Emerging Detection of Hexahydrocannabinol in Driver Saliva: Preliminary Data.
Anne-Sophie Derne, Jean-Yves Jouzeau, Elise Pape, Allan Kolodziej, Valérie Gibaja, Elodie Marchand, Nicolas Gambier, Julien Scala-Bertola
European addiction research January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1159/000541760 via PubMed
Summary
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a substance with effects similar to THC, was detected in oral fluid samples from drivers in France after being classified as a narcotic in June 2023. Among 867 samples collected through December 2023, 16 were positive for HHC, all from male drivers aged 19 to 58. HHC always appeared alongside THC, with mean HHC concentration 35 ng/mL and median 10 ng/mL. In 11 cases with high THC-to-HHC ratios, impaired alertness likely resulted mainly from THC, and a linear correlation between THC and HHC concentrations was observed. The findings suggest HHC use may be spreading in the general population.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 867 |
| Population | Drivers in France who provided oral fluid samples to traffic police |
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Driving under influence Drugs of abuse Hexahydrocannabinol/hhc Oral fluid |
| Key finding | HHC was detected in 16 of 867 oral fluid samples from drivers, always alongside THC, and in cases with high THC/HHC ratios impaired alertness was likely due mainly to THC. |
Abstract
Hexahydrocannabinol or HHC has recently appeared on the Internet and in cannabidiol (CBD) stores in various forms. Although the abuse and dependence potential of HHC consumption has not yet been established, HHC has been reported by consumers to have effects similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and has been classified as narcotics in France since June 12, 2023. We conducted a retrospective study of all cases of oral fluid samples collected from drivers by traffic police officers and sent to our laboratory to confirm the presence of illicit substances between June 12, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The presence of 33 psychoactive substances, including HHC, THC, and CBD, in the oral fluid samples was assessed by an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Of the 867 oral fluid samples analyzed, 16 were positive for HHC and involved only male drivers aged between 19 and 58. The mean and median HHC concentrations found in oral fluid were 35 ± 69 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, respectively. In these preliminary data, HHC was always associated with THC, but the THC/HHC and CBD/HHC ratios were very broad. Although the kinetics of HHC and THC in saliva are different, the 11 cases with the highest THC/HHC ratios (>300) support that impaired alertness in drivers may be mainly due to THC. In these 11 cases, a linear correlation was found between THC and HHC concentrations in oral fluid. Further large-scale studies are required to extend these preliminary data, but the emerging detection of HHC in oral fluid of drivers may illustrate its spreading use in the general population.