Drug Checking: l esperienza ed i dati Alberto SALOMONE
NIGHTLIFE
NPS
REPLACEMENT EXTASY: Synthetic cathinones LSD: NBOMe series HEROIN: fentanyl and analogs
DRUG CHECKING STRATEGY SAMPLE unknown substance Description Photo RAPID ANALYSIS Known substance Report to user Unknown substance Quantitative analysis by GC-(LC)-MS FINAL REPORT NPS? N.E.W.S.
Drug checking techniques TLC GC-MS LC-MS
Drug checking on-site techniques Colorimetric tests Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) Raman Spectroscopy TruNarc instrument Narcotics Synthetic drugs Cutting agents and precursor
TruNarc: How does it work?
SCHEDULED COMPOUNDS
RESULTS
MIXTURE GC/LC-MS: Methylone (26%) 4-FA (56%)
i. Colorimetric: MARQUIS/MANDELIN (no reaction) ii. GC/LC-MS: Pseudoephedrine and Triprolidine
MgSO4
DRUG CHECKING Raman Spectra and Lab Confirmation Place: Turin, Piedmont NPS DETECTION Sample type: White powder User declaration: Speed (high-purity AMP) DRUG CHECKING i. Colorimetric: MARQUIS (soft pink), MANDELIN (green) ii. RAMAN: 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA) iii. GC/LC-MS: 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA)
DRUG CHECKING Raman Spectra and Lab Confirmation Place: Pisa, Tuscany Sample type: White blot NPS DETECTION User declaration: Lysergic acid amide (LSA) DRUG CHECKING i. Colorimetric: EHRLICH (no reaction) ii. RAMAN: Inconclusive iii. GC/LC-MS: 25B-NBOMe (1000 µg)
DRUG CHECKING Raman Spectra and Lab Confirmation Place: Perugia, Umbria NPS DETECTION Sample type: Red/black blot User declaration: LSD (125 µg) DRUG CHECKING i. Colorimetric: EHRLICH (no reaction) ii. RAMAN: Inconclusive iii. GC/LC-MS: 25I-NBOMe
DRUG CHECKING Raman Spectra and Lab Confirmation Place: Turin, Piedmont NPS DETECTION Sample type: Round blue pill (superman logo) User declaration: Mescaline + AMP DRUG CHECKING i. Colorimetric: MARQUIS/LIEBERMAN (no reaction) ii. RAMAN: Inconclusive iii. GC/LC-MS: 5-Meo-MiPT Not in TruNarc Library (5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine)
DRUG CHECKING: SUMMARY RAMAN RESUTS (n= 472 samples) 64.4% (n=304) 0.5% (n=2) 8.0% (n=38) 27.1% (n=128)
Substance Number of cases Notes Amphetamine (AMP) 11 MDMA 9 Heroin 4 LSD 3 Too fluorescent for Raman detection Opium 1 Too fluorescent for Raman detection Cocaine 1 Found in traces Total traditional drugs 29 (42.6%) Caffeine 8 Found alone or in combination with traces of AMP 5-MeO-MiPT 4 Not present in TruNarc library 2C-I 2 Blot samples MXE 2 25B-NBOMe 2 Blot samples 25I-NBOMe 1 4-AcO-MET 1 Not present in TruNarc library 4-FA 1 2C-B 1 DOC 1 Blot sample DOM 1 Blot sample DMT 1 Dry herb Pentylone 1 Total NPS 18 (26.5%) Negative samples 3 (4.4%) TOTAL SAMPLES 68 (100%) Lidocaine 2 Modafinil 2 Not present in TruNarc library Acetaminophen 1 Dipyrone 1 Metronidazole 1 Not present in TruNarc library Levomepromazine 1 Not present in TruNarc library Buprenorphine 1 In combination with lidocaine Oxycodone 1 Total adulterants/diluents pharmaceuticals 18 (26.5%)
DRUG CHECKING: SUMMARY Alarm results DRUG : Identifications MDMA Ketamine Cocaine Amphetamine mamp Heroin NPS TOTAL Mephedrone, methylone, 4-FA, 4-MEC, DOC, mexedrone, methoxyphenidine, 4-FA/methylone N Positive 106 samples 87 samples 51 samples 47 samples 2 samples 2 samples 9 samples 304 samples
DRUG CHECKING: fakes & hazards EXPECTED: FOUND: MDMA Methylone MDMA Amphetamine (3 cases) MDMA Metronidazole MDMA Levomepromazine MDMA Lidocaine (2 cases) MDMA Buprenorphine + Lidocaine MDMA Dipyrone MDMA Heroin - 36%! MDMA 5-MeO-MiPT AMP Caffeine (7 cases) AMP Methylone + 4-fluoroamphetamine AMP Modafinil AMP+mescaline 5-MeO-MiPT Ketamine Cocaine Ketamine Pseudoephedrine
DRUG CHECKING: fakes & hazards EXPECTED: FOUND: LSD 25I-NBOMe LSA 25B-NBOMe Solaris 25I-NBOMe Psilocybin DOC Tryptamine 4-AcoMET PMA Ketamine Mescaline 2C-B Legal High 4-FA Bk-2CB Pentylone NBOMe 2C-I (to be continued.) DECLARED MDMA: 121 samples UNAWARE INTAKE HIGH RISK OF INTOXICATION
RAMAN: PROS I. Specifity: Reliable identification based on substancespecific Raman bands without user interpretation II. Measurement of Mixtures: Cutting agents can be identified next to active substance III. Non-invasive Technique: Analysis through water, glass, plastic bags IV. Easy to use: no training/skilled personnel
RAMAN: CONS I. Detection Limit: inconclusive results for samples with substance concentration < 5-10 % II. Disturbances: pill coating, dark samples and fluorescing substances may cause issues III. Library-based: unknown substances can not be identified
CONCLUSIONS: Drug checking by RAMAN I. RAMAN is proving effective for rapid and safe identification of pills/powders/liquids II. Common drugs of abuse and precursors are easily identified in a single test III. Fake drugs/nps can be identified IV. High risk of (fatal) intoxication exists after unaware intake of NPS (particularly for MDMA and LSD users) V. Legal authorization/scientific support are urgently needed
GRAZIE!