GC‐MS and GC‐MS/MS in PCI Mode Determination of Mescaline in Peyote Tea and in Biological Matrices
Journal of Forensic Sciences – August 17, 2012
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Mescaline was identified in a case involving an underage boy suspected of abuse, highlighting the effectiveness of segmental hair analysis for detecting long-term drug use. In this instance, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed mescaline in a dark green liquid found in his bedroom. Urine tests returned negative, but hair analysis showed mescaline in the proximal segment (root to 2 cm), indicating recent use. This method offers valuable insights into drug consumption patterns, even when traditional testing fails.
Abstract
Abstract Peyote, a cactus containing the hallucinogen mescaline, is used to induce altered states of consciousness in religious ceremonies or for recreational purpose. This study reports a case of an underage boy suspected of mescaline abuse. For this purpose, we analyzed a dark green liquid sample found in the bedroom of the boy whose urine and hair samples were collected shortly after the drink was found. A method by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐MS/MS) in positive chemical ionization mode was developed and validated in terms of linearity, specificity, accuracy, and sensitivity for mescaline determination at the low concentrations present in hair. GC ‐ MS analysis of the liquid identified mescaline, while urine was negative; GC ‐ MS / MS segmental hair analysis identified mescaline in the proximal segment (root to 2 cm), while the distal segments were negative. Although peyote was uncommonly encountered, its use was confirmed by segmental hair analysis that can provide long‐term information about drugs use.