DOCSLIB.ORG

Comprehensive Analysis of Emerging New Psychoactive Substances By

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Comprehensive Analysis of Emerging New Psychoactive Substances By Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 9-17-2015 Comprehensive Analysis of Emerging New Psychoactive Substances by Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Mass Spectrometry Seongshin Gwak Florida International University, [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FIDC000157 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Part of the Analytical Chemistry Commons Recommended Citation Gwak, Seongshin, "Comprehensive Analysis of Emerging New Psychoactive Substances by Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Mass Spectrometry" (2015). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2291. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2291 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF EMERGING NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES BY ION MOBILITY SPECTROMETRY AND MASS SPECTROMETRY A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in CHEMISTRY by Seongshin Gwak 2015 To: Dean Michael R. Heithaus College of Arts and Sciences This dissertation, written by Seongshin Gwak, and entitled Comprehensive Analysis of Emerging New Psychoactive Substances by Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Mass Spectrometry, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. _______________________________________ Anthony P. DeCaprio _______________________________________ Fenfei Leng _______________________________________ Wenzhi Li _______________________________________ Bruce R. McCord ______________________________________ José R. Almirall, Major Professor Date of Defense: September 17, 2015 The dissertation of Seongshin Gwak is approved. _______________________________________ Dean Michael R. Heithaus College of Arts and Sciences _______________________________________ Dean Lakshmi N. Reddi University Graduate School Florida International University, 2015 ii © Copyright 2015 by Seongshin Gwak All rights reserved. iii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my family and my fiancée for their endless love, support, and encouragement. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. José Almirall, my advisor, for his support and guidance. He motivated me all the time of research during my doctoral career. I also would like to thank my dissertation committee, Dr. Anthony DeCaprio, Dr. Fenfei Leng, Dr. Wenzhi Li, and Dr. Bruce McCord, for their support and guidance, especially for taking time out of their busy schedules. I would like to acknowledge the National Institute of Justice for the research grant (Award No. 2011-DN-BX-K531) and the University Graduate School of Florida International University for the Dissertation Year Fellowship. This research would not have been possible without their financial support. Thanks to the Senate Graduate and Professional Student Committee and the College of Arts and Sciences of Florida International University for travel funding to attend a number of scientific conferences throughout my doctoral study. I would like to thank Dr. Luis Arroyo-Mora from the Forensic & Analytical Toxicology Facility at Florida International University for his technical support and the use of the Agilent 6530 Q-TOF mass analyzer. I also appreciate Oliver Spicer, Jr. from the Analytical Section at Miami-Dade Police Department Forensic Services Bureau for providing the seized drug samples. Many thanks to my fellow colleagues and friends whom I have met during my doctoral degree for their encouragement and support. I greatly appreciate all formal and present A-Team members for their help and sharing all the fun inside and outside of the laboratory. Thanks to all my friends outside of the laboratory for sharing all good memories during this long journey. v Most importantly, I would like to thank my family in Korea for their spiritual support during my study abroad as well as through my entire life. Special thanks to my fiancée for her support, patience, and love. I am very grateful to have all of them in my life. vi ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF EMERIGING NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES BY ION MOBILITY SPECTROMETRY AND MASS SPECTROMETRY by Seongshin Gwak Florida International University, 2015 Miami, Florida Professor José R. Almirall, Major Professor In the new era of drug abuse, the proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS), commonly referred to as designer drugs or legal highs, has been a global concern. These substances are produced to circumvent current legislation for controlled substances with minor modifications in their chemical structure. Although many efforts have been made previously, the characterization of such substances are still challenging because of (1) the continual emergence of newly identified substances, (2) the lack of a universal screening test for NPS that are structurally similar to each other, and (3) the complex and time-consuming chromatographic techniques currently used. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel analytical methods that can be readily adapted by forensic laboratories to overcome these challenges. In this dissertation, various analytical techniques have been evaluated for qualitative analysis of these emerging NPS. For rapid screening purposes, a commercial ion vii mobility spectrometry with a 63Ni ion source (63Ni-IMS) and also direct analysis in real time coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (DART-QTOF-MS) were investigated first. The results showed that rapid detection by 63Ni-IMS and identification by DART-QTOF-MS can be achieved with sub-nanogram detection capability and high speed total analysis time less than two minutes. In recent developments of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography (GC) has been coupled to state-of-the-art mass spectrometers, including triple quadrupole (MS/MS) and quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF). It was revealed that the application of GC-MS/MS and GC-QTOF facilitates the unambiguous identification of emerging NPS with a chemical ionization (CI) source. In addition, constitutional isomers of NPS were differentiated with the capabilities of product ion scan and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. Finally, the coupling of IMS with a mass spectrometer (IMS-MS) was investigated as an alternative confirmatory technique. With the development of an optimal solvent system in the electrospray ionization (ESI) process, the rapid analysis and identification of synthetic cathinone was successfully achieved less than five minutes. As a proof-of-concept, seized drugs samples provided by a local forensic laboratory were analyzed using these developed methods by various analytical techniques. The results from these seized samples are also presented in this evaluation. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research Motivation ............................................................................................ 2 1.2 Research Hypothesis ............................................................................................ 4 1.3 Significance of Research ...................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND ......................................................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction to NPS .............................................................................................. 7 2.1.1 Synthetic Cannabinoids ................................................................................ 7 2.1.2 Synthetic Cathinones .................................................................................... 8 2.1.3 Phenethylamines ......................................................................................... 10 2.1.4 Ketamine and Phencyclidine-type Substances ............................................ 11 2.1.5 Tryptamines ................................................................................................ 12 2.1.6 Piperazines .................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Forensic Analysis of Controlled Substances ...................................................... 15 2.3 Principles of Instrumentation ............................................................................. 16 2.3.1 Gas Chromatography .................................................................................. 16 2.3.2 Ion Mobility Spectrometry .......................................................................... 18 2.3.2.1 Radioactive 63Ni ionization source ...................................................... 22 2.3.2.2 Coupling of Electrospray Ionization and Mass Spectrometry with Ion Mobility Spectrometry ......................................................................... 23 2.3.3 Mass Spectrometry ...................................................................................... 25 2.3.3.1 Ion Sources .......................................................................................... 26 2.3.3.2 Mass Analyzers...................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 615 Neuroscience-Cayman-Bertin
    Thomas G. Brock, Ph.D. Introduction to Neuroscience In our first Biology classes, we learned that lipids form the membranes around cells. For many students, interests quickly moved to the intracellular constituents ‘that really matter’, or to how cells or systems work in health and disease. If there was further thought about lipids, it might have been limited to more personal issues, like an expanding waistline. It was easy to forget about lipids in the complexities of, say, Alzheimer’s Disease, where tau protein is hyperphosphorylated by a host of kinases before forming neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid precursor protein is processed by assorted secretases, ultimately aggregating to form neurodegenerating plaques. What possible role could lipids have in all this? After all, lipids just form the membranes around cells. Fortunately, neuroscientists study complex systems. Whether working at the molecular, cellular, or organismal level, the research focus always returns to the intricately interconnected bigger picture. Perhaps surprisingly, lipids keep emerging as part of the bigger picture. At least, the smaller lipids do. Many of the smaller lipids, including the cannabinoids and eicosanoids, act as paracrine hormones, modulating cell functions in a receptor-mediated fashion. In this sense, they are rather like the peptide hormones in their diversity and actions. In the neurosystem, this means that these signaling lipids determine if synapses fire or not, when cells differentiate or die, and whether tissues remain healthy or become inflamed. Returning to the question posed above about lipids in Alzheimer’s, these mediators have roles at many levels in the course of the disease, as presented in an article on page 42 of this catalog.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Methods for the Identification and Analysis of Synthetic Cathinones in Seized Materialsd
    Recommended methods for the Identification and Analysis of Synthetic Cathinones in Seized Materials (Revised and updated) MANUAL FOR USE BY NATIONAL DRUG ANALYSIS LABORATORIES Photo credits:UNODC Photo Library; UNODC/Ioulia Kondratovitch; Alessandro Scotti. Laboratory and Scientific Section UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME Vienna Recommended Methods for the Identification and Analysis of Synthetic Cathinones in Seized Materials (Revised and updated) MANUAL FOR USE BY NATIONAL DRUG ANALYSIS LABORATORIES UNITED NATIONS Vienna, 2020 Note Operating and experimental conditions are reproduced from the original reference materials, including unpublished methods, validated and used in selected national laboratories as per the list of references. A number of alternative conditions and substitution of named commercial products may provide comparable results in many cases. However, any modification has to be validated before it is integrated into laboratory routines. ST/NAR/49/REV.1 Original language: English © United Nations, March 2020. All rights reserved, worldwide. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Mention of names of firms and commercial products does not imply the endorse- ment of the United Nations. This publication has not been formally edited. Publishing production: English, Publishing and Library Section, United Nations Office at Vienna. Acknowledgements The Laboratory and Scientific Section of the UNODC (LSS, headed by Dr. Justice Tettey) wishes to express its appreciation and thanks to Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Free PDF Download
    European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2019; 23: 3-15 Use of cognitive enhancers: methylphenidate and analogs J. CARLIER1, R. GIORGETTI2, M.R. VARÌ3, F. PIRANI2, G. RICCI4, F.P. BUSARDÒ2 1Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy 2Section of Legal Medicine, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy 3National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy 4School of Law, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: In the last decades, phenidate analogs should be undertaken to re- several cognitive-enhancing drugs have been duce the uprising threat, and education efforts sold onto the drug market. Methylphenidate and should be made among high-risk populations. analogs represent a sub-class of these new psy- choactive substances (NPS). We aimed to re- Key Words: view the use and misuse of methylphenidate and Cognitive enhancers, Methylphenidate, Ritalin, Eth- analogs, and the risk associated. Moreover, we ylphenidate, Methylphenidate analogs, New psycho- exhaustively reviewed the scientific data on the active substances. most recent methylphenidate analogs (methyl- phenidate and ethylphenidate excluded). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature Introduction search was performed on methylphenidate and analogs, using specialized search engines ac- cessing scientific databases. Additional reports Consumption of various pharmaceutical drugs were retrieved from international agencies, in- by healthy individuals in an attempt to improve stitutional websites, and drug user forums. cognitive faculties is on the rise, whether for aca- RESULTS: Methylphenidate/Ritalin has been demic or recreational purposes1. These substances used for decades to treat attention deficit disor- are stimulants that preferentially target the cate- ders and narcolepsy. More recently, it has been used as a cognitive enhancer and a recreation- cholamines of the prefrontal cortex of the brain to al drug.
    [Show full text]
  • (T = C/Si/Ge): the Uniqueness of Carbon Bonds in Tetrel Bonds
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 13 September 2018 doi:10.20944/preprints201809.0228.v1 Inter/intramolecular Bonds in TH5+ (T = C/Si/Ge): The Uniqueness of Carbon bonds in Tetrel Bonds Sharon Priya Gnanasekar and Elangannan Arunan* Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. 560012 INDIA * Email: [email protected] Abstract Atoms in Molecules (AIM), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO), and normal coordinate analysis have been carried out at the global minimum structures of TH5+ (T = C/Si/Ge). All these analyses lead to a consistent structure for these three protonated TH4 molecules. The CH5+ has a structure with three short and two long C-H covalent bonds and no H-H bond. Hence, the popular characterization of protonated methane as a weakly bound CH3+ and H2 is inconsistent with these results. However, SiH5+ and GeH5+ are both indeed a complex formed between TH3+ and H2 stabilized by a tetrel bond, with the H2 being the tetrel bond acceptor. The three-center-two-electron bond (3c-2e) in CH5+ has an open structure, which can be characterized as a V-type 3c-2e bond and that found in SiH5+ and GeH5+ is a T-type 3c-2e bond. This difference could be understood based on the typical C-H, Si-H, Ge-H and H-H bond energies. Moreover, this structural difference observed in TH5+ can explain the trend in proton affinity of TH4. Carbon is selective in forming a ‘tetrel bond’ and when it does, it might be worthwhile to highlight it as a ‘carbon bond’.
    [Show full text]
  • Targeting the Endocannabinoid System to Reduce Nociception
    Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2011 Targeting the endocannabinoid system to reduce nociception Lamont Booker Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Medical Pharmacology Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2419 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Targeting the Endocannabinoid System to Reduce Nociception A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. By Lamont Booker Bachelor’s of Science, Fayetteville State University 2003 Master’s of Toxicology, North Carolina State University 2005 Director: Dr. Aron H. Lichtman, Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia April 2011 Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank several people. I like to thank my advisor Dr. Aron Lichtman for taking a chance and allowing me to work under his guidance. He has been a great influence not only with project and research direction, but as an excellent example of what a mentor should be (always willing to listen, understanding the needs of each student/technician, and willing to provide a hand when available). Additionally, I like to thank all of my committee members (Drs. Galya Abdrakmanova, Francine Cabral, Sandra Welch, Mike Grotewiel) for your patience and willingness to participate as a member. Our term together has truly been memorable! I owe a special thanks to Sheryol Cox, and Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 Bill No. CS for SB 1528 Ì460300XÎ460300
    Florida Senate - 2016 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE Bill No. CS for SB 1528 460300 Ì460300XÎ 576-03397-16 Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations (Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice) 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to illicit drugs; amending s. 893.02, 3 F.S.; defining terms; deleting a definition; revising 4 definitions; amending s. 893.03, F.S.; providing that 5 class designation is a way to reference scheduled 6 controlled substances; adding, deleting, and revising 7 the list of Schedule I controlled substances; revising 8 the list of Schedule III anabolic steroids; amending 9 s. 893.033, F.S.; adding, deleting, and revising the 10 list of precursor and essential chemicals; amending s. 11 893.0356, F.S.; defining the term “substantially 12 similar”; deleting the term “potential for abuse”; 13 requiring that a controlled substance analog be 14 treated as the highest scheduled controlled substance 15 of which it is an analog; amending s. 893.13, F.S.; 16 creating a noncriminal penalty for selling, 17 manufacturing, or delivering, or possessing with 18 intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver any unlawful 19 controlled substance in, on, or near an assisted 20 living facility; creating a criminal penalty for a 21 person 18 years of age or older who delivers to a 22 person younger than 18 years of age any illegal 23 controlled substance, who uses or hires a person 24 younger than 18 years of age in the sale or delivery 25 of such substance, or who uses a person younger than 26 18 years of age to assist in avoiding detection for 27 specified violations; deleting a criminal penalty for Page 1 of 197 2/12/2016 8:29:32 AM Florida Senate - 2016 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE Bill No.
    [Show full text]
  • Is There an Acid Strong Enough to Dissolve Glass? – Superacids
    ARTICLE Is there an acid strong enough to dissolve glass? – Superacids For anybody who watched cartoons growing up, the word unit is based on how acids behave in water, however as acid probably springs to mind images of gaping holes being very strong acids react extremely violently in water this burnt into the floor by a spill, and liquid that would dissolve scale cannot be used for the pure ‘common’ acids (nitric, anything you drop into it. The reality of the acids you hydrochloric and sulphuric) or anything stronger than them. encounter in schools, and most undergrad university Instead, a different unit, the Hammett acidity function (H0), courses is somewhat underwhelming – sure they will react is often preferred when discussing superacids. with chemicals, but, if handled safely, where’s the drama? A superacid can be defined as any compound with an People don’t realise that these extraordinarily strong acids acidity greater than 100% pure sulphuric acid, which has a do exist, they’re just rarely seen outside of research labs Hammett acidity function (H0) of −12 [1]. Modern definitions due to their extreme potency. These acids are capable of define a superacid as a medium in which the chemical dissolving almost anything – wax, rocks, metals (even potential of protons is higher than it is in pure sulphuric acid platinum), and yes, even glass. [2]. Considering that pure sulphuric acid is highly corrosive, you can be certain that anything more acidic than that is What are Superacids? going to be powerful. What are superacids? Its all in the name – super acids are intensely strong acids.
    [Show full text]
  • (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub
    US 20130289061A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0289061 A1 Bhide et al. (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 31, 2013 (54) METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS TO Publication Classi?cation PREVENT ADDICTION (51) Int. Cl. (71) Applicant: The General Hospital Corporation, A61K 31/485 (2006-01) Boston’ MA (Us) A61K 31/4458 (2006.01) (52) U.S. Cl. (72) Inventors: Pradeep G. Bhide; Peabody, MA (US); CPC """"" " A61K31/485 (201301); ‘4161223011? Jmm‘“ Zhu’ Ansm’ MA. (Us); USPC ......... .. 514/282; 514/317; 514/654; 514/618; Thomas J. Spencer; Carhsle; MA (US); 514/279 Joseph Biederman; Brookline; MA (Us) (57) ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is a method of reducing or preventing the development of aversion to a CNS stimulant in a subject (21) App1_ NO_; 13/924,815 comprising; administering a therapeutic amount of the neu rological stimulant and administering an antagonist of the kappa opioid receptor; to thereby reduce or prevent the devel - . opment of aversion to the CNS stimulant in the subject. Also (22) Flled' Jun‘ 24’ 2013 disclosed is a method of reducing or preventing the develop ment of addiction to a CNS stimulant in a subj ect; comprising; _ _ administering the CNS stimulant and administering a mu Related U‘s‘ Apphcatlon Data opioid receptor antagonist to thereby reduce or prevent the (63) Continuation of application NO 13/389,959, ?led on development of addiction to the CNS stimulant in the subject. Apt 27’ 2012’ ?led as application NO_ PCT/US2010/ Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising 045486 on Aug' 13 2010' a central nervous system stimulant and an opioid receptor ’ antagonist.
    [Show full text]
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology of Amphetamine and Related Designer Drugs
    Pharmacology and Toxicology of Amphetamine and Related Designer Drugs U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES • Public Health Service • Alcohol Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration Pharmacology and Toxicology of Amphetamine and Related Designer Drugs Editors: Khursheed Asghar, Ph.D. Division of Preclinical Research National Institute on Drug Abuse Errol De Souza, Ph.D. Addiction Research Center National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA Research Monograph 94 1989 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20402 Pharmacology and Toxicology of Amphetamine and Related Designer Drugs ACKNOWLEDGMENT This monograph is based upon papers and discussion from a technical review on pharmacology and toxicology of amphetamine and related designer drugs that took place on August 2 through 4, 1988, in Bethesda, MD. The review meeting was sponsored by the Biomedical Branch, Division of Preclinical Research, and the Addiction Research Center, National Institute on Drug Abuse. COPYRIGHT STATUS The National Institute on Drug Abuse has obtained permission from the copyright holders to reproduce certain previously published material as noted in the text. Further reproduction of this copyrighted material is permitted only as part of a reprinting of the entire publication or chapter. For any other use, the copyright holder’s permission is required. All other matieral in this volume except quoted passages from copyrighted sources is in the public domain and may be used or reproduced without permission from the Institute or the authors.
    [Show full text]
  • Moves to Amend HF No. 2128 As Follows:​ Delete Everything After
    04/05/21 10:32 am ​ HOUSE RESEARCH RC/MV H2128DE1​ 1.1 .................... moves to amend H.F. No. 2128 as follows:​ 1.2 Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:​ 1.3 "ARTICLE 1​ 1.4 DHS HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS​ 1.5 Section 1. [62A.002] APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.​ 1.6 Any benefit or coverage mandate included in this chapter does not apply to managed​ 1.7 care plans or county-based purchasing plans when the plan is providing coverage to state​ 1.8 public health care program enrollees under chapter 256B or 256L.​ 1.9 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 62C.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to​ 1.10 read:​ 1.11 Subd. 4. Applicability. Any benefit or coverage mandate included in this chapter does​ 1.12 not apply to managed care plans or county-based purchasing plans when the plan is providing​ 1.13 coverage to state public health care program enrollees under chapter 256B or 256L.​ 1.14 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 62D.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to​ 1.15 read:​ 1.16 Subd. 3. Applicability. Any benefit or coverage mandate included in this chapter does​ 1.17 not apply to managed care plans or county-based purchasing plans when the plan is providing​ 1.18 coverage to state public health care program enrollees under chapter 256B or 256L.​ 1.19 Sec. 4. [62J.011] APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.​ 1.20 Any benefit or coverage mandate included in this chapter does not apply to managed​ 1.21 care plans or county-based purchasing plans when the plan is providing coverage to state​ 1.22 public health care program enrollees under chapter 256B or 256L.​ Article 1 Sec.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4: MDMA
    MDMA 4 ERROL YUDKO (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy,” E, Adam, X, XTC) is a methamphetamine analogue. It has hallucinogenic, psychostimu- lant, and multiple behavior-altering activities (Green et al., 1995). Although it was discovered serendipitously in 1912 by Merck Pharmaceuticals, its use as a psychotherapeutic/recreational drug was unknown until the late 1970s. By the early 1980s, as the popularity of the “rave party” increased so did use of MDMA. In 1985, prior to its classification as a Schedule I drug, it was being evaluated for its use in psychotherapy. A fearful Congress and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) successfully petitioned for its classifica- tion as a Schedule I compound with no evidence that it was at all harmful. Recreational use of MDMA has been on the rise for the past 20 years (Peroutka, 1987; Schuster et al., 1998; Pope et al., 2001). Increases in the rate of MDMA use have continued despite reductions in the use of other substances (Johnston et al., 2001a,b). This is an international trend (Abraham et al., 1998; Hibell et al., 2000; McPherson and Afsarifard, Chapter 3 of this book). Although there have been occasional deaths indirectly caused by the use of MDMA (Henry et al., 1992), it is widely considered by its users to be a “safe” drug. The illusion of safety stems from lack of the obvious negative effects that other amphetamine-type compounds induce. MDMA does not cause an increase in aggressive behavior, and its users do not experience paranoid schizophrenia. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) less than 0.3% of drug-related emergency room visits are due to MDMA.
    [Show full text]
  • Ce4less.Com Ce4less.Com Ce4less.Com Ce4less.Com Ce4less.Com Ce4less.Com Ce4less.Com
    Hallucinogens And Dissociative Drug Use And Addiction Introduction Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that cause alterations in perception, thought, or mood. This heterogeneous group has compounds with different chemical structures, different mechanisms of action, and different adverse effects. Despite their description, most hallucinogens do not consistently cause hallucinations. The drugs are more likely to cause changes in mood or in thought than actual hallucinations. Hallucinogenic substances that form naturally have been used worldwide for millennia to induce altered states for religious or spiritual purposes. While these practices still exist, the more common use of hallucinogens today involves the recreational use of synthetic hallucinogens. Hallucinogen And Dissociative Drug Toxicity Hallucinogens comprise a collection of compounds that are used to induce hallucinations or alterations of consciousness. Hallucinogens are drugs that cause alteration of visual, auditory, or tactile perceptions; they are also referred to as a class of drugs that cause alteration of thought and emotion. Hallucinogens disrupt a person’s ability to think and communicate effectively. Hallucinations are defined as false sensations that have no basis in reality: The sensory experience is not actually there. The term “hallucinogen” is slightly misleading because hallucinogens do not consistently cause hallucinations. 1 ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com ce4less.com How hallucinogens cause alterations in a person’s sensory experience is not entirely understood. Hallucinogens work, at least in part, by disrupting communication between neurotransmitter systems throughout the body including those that regulate sleep, hunger, sexual behavior and muscle control. Patients under the influence of hallucinogens may show a wide range of unusual and often sudden, volatile behaviors with the potential to rapidly fluctuate from a relaxed, euphoric state to one of extreme agitation and aggression.
    [Show full text]