fenethylline

[ fen-uh-thuh-lahyn, -leen ]

noun

1. a highly addictive synthetic amphetamine, C 18 H 23 N 5 O 2 , having a double bond with theophylline and formerly used in Europe to treat ADHD and some other conditions: now a controlled substance in most countries.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fenethylline¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The illicit version - also nicknamed "the drug of jihad" or "poor man's cocaine" - is thought to be made of a mix of fenethylline, caffeine and other fillers.

From Reuters

Captagon is a brand name for the synthetic stimulant fenethylline.

From BBC

Captagon, the trademark name for the synthetic stimulant fenethylline, was first produced in the 1960s to treat hyperactivity, narcolepsy and depression, but was banned in most countries by the 1980s as it was deemed too addictive.

From The Guardian

The same vessel — the tugboat “Andreas” — had also been used in a 2017 smuggling operation, when Greek authorities supported by the European Union border patrol agency arrested six Syrian men and seized a large amount of cannabis and Fenethylline.

From Seattle Times

Fenethylline was developed in the 1960s, under the trade name of Captagon, to treat hyperactivity in children, though it is no longer used for that purpose.

From Economist