Hair Analysis of Methoxphenidine in a Forensic Chemsex Case.
Ruben Goncalves, Nadege Castaing, Karine Titier, Véronique Dumestre-Toulet
Journal of analytical toxicology March 21, 2022 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkab016 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 55-year-old man died at home after a chemsex party. Toxicological analysis found high concentrations of the dissociative anesthetic methoxphenidine (MXP) in his femoral blood (606 µg/L), cardiac blood (254 µg/L), and hair (13 ng/mg). Traces of 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) were also detected. Other drug concentrations were consistent with living subjects. This case highlights the risk of MXP poisoning during chemsex and underscores the need to include new psychoactive substances in postmortem toxicology screening.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 55-year-old man |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key finding | High concentrations of MXP were found in the blood and hair of a man who died after a chemsex party, indicating MXP poisoning as a cause of death. |
Abstract
Methoxphenidine (MXP, 2-MeO-diphenidine) is a dissociative anesthetic drug of the diarylethylamine type, recently introduced for recreational purposes through the online-based sale of new psychoactive substances (NPSs). The concentration of MXP in hair has never been reported, either in cases of chemsex use or in fatal cases. A 55-year-old man was found dead at his home the morning after a chemsex party. Toxicological analyses indicated high concentrations of MXP in femoral blood (606 µg/L), cardiac blood (254 µg/L) and hair (13 ng/mg). We also identified 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) in femoral blood (traces) and urine (238 µg/L). The concentrations of all other drugs were consistent with living subjects. This case highlights the risk of MXP poisoning in the context of chemsex and emphasizes the importance of including NPS in postmortem toxicology examinations.