The variability of ecstasy tablets composition in Brazil.
Loraine R Togni, Rafael Lanaro, Rodrigo R Resende, Jose L Costa
Journal of forensic sciences January 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12584 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractEcstasy tablets sold in São Paulo, Brazil, increasingly lack the expected MDMA. Analysis of 150 different seizures by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry found MDMA in only 44.7% of samples. Twenty other active substances were identified, including caffeine, 2C-B, piperazines, amphetamines, phencyclidine, and methamphetamine (present in 22% of samples). The results demonstrate a major shift in the synthetic drug trafficking pattern, with MDMA replaced mostly by other illicit psychoactive substances, likely to evade legal restrictions. This wide variability in tablet composition raises the risk of drug poisoning.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 150 |
| Population | Seized ecstasy tablets from São Paulo State Police |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Chemical profiling Designer drugs Forensic science Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry |
| Citations | 54 |
| Key finding | MDMA was present in only 44.7% of seized ecstasy tablets, with 20 other active substances identified, indicating a shift away from MDMA in the illicit market. |
Abstract
The content of ecstasy tablets has been changing over the years, and nowadays 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is not always present in the tablets. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition in the seized tablets labeled as ecstasy. We analyzed samples from 150 different seizures made by Sao Paulo's State Police by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MDMA was present in 44.7% of the analyzed samples, and another twenty different active substances were identified in these tablets, such as caffeine, 2C-B, piperazines, amphetamines, phencyclidine, and others. Methamphetamine was present in 22% of these samples. The results demonstrate a huge shift in the pattern of trafficking of synthetic drugs, where MDMA has been replaced in tablets mostly by illicit psychoactive substances, in a clear attempt to bypass the law. The great variability in the tablets composition may lead to an increased risk of drug poisoning.