Crystals and tablets in the Spanish ecstasy market 2000–2014: Are they the same or different in terms of purity and adulteration?

Giné, Claudio Vidal; Vilamala, Mireia Ventura; Espinosa, Iván Fornís; Lladanosa, Cristina Gil; Álvarez, Nú Calzada; Fruitós, Ariadna Fitó; Rodríguez, Joan Rodríguez; Salvany, Antònia Domingo; Torre, Rafael de la

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.016

Cited by 50 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…We hypothesise that many unreported drugs were likely present as adulterants in or replacements for drugs sold as ecstasy. Drugs such as PMMA and synthetic cathinones such as methylone and ethylone are frequently detected in drugs sold as ecstasy (Brunt et al, 2016; Brunt, Poortman, Niesink, & van den Brink, 2011; European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2003; Hondebrink, Nugteren-van Lonkhuyzen, Van Der Gouwe, & Brunt, 2015; Vidal Gine et al, 2016) or drugs that may have been sold as ecstasy (Caudevilla-Gálligo et al, 2013; Rust et al, 2012). Likewise, a recent study in Europe also detected 2C-B, 4-FA, and 5/6-APB in ecstasy (Brunt et al, 2016; Hondebrink et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While use of more traditional drugs such as ecstasy in these environments is most common, hundreds of new psychoactive substances (NPS) such as methylone have emerged in recent years (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2015; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 2016) and many have been detected as adulterants in or replacements for traditional drugs such as ecstasy (Brunt et al, 2016; Caudevilla-Gálligo, Ventura, Indave Ruiz, & Fornís, 2013; Palamar et al, 2016a; Vidal Gine et al, 2016). Biological confirmation of self-reported use is informative as it helps validate prevalence, but research on unintentional or unknown use of drugs—particularly NPS—is important to further guide continued prevention, education, and harm reduction efforts within these high-risk scenes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hair testing to assess both known and unknown use of drugs amongst ecstasy users in the electronic dance music scene

Palamar

Salomone²,

Gerace³

et al. 2017

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Background Data on both known and unknown drug use in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene is important to inform prevention and harm reduction. While surveys are the most common method of querying drug use, additional biological data can help validate use and detect unknown/unintentional use of drugs such as new psychoactive substances (NPS). We sought to determine the extent of both known and unknown use of various substances in this high-risk scene. Methods We hair-tested 90 self-reported past-year ecstasy/MDMA/Molly users attending EDM parties in New York City during the summer of 2016 using UHPLC-MS/MS. Results were compared to self-reported past-year use. Results Three quarters (74.4%) tested positive for MDMA, a third (33.3%) tested positive for an NPS, and 27.8% tested positive specifically for one or more synthetic cathinones (e.g., butylone, ethylone, pentylone, methylone, alpha-PVP). Half (51.1%) of participants tested positive for a drug not self-reported, with most testing positive for synthetic cathinones (72.0%), methamphetamine (69.0%), other NPS stimulants (e.g., 4-FA, 5/6-APB; 66.7%), or new dissociatives (e.g., methoxetamine, diphenidine; 60.0%). Attending parties every other week or more often, reporting higher-frequency ecstasy pill use, having tested one's ecstasy, and having found out one's ecstasy was adulterated, were risk factors for testing positive for synthetic cathinones and NPS in general. Conclusion Hair testing appears to be a valuable addition to drug epidemiology studies. Many EDM party attendees—even those who test their ecstasy—are unknowingly using NPS and/orother drugs. Prevention information and harm reduction may help reduce unknown/unintentional use.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hair testing to assess both known and unknown use of drugs amongst ecstasy users in the electronic dance music scene

Palamar

Salomone²,

Gerace³

et al. 2017

International Journal of Drug Policy

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“…Such services have been called street drug analysis , pill testing , drug checking , adulterant screening , drug testing and multi‐agency safety testing . Drug‐checking services currently operate in the Netherlands , Spain , Portugal , Austria , Switzerland , England , Wales and Canada . These services reduce harms arising from variable illicit drug quality and composition by changing consumer behaviour at point of consumption (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Qualitative testing may identify misrepresentations; for example, when a substance sold as a particular drug contains no active compounds or contains unexpected drug/s. Quantitative testing is important when high‐dose preparations are circulating, such as very high‐dose 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) tablets in Europe recently . If doses are particularly high, a ‘usual dose’ is more likely to cause overdose and death; hence, quantitative information becomes more critical in testing service design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pill testing or drug checking in Australia: Acceptability of service design features

Barratt

Bruno

Ezard

et al. 2017

Drug and Alcohol Review

123

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In this sample, festival- or club-based drug-checking services with low wait times and low cost appear broadly attractive under conditions of legal amnesty and individualised feedback. Quantitative analysis of ecstasy pills requiring surrender of a whole pill may appeal to a minority in Australia where pills are more expensive than elsewhere. [Barratt MJ, Bruno R, Ezard N, Ritter A. Pill testing or drug checking in Australia: Acceptability of service design features. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;00:000-000].

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“…For example, a study focusing on the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) found that reporting of cocaine use increased when participants were provided multiple chances to report use (Lessler et al, 2000). To our knowledge, studies have not examined discordant reporting of amphetamine use, although studies utilizing biological measures have detected unknown/unintentional use of amphetamine as it is often present in drugs such as ecstasy (Palamar et al, 2017; Vidal Gine et al, 2016). A recent study found that in a national sample of high school seniors, 37% of those reporting nonmedical Vicodin use and 28% of those reporting nonmedical OxyContin use did not report overall nonmedical opioid use (Palamar et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discordant reporting of nonmedical amphetamine use among Adderall-using high school seniors in the US

Palamar

2017

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background Amphetamine is the most prevalent prescription stimulant in the United States, both medically and nonmedically. Reliable data on nonmedical use is needed to continue to inform prevention. To determine whether adolescents accurately self-report nonmedical amphetamine use, we compared self-reports of nonmedical amphetamine use and nonmedical Adderall use in a national sample. Methods We examined self-reported nonmedical Adderall and amphetamine use in a nationally representative sample of 24,740 high school seniors in the Monitoring the Future study (2010–2015). We examined prevalence and correlates of discordant responses among past-year Adderall users, defined as reporting past-year nonmedical Adderall use, but not reporting past-year nonmedical amphetamine use. Results While 6.9% reported nonmedical Adderall use and 7.9% reported nonmedical amphetamine use, over a quarter (28.7%) of these Adderall users reported no amphetamine use. Those at highest risk for Adderall use tended to be at lower odds of providing a discordant response. Older students (aged ≥18), black students, and those with parents of lower educational attainment were more likely to report no amphetamine use, despite reporting Adderall use. Lifetime use of various drugs was associated with decreased odds of providing a discordant response; however, only nonmedical opioid use was associated with significant decreased odds in multivariable models. Disapproval towards amphetamine use increased odds of providing a discordant response, while higher exposure to users decreased odds of providing a discordant response. Conclusion Prevalence of nonmedical amphetamine use may be underreported on some surveys, particularly among specific subpopulations. Future surveys must ensure accurate and consistent responses.

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Crystals and tablets in the Spanish ecstasy market 2000–2014: Are they the same or different in terms of purity and adulteration?

Cited by 50 publications

References 15 publications

Hair testing to assess both known and unknown use of drugs amongst ecstasy users in the electronic dance music scene

Hair testing to assess both known and unknown use of drugs amongst ecstasy users in the electronic dance music scene

Pill testing or drug checking in Australia: Acceptability of service design features

Discordant reporting of nonmedical amphetamine use among Adderall-using high school seniors in the US

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