New Synthetic Opioids: Clinical Considerations and Dangers

Edinoff, Amber N.; Garza, David Martinez; Vining, Stephen P; Vasterling, Megan E; Jackson, Eric D.; Murnane, Kevin S.; Kaye, Adam M.; Fair, Richard N; Torres, Yair Jose Lopez; Badr, Ahmed; Cornett, Elyse M.; Kaye, Alan D.

doi:10.1007/s40122-023-00481-6

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…This latter class is among the most dangerous and fastest-growing group worldwide; from 2009 about 57 NSOs were identified in the European market 5 . It has been estimated that in 2020, among 68,630 opioid-related deaths recorded, 56,516 involved NSOs 6 . Nowadays the main NSOs include fentanyl derivatives (such as acetylfentanyl, carfentanyl) and non-fentanyl opioids like isotonitazene and brorphine 7 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling new psychoactive substances through metabolomics: UHPLC-HRMS study on natural and synthetic opioids in male and female murine models

Di Francesco,

Montesano,

Vincenti

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) represent a broad class of drugs new to the illicit market that often allow passing drug-screening tests. They are characterized by a variety of structures, rapid transience on the drug scene and mostly unknown metabolic profiles, thus creating an ever-changing scenario with evolving analytical targets. The present study aims at developing an indirect screening strategy for NPS monitoring, and specifically for new synthetic opioids (NSOs), based on assessing changes in endogenous urinary metabolite levels as a consequence of the systemic response following their intake. The experimental design involved in-vivo mice models: 16 animals of both sex received a single administration of morphine or fentanyl. Urine was collected before and after administration at different time points; the samples were then analysed with an untargeted metabolomics LC-HRMS workflow. According to our results, the intake of opioids resulted in an elevated energy demand, that was more pronounced on male animals, as evidenced by the increase in medium and long chain acylcarnitines levels. It was also shown that opioid administration disrupted the pathways related to catecholamines biosynthesis. The observed alterations were common to both morphine and fentanyl: this evidence indicate that they are not related to the chemical structure of the drug, but rather on the drug class. The proposed strategy may reinforce existing NPS screening approaches, by identifying indirect markers of drug assumption.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%