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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
47 articles
Newest firstThe rapid emergence of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) poses challenges for drug testing, particularly when analyzing urine samples due to the rapid metabolization of the parent compounds. In early 2023, two novel SCRAs were reported to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA): ADMB-3TMS-PrINACA and Cumyl-3TMS-PrINACA, which are both indazole SCRAs featuring a trimethylsilyl propyl moiety connected t…
Open article record in new tab ↗New psychoactive substances (NPS), especially synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA), are increasingly smuggled into prisons via infused mail. Consumption of those substances by inmates in prisons is associated with increased aggression, violence, and organized crime. Onsite detection of infused mail often is challenging. Because the infused papers do not show any visible stains or olfactory changes, physi…
An innovative software tool for the rapid and efficient simulation of the metabolism of new psychoactive substances (NPS) was developed, based on the open-source project mzmine, and applied. NPS are compounds designed to mimic the psychotropic effects of established illicit drugs while circumventing drug legislation. These compounds are developed solely regarding their desired effects, thus possibly leading to har…
Open article record in new tab ↗Forensic science is a multidisciplinary field that plays a vital role in society by supporting criminal investigations and providing scientific evidence for judicial proceedings. Within this context, organic chemistry contributes fundamentally by enabling the structural elucidation of seized drugs and their intermediates, the synthesis of analytical reference standards for doping control, allied with a deeper unde…
Open article record in new tab ↗The increasing global consumption of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs, particularly new psychoactive substances, has resulted in their continuous release into aquatic environments, raising concerns regarding potential adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. In this study, a dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction using customized extraction devices was developed in combination with liquid chromatography-h…
Mitochondria are essential drivers of neuronal growth, differentiation, and overall brain development. Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have been shown to enhance neurite outgrowth in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma cells through CB1 receptor activation, while disrupting mitochondrial function. Here, we demonstrated first-hand the impact of biologically-relevant concentrations (< 1μM) of ADB-FUBINACA (an SC commonly i…
Background and objectives Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are new psychoactive substances associated with acute intoxications. Experimental data obtained under controlled and comparable conditions remain limited for this category of compounds. This descriptive, hypothesis-generating screening study aimed to characterize the acute toxicity profile of three SCs, JWH-007, AM-694, and MAB-CHMINACA. Materials and methods…
The continuous emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) poses a significant challenge to public health and forensic toxicology due to their unpredictable pharmacology and rapid turnover on the illicit market. This study describes the development and validation of a high-resolution screening method for the simultaneous detection of 90 NPS in oral fluid (OF), a matrix of choice for non-invasive sampling and ro…
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are health-hazardous through unpredictable toxicity and effects and largely unknown epidemiology, motivating studies of the latter. Up to 138 NPS were retrospectively identified using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry data from all 34 183 oral fluid drug samples collected in one Swedish health care region 2019-2020 representing 9468 psychiatric and addiction…
New psychoactive substances (NPSs) are emerging narcotics or psychotropics that pose a public health risk. The most commonly reported NPSs are synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones. Synthetic cannabinoids mimic the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), often with greater potency, while synthetic cathinones act as stimulants, frequently serving as cheaper alternatives to amphetamines, 3,4-methylene…
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are a large and continuously evolving group of new psychoactive substances (NPS). Recently, many different nitrile-containing SCRAs have emerged on the illicit market, two of which have been found to release cyanide during metabolism. This can produce symptoms similar to those of cyanide poisoning, contributing to the toxicity of these SCRAs. Notified by the EU Early…
The rapid structural evolution and extensive metabolism of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) following consumption makes their detection in biological samples challenging, especially in urine. In vitro metabolite identification studies are an essential tool for identifying analytical targets to confirm SCRA consumption in clinical and forensic toxicology casework. Systematic studies on structurally r…
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) continue to show high prevalence on the new psychoactive substances drug market. Around 2019-2020, new SCRAs bearing a cumyl moiety emerged: Cumyl-CBMEGACLONE and Cumyl-NBMEGACLONE, carrying a cyclobutyl methyl (CBM) and a norbornyl methyl moiety (NBM) attached to the γ-carbolinone core. These were followed by Cumyl-NBMINACA, the indazole carboxamide analog of Cumyl-…
An emerging new trend reveals that potent synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) that were prevalent prior to the Chinese class-wide ban in July 2021 have remained on the market or re-emerged. This is likely because of a new production route where unscheduled tail-less precursors are converted into the desired controlled SCRA via a one-step synthesis. This study reports the discovery of a clandestine prod…
Background Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a major global health concern. While alcohol continues to be a significant contributor to MVCs, the role of illicit and prescription drugs has increased in the last 4 decades. Moreover, the proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in the United States since 2010 has reshaped recreational drug use. Despite this, its contribution to MVCs has not been systematical…
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are a group of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that bind to and activate the cannabinoid 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2) receptors. Following the introduction of SCRA analog controls in China in July 2021, new SCRAs with a bromine at the 5 position on the indazole core emerged on the recreational drug market. In this study, the in vitro CB1 receptor activity of 19 different…
The laboratory analysis of new psychoactive substances and related drugs is crucial for accurate clinical and forensic diagnosis of poisonings. Given this, a new LC-MS/MS method for analyzing hallucinogens, synthetic cathinones, and synthetic cannabinoids in urine was developed. Urine samples were extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol optimized via a multivariate experimental design. An aliquot of 40…
Recently, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was posed under strict control in Europe due to the increasing HHC-containing material seizures. The lack of analytical methods in clinical laboratories to detect HHC and its metabolites in biological matrices may result in related intoxication underreporting. We developed and validated a comprehensive GC-MS/MS method to quantify 9(R)-HHC, 9(S)-HHC, 9αOH-HHC, 9βOH-HHC, 8(R)OH-9(…
Background illegal drugs significantly contribute to global health issues, with health complications often occurring not only in regular users with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) but also in first-time and occasional users. Methods this study examines five clinical cases from a public hospital in Ibiza, Spain, where patients presented with acute psychiatric symptoms due to recreational drug use. Results Contrary t…
Open article record in new tab ↗In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, declaring the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic in March 2020. Stringent measures decreased consumption of some drugs, moving the illicit market to alternative substances, such as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). A systematic literature search was performed, using scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus…
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