Prevalence and concentrations of new designer stimulants, synthetic opioids, benzodiazepines, and hallucinogens in postmortem hair samples: A 13‐year retrospective study. Issue 1 (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niebel, André; Westendorf, Lena; Krumbiegel, Franziska; Hartwig, Sven; Parr, Maria Kristina; Tsokos, Michael
• Is Part Of: Drug testing and analysis. Volume 14:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: hair concentrations -- LC–MS/MS -- new psychoactive substances (NPS) -- postmortem hair analysis -- prevalence data; Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Drug testing -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; 615.1901
• DOI: 10.1002/dta.3150
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1942-7603

Abstract

Abstract: Hair samples are frequently analyzed in order to characterize consumption patterns of drugs. However, the interpretation of new psychoactive substance (NPS) findings in hair remains difficult because of lacking data for comparison. In this study, selected postmortem hair samples ( n = 1203) from 2008 to 2020 were reanalyzed for synthetic cathinones, piperazines, phenethylamines, hallucinogens, benzodiazepines and opioids to evaluate prevalence data and concentration ranges. Hair samples were extracted using a two‐step extraction procedure and analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method. Overall NPSs were detected in 381 cases (31.6%). Many cases were tested positive for more than one NPS in the same time span. A variety of NPS with a large range of concentrations was observed. For better comparability and interpretation of positive cases in routine work, quantitation data for 13 NPS were calculated as percentiles. The most frequently detected NPS in this study were N‐ ethylamphetamine, α‐pyrrolidinovalerophenone, mephedrone, benzedrone, metamfepramone, and 4‐fluoroamphetamine. In conclusion, a high prevalence of these drugs was observed from postmortem hair samples. The results show a growing use of many different NPSs by mainly young drug‐using adults. Consequently, NPS screening procedures should be included in forensic toxicology. Our quantitative data may support other toxicologists in their assessment of NPS hair concentrations. Abstract : In the present study, prevalence data and concentration ranges of new psychoactive substances (designer stimulants, synthetic opioids, benzodiazepines and hallucinogens) were evaluated in 1203 selected postmortem hair samples. Our results showed the presence of a large number of different NPS and an increasing frequency between 2008 and 2020. Our quantitative data may support other toxicologists in their assessment of NPS concentrations in hair.