Experimental neurology
May 1, 2021
Fabrizio Schifano, Stefania Chiappini, Andrea Miuli et al.
49 citations
Several new psychoactive substances (NPS) can trigger serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition of excessive serotonin activity marked by altered mental status, neuromuscular effects, and autonomic hyperactivity. A systematic review of three retrospective studies, two case series, and five case reports identified implicated substances including psychedelic phenethylamines (2C-I, 25I-NBOMe, 5-IT) and synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, MDPV, methylone, butylone, NRG3, AMT, MXP), as well as the antidepressant bupropion when misused at high doses or combined with other serotonergic drugs. Most substances were taken orally, though nasal insufflation and sublingual administration occurred. Psychiatric history was negative for most subjects. Clinicians should recognize NPS risks and diagnostic challenges due to undetectability in routine drug screenings.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
February 9, 2021
Valeria Catalani, Davide Arillotta, John Corkery et al.
38 citations
During the first eight months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a web crawler called NPSfinder® identified 229 new psychoactive substances (NPSs) being discussed on drug enthusiast forums and social media. Of these, 18 NPSs were detected for the first time, including six cathinones, six opioids, two synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, two PCP-like molecules, and two psychedelics. Ten of these 18 substances had not been previously reported to either the UNODC or EMCDDA databases. Opioids and cathinones generated the most discussion on social media and Reddit. Automated web crawlers combined with social listening may help identify emerging NPSs, and pandemic-related restrictions may influence demand for specific NPS classes.
European Neuropsychopharmacology
April 13, 2021
Valeria Catalani, John Corkery, Amira Guirguis et al.
18 citations
A software tool called NPSfinder crawled websites frequented by psychonauts and online NPS resources from November 2017 to February 2020, detecting 1,344 psychedelic new psychoactive substances (NPS)—nearly ten times more than the combined total reported by the United Nations and European monitoring agencies. Of these, 994 were previously unknown molecules identified as potential novel psychedelics, indicating a large gap between online availability and officially reported NPS. The findings suggest strong interest in psychedelics among psychonauts and possibly recreational drug users, and that monitoring online spaces may help assess real-world availability, understand drug trends, and predict future scenarios.
Forensic science international
May 1, 2017
Elisabetta Bertol, Jennifer Pascali, Diego Palumbo et al.
Two young men, aged 19 and 21, were admitted to a hospital in a comatose state with respiratory acidosis, dilated pupils, and hypothermia after consuming 3-MeO-PCP, a dissociative anesthetic similar to phencyclidine, along with alcohol. Blood alcohol levels were 2.0 g/L and 1.7 g/L. They required intubation for 7-8 hours and remained delirious for nearly 24 hours. Toxicological analysis of blood and urine using GC-MS and LC-MS/MS detected 3-MeO-PCP at concentrations of 350.0 and 180.1 ng/mL in blood and 6109.2 and 3003.6 ng/mL in urine. The symptoms likely resulted from the combined effects of 3-MeO-PCP and alcohol. This is one of the few documented intoxication cases and the first reported in Italy, highlighting the need for broad analytical methods to detect new psychoactive substances.