Forensic Science International - The Consciousness Library

Simultaneous LC-MS/MS determination of the emerging ketamine analogue 2F-2-oxo-PCPr and related compounds in human hair and application to forensic casework.

Forensic Science International May 20, 2026 Byungsuk Cho, Seonghoon Yeon, Sanghee Woo et al.

In early 2025, an unidentified white powder suspected illicit drug was submitted to National Forensic Service (NFS) for analysis and was subsequently identified as 2F-2-oxo-PCPr. 2F-2-oxo-PCPr is a structurally modified ketamine analogue characterized by the replacement of the aromatic chlorine substituent with fluorine and the substitution of the amine methyl group with a propyl group....

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.113011 Full text 2f-2-oxo-pcpr Hair analysis Ketamine analogues Lc-ms/ms

Chemical profile of synthetic drugs seized in Paraná State (Brazil): Possible decline of new psychoactive substances.

Forensic Science International 2026 Isabella Ferreira Melo, Leociley Rocha Alencar Menezes, Philippe Rodrigues Benedetti et al.

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the diversification and global commercialization of new psychoactive substances (NPS). This study assessed changes in the chemical profile of blotter papers and ecstasy tablets seized in the state of Paraná, Brazil, between 2014 and 2024. A total of 4911 samples (1656 blotter papers and 3255 tablets) were analyzed using GC-MS NMR, and...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112785 Full text Ecstasy LSD Blotter paper Chemical profile +2

Structural identification and metabolic profiling of the new psychoactive substance 2-fluoro-2-oxo-PCPr using NMR and LC-QTOF-MS.

Forensic Science International November 10, 2025 Seonghoon Yeon, Jisu Park, Byungseok Cho et al.

Fluorinated analogs of ketamine, such as 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine and its isomers, have recently emerged as dissociative anesthetics that act through multiple central nervous system pathways. As their prevalence continues to increase, metabolic studies are critical to confirm their use in suspected cases of abuse. 2-Fluoro-N-propylnordeschloroketamine (2-fluoro-2-oxo-PCPr), in which a propyl...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112716 Full text 2-fluoro-2-oxo-pcpr Giao-dft nmr calculations Interconverting rotamerization Metabolite profiling

Analysis of drugs of abuse and contaminants in individuals under drug surveillance programs: A study in hair samples.

Forensic Science International June 1, 2025 Ana Y. Simão, P Y Tokuyama, G Zampieri et al. 1 citation

In this study, over 900 hair samples from individuals using drugs of abuse in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil were analysed for classical drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) in hair samples. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were developed for the detection of some drugs (25B-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, 25E-NBOH, 2C-C, 2C-I, 3,4-MDPHP, 3-MeO-PCP,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112493 Full text Cocaine contaminants Drugs of abuse Hair analysis Lc-ms/ms +6

Implementation of a miniaturized sensor system using screen-printed carbon electrodes for on-site detection of MDMA in seized drugs.

Forensic Science International May 31, 2025 Paweł Stelmaszczyk, Ewa Markiel, Karolina Sekuła et al. 2 citations

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, is a widely abused psychoactive substance, especially in the context of club and party scenes. Due to its prevalence and the associated health risks, rapid and reliable methods for its detection are essential, particularly for forensic investigations. This study presents the development of a portable sensor system for the...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112514 Full text Electrochemical sensor Seized drugs Electrochemical_sensors voltammetry Electrodes +8

Post mortem chiral analysis of MDMA and MDA in human blood and hair.

Forensic Science International November 1, 2024 Julian Bickel, Alexander Müller, Hilke Jungen et al. 3 citations

Drug-related fatalities in the EU are predominantly associated with opioids. MDMA (Ecstasy) consumption results in fewer lethal intoxications despite its widespread use. This study investigates MDMA-related fatalities, focusing on enantiomer ratios of MDMA and its metabolite MDA to explore the role of metabolism in fatal outcomes. MDMA induces euphoria, increased empathy, and physiological...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112226 Full text Ecstasy Chiral analysis Forensic toxicology Post mortem analysis +5

Fluorodeschloroketamine found as a street drug in drug seizures and drug driving cases in Hong Kong.

Forensic Science International August 1, 2024 Wing-Chi Cheng, Kwok-Leung Dao, Wing-Cheong Wong 3 citations

With the decline of the use of ketamine, one of the common drugs of abuse in Hong Kong, detection of ketamine-related analogues in local laboratories has been encountered. A brief account of the occurrence of fluorodeschloroketamine (FDCK) in forensic cases is reported through a retrospective study of all drug seizures and driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases since its first...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112075 Full text Drug driving Drug seizures Fluorodeschloroketamine Fluorodeschloronorketamine +4

Synthetic cathinones in drug-facilitated sexual assault: A case report involving the novel generation substituted cathinone N-ethylpentedrone and a review of the literature.

Forensic Science International June 1, 2024 Guillaume Drevin, Jean-Michel Gaulier, Florian Hakim et al. 21 citations

The use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is not uncommon. Indeed, the effects associated with the use of this substance may lead to disinhibition. Several synthetic cathinones, such as mephedrone or methylone, also possess marked entactogenic properties. This manuscript aims to (i) report a DFSA case involving a novel cathinone derivative,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112030 Full text Synthetic cathinones Drug-facilitated assault dfa Date rape Drug-facilitated sexual assault +4

Case report: Identification of AP-238 and 2-fluorodeschloroketamine in internet available powder samples sold as bucinnazine.

Forensic Science International July 1, 2023 Karissa N Resnik, Kala N Babb, Lori W Bekenstein et al. 2 citations

Novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) are a class of opioid agonists that include analogs of fentanyl and structurally distinct non-fentanyl compounds normally used as standalone products, heroin adulterants, or constituents of counterfeit pain pills. Most NSOs are not currently scheduled in the U.S., are predominantly illegally synthesized, and sold on the Darknet. Among them, the cinnamylpiperazine...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111732 Full text 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine Ap-238 Bucinnazine Dart-ms +3

Concentrations of LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, and iso-LSD in hair segments of 18 drug abusers.

Forensic Science International March 1, 2023 Jiaming Zheng, Xin Wang, Jiali Zhang et al. 1 citation

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of the most widely abused hallucinogens, which can alter consciousness, produce mental disorder, and cause harmful behavior. 1-Propionyl-LSD (1 P-LSD), a novel derivative of LSD, has the similar hallucinogenic effect. It is a control substance in several countries. 1 P-LSD can act as a prodrug for LSD and is rapidly hydrolyzed to LSD in humans. Therefore,...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111578 Full text 1-Propionyl-LSD 1 P-LSD Hair analysis Lc–ms/ms Segmental hair +5

Lucy is back in Brazil with a new dress.

Forensic Science International December 1, 2022 Luiz Ferreira Neves Junior, André Luis Fabris, Ingrid Lopes Barbosa et al. 10 citations

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, a John Lennon song that was a hit in the 1960s, was born amidst a social context enlightened by lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). In Brazil, both the drug and the song were very popular at the time, although it gradually mitigated. Nevertheless, while the song remains out of the spotlight, LSD derivatives are currently gaining attention with the rising of the new...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111497 Full text Lysergic acid diethylamide 1a-LSD Ald-52 New psychoactive substances +4

Methoxpropamine (MXPr) in powder, urine and hair samples: Analytical characterization and metabolite identification of a new threat.

Forensic Science International April 1, 2022 Ruben Goncalves, Nadege Castaing, C Richeval et al. 10 citations

Methoxpropamine (MXPr) is an arylcyclohexylamine dissociative drug with structural similarities with 3-MeO-PCE, ketamine and deschloroketamine. MXPr was identified for the first time in Europe in October 2019 in Denmark and is considered a new psychoactive substance. We undertook the molecular identification and characterization of MXPr in urine, hair and powder samples. We used a combination...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111215 Full text Hair analysis High-resolution mass spectrometry Ir spectroscopy In vitro metabolism +4

Ropinirole metabolite mimics a new psychoactive substance (4-HO-MET) in LC-MS/MS

Forensic Science International December 16, 2021 Magdalene Huen-Yin Tang, Hok-Fung Tong, Ka-Chung Wong et al. 3 citations

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is often regarded as a highly reliable methodology for confirmatory testing in analytical toxicology, especially for detection of new psychoactive substances (NPS) by clinical and forensic laboratories. However, false positives still do occur and erroneous reporting can have substantial legal implications. In this study, we investigated...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111151

Prevalence study of drugs and new psychoactive substances in hair of ketamine consumers using a methanolic direct extraction prior to high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Forensic Science International December 1, 2021 J M Matey, Gemma Montalvo, Carmen García-ruiz et al. 19 citations

Few studies have reported the prevalence or incidence about the consumption of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The hair analysis can be useful for this purpose. At the present, ketamine is the most consumed arylcyclohexylamine associated to young consumers and polyconsumption profiles. For this reason, ketamine consumer cases become very interesting to provide information on NPS prevalence....

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111080 Full text Ketamine Arylcyclohexylamine Cathinone Hair +3

Fatal intoxication related to two new arylcyclohexylamine derivatives (2F-DCK and 3-MeO-PCE).

Forensic Science International July 1, 2021 Thomas Gicquel, Camille Richeval, Vadim Mesli et al. 45 citations

Continuous development and rapid turnover of drug market of new psychoactive substances (NPS) make it difficult to obtain up-to-date analytical methods for efficient detection of intoxication cases with new substances: no analytical data and no previously published concentration values in biological samples are indeed available. In this context, we aim to report the first fatal case involving...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110852 Full text 2f-dck 3-meo-pce Arylcyclohexylamine derivatives Forensic +3

Method development for the identification of methoxpropamine, 2-fluoro-deschloroketamine and deschloroketamine and their main metabolites in blood and hair and forensic application.

Forensic Science International June 1, 2021 Serena Mestria, Sara Odoardi, Giulia Biosa et al. 30 citations

The constant increase of new psychoactive substances, often available on the illicit drug market as 'research chemicals', poses a concern for public health and a significant analytical and legislative challenge. Β-keto-arylcyclohexamines represent a class of dissociative anesthetics recently introduced on the market of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). There is still a lack of information...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110817 Full text Deschloroketamine dck Fluoro-deschloroketamine fdck Forensic toxicology Methoxpropamine mxpr

Analysis of 28 hair samples from users of the hallucinogenic beverage ayahuasca

Forensic Science International April 20, 2021 Mengxi Liu, Huan Yang, Jing Hu et al. 14 citations

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage widely used in religious ceremonies in Amazonia. Dimethyltryptamine is the main active compound of ayahuasca. Dimethyltryptamine has many hazardous effects, including hallucinations. In the present study, a fast and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantitation of dimethyltryptamine in hair samples. Twenty-milligram hair samples...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110790 Ayahuasca Chromatography Hallucinogen

Chemical and statistical analyses of blotter paper matrix drugs seized in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Forensic Science International 2021 Vinícius L Meira, Adriana S De Oliveira, Luciana S A Cohen et al. 25 citations

Drugs of abuse are psychoactive substances illicitly distributed and used worldwide. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, they represent a public health issue and are directly related to several social problems. The recent increase in appearances of new psychoactive substances (NPS), derived from structural modifications of existing psychoactive substances, poses a threat to public health and forensic...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110588 Full text 25i-nboh 25i-nbome Designer drugs Gc–ms +2

In vitro characterization of new psychoactive substances at the μ-opioid, CB1, 5HT1A, and 5-HT2A receptors—On-target receptor potency and efficacy, and off-target effects

Forensic Science International October 23, 2020 Anna Åstrand, Davide Guerrieri, Svante Vikingsson et al. 21 citations

New psychoactive substances (NPS) appear on the recreational market on a monthly basis, with unclear toxicology, resulting in an increasing number of fatalities. Identification of drug targets and potencies is crucial for understanding and treating intoxications and for scheduling processes. In this study 60 NPS and metabolites belonging to opioids, cannabinoids and serotonergic hallucinogens...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110553 Serotonin Pharmacology Cannabinoid receptor agonists Hallucinogen +5

Challenges in the identification of new thermolabile psychoactive substances: The 25I-NBOH case.

Forensic Science International July 1, 2020 Ana Flávia Belchior de Andrade, Mathieu Elie, Christian Weck et al. 8 citations

The continuous emergence of NPS over the last years poses a series of novel challenges for forensic analysts. Most of those new compounds are synthesized with minimal chemical modifications to the structure of already known chemicals in order to avoid regulations. Some of these new compounds may undergo chemical changes during analysis leading to misidentification and detrimental legal...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110306 Full text 25i-nboh Derivatization Nps Thermal degradation

Emergence of new psychoactive substance 2-fluorodeschloroketamine: Toxicology and urinary analysis in a cluster of patients exposed to ketamine and multiple analogues.

Forensic Science International May 7, 2020 Magdalene H Y Tang, Terence C. Li, C. Lai et al.

New psychoactive substances (NPS) emerge continually, amongst which is a growing class of ketamine analogues with an arylcyclohexylamine backbone. Recently we reported a poisoning outbreak associated with 2-oxo-PCE (deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine). The present report describes the emergence of another ketamine analogue, 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2F-DCK). The compound was first detected in a...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110327

A rapid analytical strategy for the determination of ayahuasca alkaloids in non-ritualistic approaches by UHPLC-MS/MS

Forensic Science International April 17, 2020 Sarah Eller, Gabriela Ramos Borges, Daniela Souza Ossanes et al. 13 citations

IntroductionAyahuasca is a beverage composed by a mixture of herbs which contain the compound N,N-dimethyltriptamine (DMT) and the β-carbolines. Although its use is legalized in Brazil only for religious and spiritual ceremonies, there is a growing black market specialized in the distribution of these compounds in form of herbal material through internet and mail. The purpose of this work was...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110298 Ayahuasca Harmine Harmaline Chromatography +1

New psychoactive substances (NPS) prevalence over LSD in blotter seized in State of Santa Catarina, Brazil: A six-year retrospective study.

Forensic Science International 2020 Bruna De Souza Boff, Jair Silveira Filho, Karina Nonemacher et al. 29 citations

Designer drugs or new psychoactive substances (NPS) are a heterogeneous group of substances obtained through the modification of chemical structure of some natural products or drugs. NPS illegally commercialized in blotter papers mimicking the most common form of LSD consumption, with a great variability of colours and symbols, have largely increased worldwide, including in Brazil, becoming an...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110002 Full text LSD Chemical profile Paper blotters

Mix of new substances psychoactive, NPS, found in blotters sold in two Colombian cities.

Forensic Science International November 1, 2019 Catrin Y Mendoza-Valencia, Diana Jazmín Mariño Gaviria, Nancy Patiño Reyes et al.

The new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Colombia are detected by national authorities, in blotters strip, in different circumstances and places: airports, music concerts, discos and parks. Blotters are marketed as LSD and cause several cases of intoxication and death in some consumers: due to acute intoxication or when mixed with other drugs and may have different effects on the central...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109969 Full text MDMA 25i-nbome Blotters Cns +4

Application of hair analysis to document illegal 5-methoxy-N,N-dissopropyltrptamine (5-MeO-DiPT) use.

Forensic Science International November 1, 2019 Roujia Wang, Ping Xiang, Zhiguo Yu et al.

5-Methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT) is a designer hallucinogen that is a synthetic tryptamine derivative. It is highly abused and is involved in criminal activities because of its psychotropic properties. Herein, we presented an UHPLC-MS/MS method allowing for the qualitative and quantitative determination of 5-MeO-DiPT in human hair. The hair was first decontaminated and then cut...

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109972 Full text 5-MEO-Dipt Hair analysis Uhplc-ms/ms

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