Hair analysis for New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): Still far from becoming the tool to study NPS spread in the community?

Florou, Dimitra; Boumba, Vassiliki A.

doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.09.003

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(523 reference statements)

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“…NPS includes defined groups of drugs as follows: synthetic cannabinoids [3][4][5][6][7], cathinone [8,9], phenethylamines [10,11], piperazines [12], plant-based substances, hallucinogens [12,13], synthetic opioids and synthetic benzodiazepines. NPS are known, by the general population, as "legal highs", "research chemicals" and "designer drugs", because tend to be analogs of existing controlled drugs [14,15]. Given the fact that many drug users combine various substances, they often develop unspecific symptoms, making it difficult for specialists to accurately identify the incriminated substance [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Various Groups of Drugs Users. Highlights on Legal Highs Users

ANGHEL¹

2023

FARMACIA

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Our article aimed to assess the differences among various drug users' groups, especially from haematological, biochemical, urinary and cardiological perspectives. A retrospective study was conducted in collaboration with C.E.T.T.T. "Sfântul Stelian" detoxification centre, in Bucharest, Romania. The medical records of 2572 hospitalized patients, between 2015 and 2021, were analysed. The study group was characterized taking into account demographic data, personal history/comorbidities, history of consumption and substitution treatment. Clinical/paraclinical evaluations were performed. The outcome of the study outlined that GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase) might be correlated with both alcohol intake and the presence of contagious diseases, a decrease of MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and MCHC (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) homogeneously characterizes the entire study group, while the occurrence of particular cardiological events might be correlated with certain substances group. Overall, the study provides information on the different types of consumers, but also supports future research on correlating the variable parameters with the possible chemical structures of the consumed compounds detected. RezumatStudiul și-a propus să evalueze diferențele dintre grupuri variate de consumatori de droguri, în special din punct de vedere hematologic, biochimic, urinar și cardiologic. S-a desfășurat un studiu retrospectiv în colaborare cu centrul de dezintoxicare "Sfântul Stelian" din București. Au fost analizate foile de observație ale 2572 pacienți spitalizați între 2015 și 2021. Pentru grupul de studiu au fost caracterizate datele demografice, istoricul personal/comorbiditățile, istoricul de consum și tratament de substituție; au fost efectuate și evaluări clinice/paraclinice. Rezultatul studiului a evidențiat faptul că GGT (gammaglutamiltransferaza) ar putea fi corelată atât cu consumul de alcool, cât și cu prezența bolilor contagioase, iar o scădere a MCH (hemoglobină eritrocitară medie) și MCHC (concentrația hemoglobinei eritrocitare medie) caracterizează în mod omogen întregul grup de studiu, în timp ce apariția unor evenimente cardiologice particulare ar putea fi corelată cu anumite grupe de substanțe. În ansamblu, studiul oferă informații despre diferitele tipuri de consumatori, dar susține și cercetările viitoare privind corelarea parametrilor variabili cu posibilele structuri chimice ale compușilor consumați detectați.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Various Groups of Drugs Users. Highlights on Legal Highs Users

ANGHEL¹

2023

FARMACIA

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“…Although definitions of NPS can vary worldwide, these include defined groups of drugs as follows: plant-based substances, synthetic cannabinoids, cathinone, hallucinogens, synthetic opioids, phenethylamines, piperazines, and synthetic benzodiazepines. Because these tend to be analogs of existing controlled drugs, NPS are known by the general population as ‘legal highs’, ‘research chemicals’, and ‘designer drugs’ [ 79 , 80 ]. Being a heterogenous group of substances of abuse, NPS are difficult to be classified as stimulants or depressants.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the above-mentioned mechanism of action for each type of analyzed drug, the selectivity of various substances of abuse on receptors/systems is synthesized in Table 1 below and represented in Figure 3. and 'designer drugs' [79,80]. Being a heterogenous group of substances of abuse, NPS are difficult to be classified as stimulants or depressants.…”

Section: Particular Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Mechanisms of Action and Effects of Drugs of Abuse

et al. 2023

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Aim. Drug abuse and addiction are major public health concerns, with millions of people worldwide affected by the negative consequences of drug use. To better understand this complex issue, a review was conducted to examine the mechanisms of action and effects of drugs of abuse, including their acute and chronic effects, the symptoms of abstinence syndrome, as well as their cardiovascular impacts. Methods. The analyzed data were obtained after surveying an electronic database, namely PubMed, with no time limit, grey literature sources, and reference lists of relevant articles. Results. The review highlights the different categories of drugs of abuse, such as opioids, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and cannabis, and discusses the specific ways that each drug affects the brain and body. Additionally, the review explores the short-term and long-term effects of drug abuse on the body and mind, including changes in brain structure and function, physical health problems, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. In addition, the review explores the effects of drug abuse on cardiovascular health, focusing on electrocardiogram changes. Moreover, the analysis of relevant literature also highlighted possible genetic susceptibility in various addictions. Furthermore, the review delves into the withdrawal symptoms that occur when someone stops using drugs of abuse after a period of chronic use. Conclusion. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on drug abuse and addiction. The findings of this review can inform the development of evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to address this critical public health issue.

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“…NPS in biological fluids (blood, urine, oral fluid, etc. ) , and in hair , have been analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography (LC-MS) with various sample pretreatments. Both techniques are essential for the toxicological screening and confirmation of abused drugs .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyclic Ion Mobility of Isomeric New Psychoactive Substances Employing Characteristic Arrival Time Distribution Profiles and Adduct Separation

Nytka,

Wan,

Tureček

et al. 2024

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

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Analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS), which is essential for toxicological and forensic reasons, can be made complicated by the presence of isomers. Ion mobility has been used as a standalone technique or coupled to mass spectrometry to detect and identify NPS. However, isomer separation has so far chiefly relied on chromatography. Here we report on the determination of isomeric ratios using cyclic ion mobility-mass spectrometry without any chromatographic separation. Isomers were distinguished by mobility separation of lithium adducts. Alternatively, we used arrival time distribution (ATD) profiles that were characteristic of individual isomers and were acquired for protonated molecules or fragment ions. Both approaches provided comparable results. Calculations were used to determine the structures and collision cross sections of both protonated and lithiated isomers that accurately characterized their ion mobility properties. The applicability of ATD profiles to isomer differentiation was demonstrated using direct infusion and flow injection analysis with electrospray of solutions, as well as desorption electrospray of solid samples. Data processing was performed by applying multiple linear regression to the ATD profiles. Using the proposed ATD profile-based approach, the relationships between the determined and given content of isomers showed good linearity with coefficients of determination typically greater than 0.99. Flow injection analysis using an autosampler allowed us to rapidly determine isomeric ratios in a sample containing two isomeric pairs with a minor isomer of 10% (determined 9.3% of 3-MMC and 11.0% of 3-FMC in a mixture with buphedrone and 4-FMC). The proposed approach is not only useful for NPS, but also may be applicable to small isomeric molecules analyzed by ion mobility when complete separation of isomers is not achieved.

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Hair analysis for New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): Still far from becoming the tool to study NPS spread in the community?

Abstract: Graphical abstract

Cited by 17 publications

References 83 publications

Characterization of Various Groups of Drugs Users. Highlights on Legal Highs Users

Characterization of Various Groups of Drugs Users. Highlights on Legal Highs Users

Understanding the Mechanisms of Action and Effects of Drugs of Abuse

Cyclic Ion Mobility of Isomeric New Psychoactive Substances Employing Characteristic Arrival Time Distribution Profiles and Adduct Separation

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