International journal of legal medicine
May 1, 2013
Rafaela Martin, Jennifer Schürenkamp, Angela Gasse et al.
55 citations
A new laboratory method using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry reliably measures the hallucinogenic drugs psilocin, bufotenine, and LSD along with their breakdown products in blood and urine. The procedure protects unstable compounds by adding vitamin C, drying with nitrogen, and blocking light. It recovers at least 86% of each drug, shows no significant interference from other substances, and produces consistent results with low variability. Processed samples remain stable for at least two days. The method was successfully tested on real patient samples.
International journal of legal medicine
January 1, 2000
N Carter, G N Rutty, C M Milroy et al.
40 citations
Two deaths are reported from the use of MBDB (Methyl-J or Eden), a less common phenethylamine related to MDMA (ecstasy). Phenethylamines, including MDMA and MDEA, are widely used in dance scenes and have caused fatalities. The report describes these two fatal cases associated with MBDB, highlighting the dangers of this lesser-known member of the drug class.
International journal of legal medicine
January 1, 2019
S Iwersen-Bergmann, S Lehmann, A Heinemann et al.
20 citations
A mass poisoning of 29 middle-aged adults (24–56 years old) occurred after they consumed an unknown drug formulation containing two new psychoactive substances, 2C-E and Bromo-DragonFly (BDF), during an esoteric weekend seminar. All were hospitalized with severe symptoms; some required mechanical ventilation, but all recovered fully. Toxicological analysis of blood and urine samples confirmed BDF in all urine samples and 17 blood samples, with blood concentrations between 0.6 and 2.0 μg/L and urine concentrations from 1.6 to 35 μg/L. 2C-E was confirmed in seven urine samples at concentrations from 1.5 to 183 μg/L but not in blood. The case highlights the importance of collecting urine samples when new psychoactive substance consumption is suspected, as some substances may be undetectable in blood.
International journal of legal medicine
January 1, 1998
M J Bogusz, R D Maier, A T Schäfer et al.
19 citations
In 1996, honey jars labeled as containing Stropharia cubensis (Psilocybe cubensis) were confiscated at the Dutch-German border. Microscopic analysis of a surface layer of particles revealed mushroom tissue and spores typical of Psilocybe. Chemical analysis using HPLC with mass spectrometry and diode array detection identified psilocine but not psilocybine. Quantification was difficult due to matrix interference. The honey with Psilocybe could be purchased in Dutch coffee shops without restrictions, even though psilocine and psilocybine are listed substances under Dutch law.
International journal of legal medicine
May 1, 2019
Hyewon Seo, In Sook Kim, Young-Hoon Kim et al.
9 citations
The synthetic psychoactive substance 25N-NBOMe, a phenethylamine, was metabolized in vitro using human liver microsomes. Fourteen metabolites (M1–M14) were identified through liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The biotransformations included hydroxylation, O-demethylation, N-dealkylation, nitro reduction, dehydrogenation, and carbonylation. The hydroxyl metabolite was the most abundant after phase I metabolism. These findings offer potential biomarkers for detecting 25N-NBOMe ingestion.
International journal of legal medicine
July 1, 2021
Pascal Kintz, Jean-Sébastien Raul, Alice Ameline
8 citations
Hair and toenail samples collected seven months after a murder showed traces of the new psychoactive substances 25I-NBOMe (2 pg/mg in axillary hair, 1 pg/mg in toenails) and 4-MMC (6 pg/mg in axillary hair, 5 pg/mg in toenails), while head hair tested negative. The negative head hair result ruled out drug exposure in the four months before collection and external contamination. Combining the detection windows of axillary hair (about 4 to 8 months) and toenails (up to 8 months) allowed the authors to conclude that the positive findings are more likely than not consistent with consumption of both substances at the time of the crime.
International journal of legal medicine
September 1, 2022
André Lobo Castro, Maria José C S Pinto Da Costa, Sónia Tarelho et al.
7 citations
A man was found unresponsive with powders and paraphernalia nearby. Toxicological analysis of his blood, the powders, and paraphernalia identified five compounds, including 3-MeO-PCP and o-desmethyltramadol, which were quantified in the blood. The results suggest that death resulted from the combined action of these two substances, an unusual mix of new psychoactive substances. This case underscores the importance of examining all scene evidence and using broad-spectrum analytical methods to detect and identify substances involved in intoxication.
International journal of legal medicine
January 1, 2025
Eun-Mi Hwang, Kyu-Sik Jeong, Seong Yeon Yoo et al.
2 citations
A new DNA marker in the trnL intron region distinguishes the two cactus species Lophophora williamsii (which contains the psychotropic agent mescaline) and Lophophora diffusa. The marker is a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) where one repeat unit (13 nucleotides) occurs in L. williamsii and two in L. diffusa. A TaqMan genotyping assay using two probes detected the marker with high sensitivity (detection limits of 0.000063 ng and 0.000066 ng). Testing 16 crime-scene samples presumed to be L. williamsii matched results from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, confirming the method's forensic applicability for species identification.