed until the effects of the drug pass. Existing treatments for methamphetamine overdose may not function due to the bound nature of the molecule.