Profile of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and other synthetic drugs in seized materials analysed in a Brazilian forensic laboratory

Machado, Yuri; Neto, José Coelho; Lordeiro, Rogério Araújo; Silva, Monique Ferreira; Piccin, Evandro

doi:10.1007/s11419-018-0456-3

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The number of identifications of N-benzylphenethylamines (NBOMes and NBOHs) and LSD by our laboratory in seized samples between 2014 and the first semester of 2019 is shown in Fig. 9a, updating our previous work [10]. NBOMes dominated the blotter paper drug market up to the beginning of 2016.…”

Section: Nboh Outlooksupporting

confidence: 78%

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Identification of new NBOH drugs in seized blotter papers: 25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, and 25E-NBOH

et al. 2019

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Purpose The recreational drug market remains dynamic. After the introduction of 25I-NBOH, an N-benzylphenethylamine and new psychoactive substance, as option for LSD and NBOMe drugs, new NBOH substances have been identified in recent years. Herein, we report our efforts for the identification and structural elucidation of three new NBOHs detected in seized blotter papers: 25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, and 25E-NBOH. Methods Blotter papers seized between 2017 and 2018 by local police force in Brazil were submitted to extraction, purification, identification and characterization using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and one-and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results Three new NBOHs were characterized: 2-(((4-ethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (25E-NBOH, 2C-E-NBOH), 2-(((4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (25C-NBOH, 2C-C-NBOH), and 2-(((4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (25B-NBOH, 2C-B-NBOH). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report for identification and detailed characterization of 25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, and 25E-NBOH in seized samples. NBOH substances are not under United Nations Conventions control. The identification of seized blotter papers between 2014 and beginning of 2019 showed that NBOH substances have become the main hallucinogenic drug in the region. These group are thermolabile under gas chromatographic conditions, demanding other analytical approaches of analysis to avoid misidentifications. Unfortunately, the knowledge about toxicology of NBOHs are limited.

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Section: Nboh Outlooksupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Selfreported use of NBOHs has been reported in United States [7], Australia [8], and Germany [9]. These substances were already identified for street samples seized in Brazil [10], Finland, Germany, and Slovenia [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of new NBOH drugs in seized blotter papers: 25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, and 25E-NBOH

et al. 2019

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“…The list of substances included in the validated method is in accordance with recent data from Brazilian drug seizures. In the state of Minas Gerais, the main seized synthetic drugs from 2008 to 2017 were amphetamines (mainly MDMA), cathinones, and phenethylamines [5]. The analysis of more than 1 million of blotter papers seized from 2011 to 2017 in the state of Santa Catarina showed phenethylamines and synthetic cannabinoids, in addition to LSD, amphetamines, and opioids [4].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Four compounds of the N-benzylphenethylamine class (25R-NBOMe) were included in the present study, in addition to four 25R-NBOHs. NBOMe compounds have been available since 2010 in the on-line market, resulting in various toxicity and fatal cases [28], and have been detected in seized materials analyzed in Brazil [4,5]. The 25R-NBOH compounds are another emerging drug family in the illicit drug market [29], and are also 25R-NBOMe metabolites [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2020, the EWS of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) reported that cathinone and synthetic cannabinoids were the main classes of NPS detected in seized material, accounting for 36% and 28% of the total number of seizures, respectively [3]. In Brazil, data on NPS are scarce, but include seizure data [4,5] and some postmortem cases [6]. Furthermore, prescription drugs are among the major causes of fatal poisonings in the world, and their concomitant use with illegal drugs is common [7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determination of new psychoactive substances and other drugs in postmortem blood and urine by UHPLC–MS/MS: method validation and analysis of forensic samples

Júnior

Caldas

2021

Forensic Toxicol

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Purpose This study aimed to validate a modified QuEChERS method followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine 79 new psychoactive substances (NPS) and other drugs in blood and urine. Methods Prescription drugs (n = 23), synthetic cathinones (n = 13), phenethylamines (n = 11); synthetic cannabinoids (n = 8), amphetamines (n = 7) and other psychoactive substances (n = 17) were included in the method. 500 µL of biological fluid was extracted with 2 mL of water/ACN (1:1), 500 mg of anhydrous MgSO 4 /NaOAc (4:1) added, followed by a supernatant cleanup with 25 mg of primary secondary amine and 75 mg of anhydrous MgSO 4 . Quantification was done using matrixmatched calibration curves and deuterated internal standards. ResultsThe method was satisfactorily validated for blood and urine at limit of quantifications ranging from 0.4 to 16 ng/ mL, and applied to the analysis of 54 blood (38 postmortem and 16 antemortem) and 16 antemortem urine samples from 68 forensic cases. All urine samples and 59.3% of the blood samples were positive for at least one analyte. Twenty-two analytes were detected in at least one biological sample, including the synthetic cathinones ethylone (222 ng/mL, antemortem blood), eutylone (246 and 446 ng/mL, urine), and N-ethylpentylone (597 and 7.3 ng/mL, postmortem and antemortem blood, respectively). Conclusions The validated method was shown to be suitable for the analysis of blood and urine forensic samples and an important tool to collect information on emerging drug threats and understanding the impact of NPS and other drugs in poisoning cases.

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Identification of synthetic cathinones in seized materials: A review of analytical strategies applied in forensic chemistry

Campos

Krotulski

Martinis

et al. 2022

WIREs Forensic Science

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Synthetic cathinones are a class of novel psychoactive substances, commonly tested in seized materials by forensic chemistry laboratories. These drugs have been found in different types of seized materials including powders, tablets, liquids, herbs, and blotters. A comprehensive review of the literature shows that the analyses of synthetic cathinones have been performed by a diverse repertoire of techniques, from more traditional to emerging methods. Techniques commonly used in the analysis of "traditional" illicit drugs, such as color and microcrystalline tests, chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry (MS), and infrared (IR), and Raman spectroscopies, have been used for screening and/or confirmatory purposes, depending on the technique and laboratories preference. However, other emerging techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, high-resolution MS, direct analysis in real-time MS, gas chromatography with IR detection, and so on, have been drawing the attention of forensic scientists due to the advantages of these techniques in providing important structural data. It is important to consider that each technique presents analytical benefits and limitations, which should be considered when analyzing synthetic cathinones in seized materials. Furthermore, the combination of more than one analytical technique is always recommended, especially when an unknown synthetic cathinone is suspected and/or encountered in the sample.

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Profile of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and other synthetic drugs in seized materials analysed in a Brazilian forensic laboratory

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Identification of new NBOH drugs in seized blotter papers: 25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, and 25E-NBOH

Identification of new NBOH drugs in seized blotter papers: 25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, and 25E-NBOH

Determination of new psychoactive substances and other drugs in postmortem blood and urine by UHPLC–MS/MS: method validation and analysis of forensic samples

Identification of synthetic cathinones in seized materials: A review of analytical strategies applied in forensic chemistry

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