Tramadol, Methadone and Benzodiazepines added to Alcoholic Beverages

Abstract

Aims To search for pharmaceutical additives in illicit alcoholic beverages referred to the laboratory of Legal Medicine Organization in Iran in 2017. Methods Hundred beverages were sampled. Ethanol content was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID) and then a liquid-liquid extraction combined with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a photodiode array detector (PAD) was employed for the qualitative analysis. The analysis was confirmed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Results In 15% either one or more of the following were detected: tramadol, methadone, diazepam, oxazepam, flurazepam and alprazolam. Tramadol was found with highest frequency. Conclusions The wide availability of addictive pharmaceutical is leading to fortification of alcoholic beverages on some countries. The addition of such depressant additives should be better known because of the potentially fatal consequences of the combination with ethanol, as well as the potential for adverse effects on behavior.

Analyzing Toxic Chemical Components in Illegal Alcoholic Beverages

“…Ethanol is the main ingredient of alcoholic beverages and was detected in all investigated samples. This finding was in line with a study on the analysis of compositions of illegal alcoholic beverages in Tehran City, Iran [15]. The determination of ethanol concentration in legal alcoholic beverages is a crucial control point from safety and economic concerns [19].…”

“…Annually, several cases of methanol poisoning and fatality induced by illegal and homemade alcoholic beverages consumption are reported in Iran. However, there are scant data on the chemical composition of these beverages in Iran [14,15].…”

Acute pancreatitis due to methanol toxicity during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…In Iran, only industrial alcohols (containing methanol and other toxic alcohols) have been legally marketed throughout the country. 10 , 11 Here, we present a 37‐year‐old man with acute pancreatitis due to methanol poisoning following the COVID‐19 pandemic.…”

Consumption of Alcohol Can Destroy the Outbreak of Covid-19 Virus in India: A Myth

“…Delirrad and Mohammadi (2020) Studied that the lots of number of cases of alcohol poisoning in Iran associated with the outbreak is extremely high. For the reason that religion based law disallow to consuming alcohol, numerous people purchase alcohol illegally moreover there is huge evidence to proof toxicity of such kind of buys (Brewer et al, 2020;Aghababaeian et al, 2019;Ghadirzadeh et al, 2019).Alternatively, peoples are suffering from substance abuse of drug comes from marginalized society and are consistently more prone to catch infection throughout pandemic of the COVID-19 (Columb et al, 2020;Ornell et al, 2020). Mungmungpuntipantip and Wiwanitkit (2020) Studied on pandemic of the COVID-19 virus is linked with a farewell party where persons who drank alcoholic beverage by using a common glass were infected.…”