•Determination of psychoactive substances in sweat samples.•Extraction of psychoactive substances using disposable pipette extraction and GC–MS.•Analysis of psychoactive substances in sweat samples ...collected from drug users.
Widespread consumption of drugs of abuse worldwide has caused concern: it adversely affects public health, individual safety, and social structures. Experts are particularly alarmed because new psychoactive substances have been increasingly detected in biological samples. In recent years, several studies have focused on developing methods to identify psychoactive substances in alternative biological matrices, such as sweat. This approach holds promise for monitoring substance use, especially in individuals undergoing rehabilitation. Among the commonly employed analytical procedures, extraction using disposable DPX tips stands out as a novel, miniaturized, and promising technique. This study aimed to validate and to apply a method to analyze various substances, including amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA, MDEA, cocaine, cocaethylene, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, dibutylone, N-ethylpentylone, 25E-NBOMe, 25CNBOMe, 2CC, 2C-E, fentanyl, and carfentanil, in sweat samples simultaneously. In this method, sweat is collected by using laboratory-developed patches, and extraction is conducted with DPX-SCX tips. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is employed to separate, to identify, and to quantify the analytes. Validation results indicated that the quantification limit ranged from 2 to 30 ng of analyte/patch, and that the method was linear for analyte concentrations ranging from 2 to 1100 ng/patch. The validated method was applied to analyze 30 sweat samples collected from volunteers drug users and processed by using both the selected ion mode (SIM) and full scan. The method was able to detect and to quantify substances such as cocaine, cocaethylene, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, MDMA, MDA, nicotine, cotinine, caffeine, procaine, lidocaine, and ethylamphetamine simultaneously. The recovery rates ranged from 72.4 % to 97.1 %. The analytes were stable in the biological matrix. In conclusion, the validated method proved effective and allowed the target analytes to be quantified in sweat samples, highlighting that sweat is a viable matrix for analyzing drugs of abuse.
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•Three-dimensional Fe3O4/GO/ZIF-8 composite was successfully fabricated.•The synergistic effect between Fe3O4/GO and ZIF-8 enhanced the adsorbent performance.•The outstanding ...performance of adsorbent was due to the O…H-N, π-π and Zn-N.•High recovery performance of amphetamine was observed in the real sample.
The capture and separation properties of the three-dimensional Fe3O4/GO/ZIF-8 towards amphetamine were investigated. The combination of Fe3O4/GO and ZIF-8 has been designed through a facile self-assembly process, to exhibit the advantages of both and play the synergistic effect. Such nanocomposite was assessed as amphetamine adsorbent via batch experiments to determine the adsorption capacity, reusability and stability. Experimental characterizations consisting of adsorption isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics, pH effect and ionic effect, in combination with theoretical calculations demonstrated the critical contribution of the hydrogen bonding interaction (O…H−N), π-π interaction and Zn−N chelation interaction during amphetamine adsorption process. Under the condition of introducing the Fe3O4, GO and ZIF-8 effectively realized the mutual promotion effect, among which GO increased the specific surface area and good dispersibility of Fe3O4/ZIF-8, and ZIF-8 obviously enhanced the stability of Fe3O4/GO. This work provided more options for the synthesis of high efficiency and functional adsorbents for psychoactive substances.
Drug use is prevalent in prisons with drugs associated with depressant effects found to be more prevalent than stimulants. Synthetic cathinones (SCats; often sold as “bath salts”, “ecstasy”, “molly”, ...and “monkey dust”) are the second largest category of new psychoactive substances (NPS) currently monitored by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and are commonly used as substitutes for regulated stimulants, such as amphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA. N,N-dimethylpentylone (also known as dimethylpentylone, dipentylone, and bk-DMBDP) was detected for the first time in the Scottish prisons in seven powder samples seized between January and July 2023. Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QToF-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR). Dimethylpentylone was detected alongside other drugs in four samples, including the novel benzodiazepine desalkylgidazepam (bromonordiazepam) and the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) MDMB-INACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA.
•Synthetic cathinone dimethylpentylone detected in Scottish prisons for first time.•Dimethylpentylone found in mixture with novel benzodiazepine desalkylgidazepam.•Dimethylpenylone in mixture with synthetic cannabinoids MDMB-4en-PINACA, MDMB-INACA.•Analytical characterization of samples with GC-MS, LC-QToF-MS, and NMR.
The e-psychonaut drugs’ psychopharmacology Schifano, Fabrizio; Chiappini, Stefania; Corkery, John M. ...
Current opinion in pharmacology,
04/2021, Letnik:
57
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The focus here was on the pharmacological and clinical pharmacological issues pertaining to the vast range of drugs (e.g. synthetic cannabimimetics, synthetic opioids, novel stimulants, novel ...psychedelics, PCP/ketamine-like compounds, prescribed medicinal compounds and popular psychotropic herbs/plants) discussed by Internet-based enthusiasts of new/novel psychoactive substances (NPS), ‘e-psychonauts’.
Currently ongoing related in silico studies, followed by further in vitro and in vivo/preclinical studies, will hopefully provide important findings in terms of which molecules within each given NPS class may present with higher levels of receptor affinities, and hence clinical potency. Understanding the pharmacological characteristics/potency of those novel recreational molecules will hopefully help in predicting related NPS diffusion, morbidity and possible lethality data.
Introduction and objective: Psychoactive substances intoxication among children and adolescents still poses a significant problem. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess paediatric patients ...intoxicated with psychoactive substances, who were admitted to a children’s hospital and their history of comorbidities. Materials and methods: This retrospective study assessed medical records of paediatric patients hospitalised in the Provincial Specialist Children’s Hospital in Olsztyn in the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. The study included a group of 303 patients aged 0–18 years, diagnosed with intoxication with psychoactive substances. Results: In the analysed period, 303 paediatric patients were admitted due to intoxication with psychoactive substances, accounting for 0.45% of all hospitalised patients. The mean age of the patients was 14.83 ± 2.88 years. Among them there were 158 (52.15%) girls and 145 (47.85%) boys. Conclusions: Among children, poisoning occurs most often outside home (party, public place, plot, park). Medications and alcohol are the most common psychoactive substances used by adolescents. In the analysed period, poisonings in young people between 15 and 16 years of age were most often caused by alcohol consumption, while poisoning with other psychoactive substances most often occurred between 17 and 18 years of age. Patients with one comorbid disease were found more likely to use psychoactive substances compared to others, while patients with more than one comorbid disease use psychoactive substances and mixed drugs. Patients without comorbidities are more likely to consume alcohol.
The regulation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has confounded governments throughout the western world. In 2014 the UK government convened an NPS Review Expert Panel to consider a range of ...approaches. Ultimately the Panel recommended that the government ban all new psychoactive drugs and allow only psychoactive substances specifically exempted, such as alcohol, tobacco and those allowed as medicines. The government introduced the Psychoactive Substances Bill (PSB) in response to that recommendation. Passed in 2016, the Bill has attracted a torrent of criticism from scientists and experts. The Bill could be improved with revision, but the problems of the total ban, as envisioned by the PSB, with respect to the NPS, may be inherent: (1) defining psychoactivity is conceptually fraught, with great consequence for the scope of the prohibition; (2) operationalizing psychoactivity as a usable concept for legal control purposes is extremely difficult, perhaps impossible; and (3) the detachment of penalties for violating a total ban from establishing the harmfulness of a substance is normatively troubling. Given the uncertainties about the effects of a total ban, it is appropriate at this time for other governments to assess more fully the nature of the NPS problem, and the potential control approaches.
Aims
The risk of potential harms prompted the UK government to introduce the Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of this new ...legislation on patterns of novel psychoactive substance (NPS) awareness, use, experiences and risk awareness in a self‐selected sample of UK consumers to inform education and policy.
Methods
The Bristol Online Survey was advertised on the Bluelight drug forum and social media Facebook pages and University email between 7 January and 7 February 2015 (168 responses) and 9 March to 18 September 2017 (726 responses). UK country of residence responses were extracted for analysis (SPSS).
Results
In a predominantly university‐educated, young (< 25 years) self‐selecting sample, 1 year after introduction of the legislation, NPS use (in males, under 18s, those educated to school/college level, P < .001) has increased, whilst health risk awareness has not changed and remains poor. Users are switching to sourcing NPSs via street dealers (49%) and the darknet (31%) and showing an increase in preference for the herbal NPS Salvia divinorum (P < .05). The main reasons for NPS use remain the influence of friends (69%) in a social setting and to get high (76%) usually in combination with alcohol, cannabis or ecstasy.
Conclusion
Regulation alone, so far, has not impacted on health risk awareness, NPS drug demand and culture in our UK survey sample. Alongside regulation, NPS health promotion education (particularly in schools, colleges) is needed that addresses resilience and both the risks and beneficial effects of NPS.
Aims
To evaluate the long‐term trends of new psychoactive substance (NPS) detection in pooled urine samples collected across a city centre.
Methods
Pooled urine samples from portable stand‐alone ...urinals were collected on a monthly basis over 5.5 years (July 2013–December 2018) across a city centre. These were analysed using a high‐performance liquid chromatography system, interfaced to a high‐resolution accurate mass spectrometer. Data were processed against a database containing over 2000 drugs/metabolites including over 800 NPS.
Results
In total, 44 NPS were detected with variation over time including cathinones (15, 34.1%), synthetic cannabinoids (8, 18.2%) and 21 (47.7%) other NPS. Since the introduction of the UK Psychoactive Substances Act (May 2016) cathinone detection has decreased with minimal detection over the last 4 months of the study. Synthetic cannabinoids were not detected on a regular basis until July 2016 with a subsequent variable detection frequency. There was a consistent, low level detection frequency of all other NPS throughout the study, but which appears to have increased alongside the decrease in cathinone detection.
Conclusion
Pooled urine analysis of samples taken from portable urinals in a city centre can be used as an effective monitoring tool to determine long‐term trends in the use of NPS. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the Psychoactive Substances Act and reflect the findings of population surveys and clinical studies. Triangulation of these data with other data sources will enable greater insight into the NPS phenomenon.
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: According to recent estimates, 10.4% of adults are patients with substance abuse, which is almost double the global rate. Rural areas are typically marginalized, ...compounded by a lack of access to mental health care, creating a startling disparity in suffering from drug use issues among rural cohorts. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Drawing on data from a descriptive comparative design would provide a distinctive picture related to the similarities and/or differences in relation to craving and how it affects perceived stigma and suicidal risk among patients using old versus novel psychoactive substances. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Substance abuse is a leading public health concern that forces nurses to encompass it into their agendas to tackle this looming problem. Addiction rehabilitation services are frequently run by nurses. They are well-versed in supporting patients during their journey to recovery and enabling them to adjust to a new lifestyle.
INTRODUCTION: Substance use disorder is a leading public health concern that currently, nations regulatory agencies are grappled with. The noticeable difference in the chemical structures between old and novel psychoactive substances can result in significant clinical complications among patients with substance abuse.
The study aims to compare substance craving, perceived stigma and suicidal risk among patients addicted to old and novel psychoactive substances (NPS).
A descriptive comparative design was adopted on a sample of 105 patients with substance use who completed The Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), The Perceived Stigma of Addiction Scale (PSAS) and Suicide Probability Scale (SPS).
Most participants were male, with 89.5% in the old addictive substance group and 93.8% in the new addictive substance group. A statistically significant difference in the NPS groups' perceptions of stigma (23.4 ± 5.3) compared to the old addictive substance group (20.6 ± 4.2), (t = 3.037, p = .003).
Participants in the new substance group report more suicidal ideation, negative self-evaluation and hostility than those in the old substance group. Policies and practices should be tailored to the type of drug used and potential risk factors to avoid suicide among patients with substance abuse.
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