scholarly journals New Psychoactive Substances: Evolution in the Exchange of Information and Innovative Legal Responses in the European Union

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8704
Author(s):  
Maria Rosaria Varì ◽  
Giulio Mannocchi ◽  
Roberta Tittarelli ◽  
Laura Leondina Campanozzi ◽  
Giulio Nittari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
National Level ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Consumer Safety ◽  
Wide Range

At the end of 2019, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction was monitoring around 790 new psychoactive substances, more than twice the total number of controlled substances under the United Nations Conventions. These substances, which are not subject to international drug controls, include a wide range of molecules, including the assortment of drugs such as synthetic cannabinoids, stimulants, opiates, and benzodiazepines. Most of them are sold as “legal” substitutes for illicit drugs, while others are intended for small groups willing to experiment with them in order to know their possible new effects. At the national level, various measures have been taken to control new substances and many European countries have responded with specific legislation in favor of consumer safety and by extending or adapting existing drug laws to incorporate the new psychoactive substances. Moreover, since 1997, an early warning system has been created in Europe for identifying and responding quickly to the risks of new psychoactive substances. In order to establish a quicker and more effective system to address the criminal activities associated with new dangerous psychoactive substances, the European legal framework has considerably changed over the years.

The “Spice” Trade

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Surmont ◽  
Helgi Valur Daníelsson ◽  
Brendan Hughes ◽  
Roumen Sedefov
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Retail Price ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
China And India ◽  
Online Shops ◽  
Surface Web ◽  
Herbal Mixtures

There are currently over 170 synthetic cannabinoids monitored by the European Union Early Warning System, making it the single largest group of new psychoactive substances, often marketed as “legal” replacements to cannabis. The Internet, coupled with cheap and efficient shipping, has allowed countries like China and India to become the chemical and pharmaceutical wholesalers and retailers to the world. These companies ship synthetic cannabinoids to Europe, where they are processed and packaged into a range of products, smokable herbal mixtures being the most common one. The herbal mixtures, often referred to as “Spice,” are then sold via online shops on the surface web, using sophisticated marketing techniques, potentially generating high profits. We decided to use available data on the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-MDMB-PINACA to estimate those profits. After making an inventory of the required materials and the typical retail price, we made a lower and upper bound profit estimation. We found that the return on costs varies between 3.3 and 24.4 after the first production and rises to a range between 5.5 and 42.5. By applying a basic economic model, our estimations show that profits in this type of business are substantial.

scholarly journals New Psychoactive Substances: A Matter of Time

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 818-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flaminia Pantano ◽  
Silvia Graziano ◽  
Roberta Pacifici ◽  
Francesco Paolo Busardò ◽  
Simona Pichini
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Wide Range

In the last few years, a wide range of new psychoactive substances (NPS) have been produced and marketed to elude the controlled substance lists. These molecules enter the traditional illegal and web market with poor knowledge about their toxicity, mechanism of action, metabolism, abuse potential so that they are directly tested by the consumers. This perspective highlights the main issues connected with NPS: the celerity they enter and leave the market once included in the banning laws to be substituted by new legal analogues; the unavailability of analytical screening tests and certified standards to perform toxicological analyses; the time lag between NPS identification and inclusion in the controlled substances lists. Finally, the authors take a snapshot of the commitment of the Italian Early Warning System in highlighting the recent seizures of NPS as well as the distribution of NPS related intoxication and deaths as an example of what is happening in the European countries and internationally.

scholarly journals Molecular Networking: A Useful Tool for the Identification of New Psychoactive Substances in Seizures by LC–HRMS

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flaminia Vincenti ◽  
Camilla Montesano ◽  
Francesca Di Ottavio ◽  
Adolfo Gregori ◽  
Dario Compagnone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Product ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Nmr Analysis ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Molecular Networking ◽  
Fentanyl Analogs ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Product Search

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are a global concern since they are spreading at an unprecedented rate. Despite their commerce still being limited compared to traditional illicit drugs, the identification of NPS in seizures may represent a challenge because of the variety of possible structures. In this study we report the successful application of molecular networking (MN) to identify unexpected fentanyl analogs in two seizures. The samples were extracted with 1 mL of methanol and analyzed with an untargeted data-dependent acquisition approach by LC–HRMS. The obtained data were examined using the MN workflow within the Global Natural Product Search (GNPS). A job was submitted to GNPS by including both seizures and standard mixtures containing synthetic cannabinoids and fentanyls raw files; spectra obtained from standards were used to establish representative networks for both molecular classes. All synthetic cannabinoids in the mixture were linked together resulting in a molecular network despite their different fragmentation spectra. Looking at fentanyls, all the molecules with the typical 188.143 and 105.070 fragments were combined in a representative network. By exploiting the standard networks two unexpected fentanyls were found in the analyzed seizures and were putatively annotated as para-fluorofuranylfentanyl and (iso)butyrylfentanyl. The identity of these two fentanyl analogs was confirmed by NMR analysis. Other m/z ratios in the seizures were compatible with fentanyl derivatives; however, they appeared to be minor constituents, probably impurities or synthetic byproducts. The latter might be of interest for investigations of common fingerprints among different seizures.

Screening of 104 New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and Other Drugs of Abuse in Oral Fluid by LC–MS-MS

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 697-707
Author(s):  
Kelly Francisco da Cunha ◽  
Karina Diniz Oliveira ◽  
Marilyn A Huestis ◽  
Jose Luiz Costa
Keyword(s):  
Oral Fluid ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Matrix Effects ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Simultaneous Detection ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a major public health problem, primarily due to the increased number of acute poisoning cases. Detection of these substances is a challenge. The aim of this research was to develop and validate a sensitive screening method for 104 drugs of abuse, including synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, fentanyl analogues, phenethylamines and other abused psychoactive compounds (i.e., THC, MDMA, LSD and their metabolites) in oral fluid by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). The Quantisal™ oral fluid device was used to collect oral fluid samples. The oral fluid–elution buffer mixture (500-μL sample) was extracted with t-butyl methyl ether, and chromatographic separation was performed on a Raptor™ biphenyl column (100 × 2.1 mm ID, 2.7 μm), with a total run time of 13.5 min. Limits of detection were established at three concentrations (0.05, 0.1 or 1 ng/mL) for most analytes, except for acetyl norfentanyl and mescaline (5 ng/mL). Matrix effects were generally <20% and overall extraction recoveries >60%. The highest matrix effect was observed within the synthetic cannabinoid group (PB22, −55.5%). Lower recoveries were observed for 2C-T (47.2%) and JWH-175 (58.7%). Recoveries from the Quantisal™ device were also evaluated for all analytes (56.7–127%), with lower recoveries noted for 25I-NBOMe, valerylfentanyl and mCPP (56.7, 63.0 and 69.9%, respectively). Drug stability in oral fluid was evaluated at 15, 60 and 90 days and at 25, 4 and −20°C. As expected, greater stability was observed when samples were stored at −20°C, but even when frozen, some NPS (e.g., synthetic cannabinoids) showed more than 20% degradation. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of seven authentic oral fluid samples positive for 17 different analytes. The method achieved good sensitivity and simultaneous detection of a wide range of NPS.

scholarly journals Sex and Gender Differences in the Effects of Novel Psychoactive Substances

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 606
Author(s):  
Liana Fattore ◽  
Matteo Marti ◽  
Rafaela Mostallino ◽  
Maria Paola Castelli
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Subjective Effects ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Sex And Gender Differences

Sex and gender deeply affect the subjective effects and pharmaco-toxicological responses to drugs. Men are more likely than women to use almost all types of illicit drugs and to present to emergency departments for serious or fatal intoxications. However, women are just as likely as men to develop substance use disorders, and may be more susceptible to craving and relapse. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown important differences between males and females after administration of “classic” drugs of abuse (e.g., Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), morphine, cocaine). This scenario has become enormously complicated in the last decade with the overbearing appearance of the new psychoactive substances (NPS) that have emerged as alternatives to regulated drugs. To date, more than 900 NPS have been identified, and can be catalogued in different pharmacological categories including synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants (cathinones and amphetamine-like), hallucinogenic phenethylamines, synthetic opioids (fentanyls and non-fentanyls), new benzodiazepines and dissociative anesthetics (i.e., methoxetamine and phencyclidine-derivatives). This work collects the little knowledge reached so far on the effects of NPS in male and female animal and human subjects, highlighting how much sex and gender differences in the effects of NPS has yet to be studied and understood.

scholarly journals Unexpected results found in larvae samples from two postmortem forensic cases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olwen Groth ◽  
Simon Franz ◽  
Helena Fels ◽  
Julia Krueger ◽  
Gabriele Roider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Pericardial Fluid ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
New Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Toxicological Analysis

Abstract Purpose In forensics, entomological specimens can be used as additional/alternative matrices to detect xenobiotics when human specimens are limited in their application. Despite some advantages over implementing putrefied human remains, most medico-legal laboratories do not include entomotoxicological procedures as routine analytical methods. We thus applied two authentic cases to evaluate necrophagous larvae’s potential as complementary matrices for toxicological analysis after extensive postmortem decomposition. Methods Larvae and postmortem human samples, including hair, stomach contents, pericardial fluid, liver, lung, and skeletal muscle, were collected at autopsy. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for pharmaceutical substances, illicit drugs, and new psychoactive substances, including synthetic cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, new synthetic opioids, and stimulants. Results Nearly all substances detected in human specimens, including several benzodiazepines and synthetic cannabinoids, were also detected in larvae. Surprisingly, some drugs, including the new psychoactive substances EAM-2201 and U-47700, were found exclusively in larvae and hair. The benzodiazepine etizolam was detected only in liver, lungs, and stomach contents, possibly resulting from characteristic tissue distribution in humans and/or larvae. Conclusions Antemortem external hair contamination with synthetic cannabinoids from side-stream smoke and postmortem hair contamination with substances in putrefaction fluids can be supposed in these cases. Our findings suggest that supplementary information can indeed be gained from analyzing larvae additional to those human specimens that are typically used for toxicological analysis after extensive postmortem decomposition. Nevertheless, these results represent merely two cases, requiring in-depth studies to determine whether such findings can identify acute intoxications as possible causes of death.

scholarly journals Régimen jurídico de los drones: el nuevo Reglamento (UE) 2018/1139 = Drones legal framework: the new Regulation (UE) 2018/1139

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
María José Castellanos Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
The United States ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Aviation Safety ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Wide Range

Resumen: Los drones son una realidad en los cielos de muchos países. Existen muchas diferencias entre los distintos tipos de drones, no sólo en cuanto a si dicha aeronave es autónoma o pilotada por control remoto; sino en cuanto a otros aspectos como su tamaño, o el uso que se le vaya a dar al dron, que bien puede destinarse a operaciones especializadas (trabajos técnicos, científicos o aéreos), a uso recreativo, o en el futuro, incluso al transporte.La regulación existente de los Estados miembros en materia de drones se circunscribía al ámbito nacional y en relación con determinados tipos de drones. En España, al igual que en los países de nuestro entorno se había desarrollado una regulación limitada a algunos tipos de drones, concretamente los que tie­nen una masa máxima en el despegue inferior a 150 kg. También la FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) en Estados Unidos desarrolló su propia normativa sobre drones, que posteriormente ha ido modificando.Sin embargo, dada la fragmentación legal en esta materia, se desarrolló por parte de la Unión Eu­ropea, concretamente por la Agencia Europea de Seguridad Aérea o EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), un marco regulatorio para el desarrollo de un mercado único europeo y favorecer así las ope­raciones transfronterizas de drones.Finalmente, el nuevo Reglamento (UE) 2018/1139 ha venido a establecer una regulación europea que es de aplicación a todos los drones, de manera que las legislaciones internas de los Estados miem­bros quedarían desplazadas por instrumento internacional. Por tanto, su objetivo es abarcar las aerona­ves no tripuladas, puesto que las aeronaves no tripuladas también operan dentro del espacio aéreo junto con las aeronaves tripuladas. Como las tecnologías de las aeronaves no tripuladas actualmente hacen posible una amplia gama de operaciones, éstas deben ser objeto de normas que sean proporcionales al riesgo de la operación o del tipo de operación en concreto, porque su regulación no se puede hacer de­pender únicamente del peso de la aeronave.Palabras clave: aeronaves, drones, aeronaves no tripuladas, aeronaves pilotadas por control remo­to, aeronaves autónomas, RPAS, UAS, UAV, regulación, transporte aéreo, espacio aéreo, aviación civil, FAA, EASA, incidentes, accidentes.Abstract: Drones are a reality in the skies of many countries. There are many differences between the different types of drones, not only as to whether the aircraft is autonomous or piloted by remote control; but in other aspects such as its size, or the use to be given to the drone, which may well be used for specialized operations (technical, scientific or aerial), for recreational use, or in the future, for transportation.The existing regulation of the Member States on drone matters was confined to the national level and in relation to certain types of drones. In Spain, as others Member States, a regulation limited to some types of drones had been developed, which have a maximum take-off mass below than 150 kg. Also the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in the United States developed its own regulation on drones, which has subsequently been modified.However, given the legal fragmentation in this area, it was developed by the European Union, specifically by the European Aviation Safety Agency or EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), a regulatory framework for the development of a European single market and promote thus cross-border drone operations.Finally, the new Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 has come to establish a European regulation that is applicable to all drones, so that the internal legislations of the Member States would be displaced by that international instrument. Therefore, its objective is to cover unmanned aircraft, since unmanned aircraft also operate within the airspace together with manned aircraft. As the technologies of unmanned aircraft currently make possible a wide range of operations, they must be subject to standards that are propor­tional to the risk of the operation or the type of operation in particular, because its regulation can not be made to depend solely on the weight of the aircraft.Keywords: aircrafts, drones, unmanned aircrafts, remotely piloted aircrafts, autonomous aircrafts, RPAS, UAS, UAV, regulation, air transport, airspace, civil aviation, FAA, EASA, incidents, accidents.

Novel psychoactive substances in a psychiatric young adults sample: A multicenter, observational study

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S311-S311
Author(s):  
M. Lupi ◽  
T. Acciavatti ◽  
S. Marini ◽  
E. Cinosi ◽  
R. Santacroce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Binge Drinking ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Multicenter Observational Study ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Population

IntroductionComorbidities between psychiatric diseases and consumption of traditional substances of abuse are common. Nevertheless, there is no data regarding the use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in the psychiatric population.ObjectivesThe purpose of this multicentre survey is to investigate the consumption of a wide variety of psychoactive substances in a young psychiatric sample.MethodsBetween September 2013 and November 2015, a questionnaire has been administered, in ten Italian psychiatric care facilities, to a sample of 671 psychiatric patients (48.5% men; 51.5% women), aged between 18 and 26 years (mean age: 22.24).Results8.2% of the sample declared use of NPS at least once in a lifetime and 2.2% have assumed NPS in the last three months. The NPS more used were synthetic cannabinoids (4.5%), followed by methamphetamine (3.6%). The three psychiatric diagnosis with more frequent NPS consumption were bipolar disorder (23.1%), personality disorders (11.8%) and schizophrenia and related disorders (11.6%). Bipolar disorder was associated with NPS consumption (P < .001). Among the illicit drugs investigated, 31.4% of the sample was cannabis smoker and 10.7% cocaine user. Moreover, 70.6% of the sample declared alcohol use and 47.7% had binge drinking conducts. In univariate regression analysis, bipolar disorder was positive associated with binge drinking while obsessive compulsive disorder resulted negative associated.ConclusionsThe use of novel psychoactive substances in a young psychiatric population appears to be a frequent phenomenon, probably still underestimated. Bipolar disorder shows an association with NPS use. Therefore, careful and constant monitoring and accurate evaluations of possible clinical effects related to their use are necessary.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Policy-Making in the European Union

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
National Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Policy ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Common ◽  
Key Events ◽  
The Eu

Policy-Making in the European Union explores the link between the modes and mechanisms of EU policy-making and its implementation at the national level. From defining the processes, institutions and modes through which policy-making operates, the text moves on to situate individual policies within these modes, detail their content, and analyse how they are implemented, navigating policy in all its complexities. The first part of the text examines processes, institutions, and the theoretical and analytical underpinnings of policy-making, while the second part considers a wide range of policy areas, from economics to the environment, and security to the single market. Throughout the text, theoretical approaches sit side by side with the reality of key events in the EU, including enlargement, the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, and the financial crisis and resulting Eurozone crisis, focusing on what determines how policies are made and implemented. This includes major developments such as the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism, the reform of the common agricultural policy, and new initiatives to promote EU energy security. In the final part, the chapters consider trends in EU policy-making and the challenges facing the EU.

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