Determination of cathinones and other stimulant, psychedelic, and dissociative designer drugs in real hair samples.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry March 1, 2016 Alberto Salomone, Giulia Gazzilli, Daniele Di Corcia et al.
A new laboratory method using UHPLC-MS/MS can detect 31 stimulant, psychedelic, and dissociative drugs in hair samples. The method is simple, fast, and sensitive, with detection limits ranging from 1.8 to 35 pg/mg. When applied to 77 real hair samples—23 from known MDMA and ketamine users and 54 from routine driver's license screenings—six samples tested positive for at least one new psychoactive substance. Methoxetamine appeared in three cases (7.7–27 pg/mg), mephedrone in two (50–59 pg/mg), and methylone in one (28 pg/mg). Other detected drugs included 4-MEC, α-PVP, 4-FA, MDPV, and diphenidine, confirming the growing spread of stimulant designer drugs among poly-drug users.