scholarly journals Acute DOB and PMA Administration Impairs Motor and Sensorimotor Responses in Mice and Causes Hallucinogenic Effects in Adult Zebrafish

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 586
Author(s):  
Micaela Tirri ◽  
Luisa Ponzoni ◽  
Sabrine Bilel ◽  
Raffaella Arfè ◽  
Daniela Braida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental State ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Drug Markets ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Adult Zebrafish ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Drastic Increase ◽  
Dark Web ◽  
Sensorimotor Responses

The drastic increase in hallucinogenic compounds in illicit drug markets of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is a worldwide threat. Among these, 2, 5-dimetoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine (DOB) and paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA; marketed as “ecstasy”) are frequently purchased on the dark web and consumed for recreational purposes during rave/dance parties. In fact, these two substances seem to induce the same effects as MDMA, which could be due to their structural similarities. According to users, DOB and PMA share the same euphoric effects: increasing of the mental state, increasing sociability and empathy. Users also experienced loss of memory, temporal distortion, and paranoia following the repetition of the same thought. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the acute systemic administration of DOB and PMA (0.01–30 mg/kg; i.p.) on motor, sensorimotor (visual, acoustic, and tactile), and startle/PPI responses in CD-1 male mice. Moreover, the pro-psychedelic effect of DOB (0.075–2 mg/kg) and PMA (0.0005–0.5 mg/kg) was investigated by using zebrafish as a model. DOB and PMA administration affected spontaneous locomotion and impaired behaviors and startle/PPI responses in mice. In addition, the two compounds promoted hallucinatory states in zebrafish by reducing the hallucinatory score and swimming activity in hallucinogen-like states.

scholarly journals METHODOLOGIC DIRECTIONS IN CRIMINALISTIC RESEARCH FOR THE OFFENCE OF TRAFFICKING AND ILLICIT DRUG CONSUMPTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-54
Author(s):  
Petronela-Diana Ferariu ◽  
Valentina Avrămescu
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Rapid Pace ◽  
Illicit Trafficking

The criminal activity of trafficking and illicit drug use is developing rapidly, new psychoactive substances are emerging at a rapid pace and represent a major threat to the health and safety of individuals. The actual crime in the case of trafficking and illicit drug use offence must be determined in terms of size the participants and causes. The distinction between real crime and apparent crime is defined as the "dark number or hidden figure of crime" (Rădulescu S., 1999, 189) The use of this concept is specifically used in the case of the number of crimes committed and remained unknown to the society, for various reasons. In the forensic investigation of the crime of trafficking and illicit drug use, the research activity is carried out with great difficulties, because one of the forms of crime with the highest rate of the dark number of crime and almost impossible to estimate is the illicit trafficking and consumption of drugs, as victims are most often accomplice in this form of crime, and establishing the diversity of substances that fall into the narcotic sphere is relative.

Voltammetric profiling of new psychoactive substances: Piperazine derivatives

2021 ◽  
Vol 883 ◽  
pp. 115054
Author(s):  
D. Martins ◽  
E.M.P.J. Garrido ◽  
F. Borges ◽  
J.M.P.J. Garrido
Keyword(s):  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Piperazine Derivatives

scholarly journals Mortality involving New Psychoactive Substances across Europe, 2016- 2017

2021 ◽  
pp. 100016
Author(s):  
Hugo López-Pelayo ◽  
Julian Vicente ◽  
Ana Gallegos ◽  
Andrew McAuley ◽  
Yacin Buyuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances

scholarly journals Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and High-Sensitivity Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Screening of Classic Drugs and New Psychoactive Substances and Metabolites in Urine of Consumers

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4000
Author(s):  
Emilia Marchei ◽  
Maria Alias Ferri ◽  
Marta Torrens ◽  
Magí Farré ◽  
Roberta Pacifici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Mobile Phase ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Resolution Mass

The use of the new psychoactive substances is continuously growing and the implementation of accurate and sensible analysis in biological matrices of users is relevant and fundamental for clinical and forensic purposes. Two different analytical technologies, high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) were used for a screening analysis of classic drugs and new psychoactive substances and their metabolites in urine of formed heroin addicts under methadone maintenance therapy. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction. The UHPLC-HRMS method included Accucore™ phenyl Hexyl (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm, Thermo, USA) column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of mobile phase A (ammonium formate 2 mM in water, 0.1% formic acid) and mobile phase B (ammonium formate 2 mM in methanol/acetonitrile 50:50 (v/v), 0.1% formic acid) and a full-scan data-dependent MS2 (ddMS2) mode for substances identification (mass range 100–1000 m/z). The GC-MS method employed an ultra-Inert Intuvo GC column (HP-5MS UI, 30 m, 250 µm i.d, film thickness 0.25 µm; Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and electron-impact (EI) mass spectra were recorded in total ion monitoring mode (scan range 40–550 m/z). Urine samples from 296 patients with a history of opioid use disorder were examined. Around 80 different psychoactive substances and/or metabolites were identified, being methadone and metabolites the most prevalent ones. The possibility to screen for a huge number of psychotropic substances can be useful in suspected drug related fatalities or acute intoxication/exposure occurring in emergency departments and drug addiction services.

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