The study focused on the application of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to postmortem toxicological analysis. Fast and simple sample preparation involved precipitation with acetonitrile, removal of phospholipids using special columns and filtration. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of–flight mass spectrometry. The method was validated by determining the limit of quantification, precision, recovery and matrix effect. The use of a high-resolution spectrometer allowed us to determine the precise masses of the fragments of interest and to suggest the fragmentation pathway of baclofen. The usefulness, effectiveness and assets of the procedure were confirmed by an authentic case of a 25-year-old woman fatally intoxicated with baclofen who was found dead in her apartment. Toxicological analysis of postmortem blood samples demonstrated that the baclofen concentration was 30.7 μg/mL. In only one published case describing fatal baclofen intoxication were no other xenobiotics (that could interact with baclofen) found. To our knowledge, this is the first report dealing with analysis of baclofen by HRMS.

On the Polish „drug scene”, the products containing very low amounts of amphetamine offered as „pure” amphetamine are increasingly common. Occasionally, 1-phenylethylamine (1-PEA) is added to these products. The concentration of 1-PEA in such „street drugs” usually ranges from 2% to 90%. For the purposes of the ongoing prosecutor’s proceedings, toxicological testing was performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin to detect narcotic agents and psychotropic substances in the white powder found in 23 plastic bags. LC/MS with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization method demonstrated only trace amounts of amphetamine and about 0.042–0.231% of 1-PEA in the samples analyzed. However, characteristic by-products of the synthesis of 1-phenylethylamine from acetophenone were indentified using GC/MS with electron ionization method. Results suggest that the analyzed „street drugs” were obtained by synthesis from acetophenone with slight amounts of benzyl methyl ketone (BMK) added intentionally, or using acetophenone contaminated with BMK.