Prevalence and co‐existence of active components of ‘legal highs’

Abstract

The results of a study performed on samples of 'legal highs' seized in head shops by law enforcement and health services in Poland between mid-2008 and mid-2011 are presented. In total, 449 preparations which differed in labelling, net masses, forms of distribution, etc., were analyzed. A variety of sophisticated analytical methods, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-quadropole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were applied for component identification and quantification. The most common ingredients of legal highs were (in descending order): MPDV, caffeine, butylone, TFMPP, lidocaine, 4-MEC, mephedrone, pFPP, BZP, and MDPBP. The scatter of substances changed over time, and piperazines were often ousted by cathinones. Most of the preparations were composed of two or more ingredients. Cathinones and piperazines were mixed mainly within the chemical classes (77.6% and 56.1% of dual links, respectively), caffeine was mixed both with piperazines (24 products) and cathinones (22 products), whereas lidocaine only with the latter class (47 products). A great inconsistency in the qualitative and quantitative composition of products with identical labelling was shown in an example of Coco products seized after August 2010; we found 10 different single component or mixture preparations, and the content of individual ingredients varied from several to hundreds of mgs. This paper summarizes potential dangers connected with the uncontrolled sale of psychoactive substances, and indicates important issues concerning the analysis of legal highs.

Increases in use of novel synthetic stimulant are not directly linked to decreased use of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA)

“…Zuba and Byrska [33] analysed 449 seized 'legal high' samples from October 2008 to June 2011 in Poland, and found that most of the pills were mixtures of two or more ingredients, including but not limited to MDPV, BZP and TFMPP. However, mephedrone was often the sole product component.…”

Analysis of the prevalence and coexistence of synthetic cannabinoids in “herbal high” products in Poland

“…Another factor which can lead to a serious problem is Forensic Toxicol inconsistencies in the qualitative and quantitative compositions of the offered products. This problem was also discussed by the authors for Coco powder samples [24]. The problem can be exemplified by analysis of the contents of products named ''Taifun''.…”

Monoamine transporter and receptor interaction profiles of novel psychoactive substances: Para-halogenated amphetamines and pyrovalerone cathinones

“…All of these cathinones are characterized by a pyrrolidine ring structure, making them different structurally and possibly also pharmacologically from other synthetic cathinones Simmler et al, 2013). Among the pyrovalerone cathinones, MDPV is currently the most widely detected and used, both in the EU (European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2014b;Helander et al, 2014;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and US (Leffler et al, 2014;Marinetti and Antonides, 2013;Spiller et al, 2011). In fact, MDPV has become the most frequently detected and used of all cathinones ("bath salts") in some EU countries (Helander et al, 2014;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and the US (Leffler et al, 2014).…”

“…Among the pyrovalerone cathinones, MDPV is currently the most widely detected and used, both in the EU (European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2014b;Helander et al, 2014;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and US (Leffler et al, 2014;Marinetti and Antonides, 2013;Spiller et al, 2011). In fact, MDPV has become the most frequently detected and used of all cathinones ("bath salts") in some EU countries (Helander et al, 2014;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and the US (Leffler et al, 2014). More recently, a second generation of MDPV-like cathinones, including α-PVP, MDPPP, and MDPBP, has been detected and/or used in several EU countries (Eiden et al, 2013;Helander et al, 2014;Westphal et al, 2011;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and the US (Elliott and Evans, 2014;Smollin et al, 2011;Thornton et al, 2012).…”

“…In fact, MDPV has become the most frequently detected and used of all cathinones ("bath salts") in some EU countries (Helander et al, 2014;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and the US (Leffler et al, 2014). More recently, a second generation of MDPV-like cathinones, including α-PVP, MDPPP, and MDPBP, has been detected and/or used in several EU countries (Eiden et al, 2013;Helander et al, 2014;Westphal et al, 2011;Zuba and Byrska, 2013) and the US (Elliott and Evans, 2014;Smollin et al, 2011;Thornton et al, 2012). MDPV has been associated with severe clinical toxicity (Spiller et al, 2011) and a high potential for addiction (Aarde et al, 2013).…”