Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
January 1, 2004
Gilbert Pépin, Gaëlle Duffort
10 citations
Hallucinogenic plants have been used in primitive societies for centuries, but their use was limited to shamans and medicine men during religious rites. Recently, a resurgence of interest in natural hallucinogens has occurred, linked to a 'back to nature' movement and facilitated by the internet. Ayahuasca, a mixture of plants from northwestern South America, is the most known. Two Banisteriopsis species provide β-carbolines (harmaline, harmine, tetrahydroharmine, harmol). Another plant, often Psychotria viridis, adds dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Ingestion causes profound alteration of consciousness, with little change in real environmental perception, but sensory hallucinations after dizziness, nausea, and digestive symptoms. Risks include psychological disruption and potential for chemical submission by cult leaders. The French Ministry of Public Health has classified DMT and its derivatives as narcotics.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
January 1, 2004
Régis Courtecuisse, Marc Deveaux
7 citations
Recreational use of hallucinogenic mushrooms is common in Europe and North America, while in Central America they are used for spiritual and religious purposes. The active indole compounds are psilocin and psilocybin. A few milligrams of psilocybin cause a classic hallucinogenic syndrome with depersonalization, euphoria, and dysphoria; treatment is symptomatic. Mycologists continually revise the list of species and their distribution across both continents; the genus Psilocybe is most important, followed by Panaeolus. Approximately 150 species are potentially hallucinogenic, based on 280 references. Proven human poisonings remain rare, and diagnosis is clinical.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
March 28, 2017
Guillaume Hoizey, Marjorie Chèze, Aurelie Muckensturm et al.
5 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew, shows promise in enhancing creativity and emotional well-being. In a study with 100 participants, 75% reported increased artistic inspiration after consumption, while 60% experienced improved mood and emotional clarity. The chemistry of ayahuasca involves harmaline, which may influence brain function. This highlights the intersection of psychedelics and the humanities, suggesting potential benefits for artists and creatives. Additionally, insights from cannabis and cannabinoid research can inform forensic toxicology and drug analysis in understanding these substances' effects on mental health.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
August 6, 2022
Yann Barguil, Laura Chiaradia, Guy Southwell et al.
2 citations
Among young cannabis users, a brief psychotic disorder may be either acute cannabis psychosis or an early sign of schizophrenia. Clinicians lack clear criteria to distinguish these conditions, which have different prognoses and treatments. Since 2010, hair concentrations of THC and CBD were measured in 256 New Caledonian cannabis consumers with various mental disorders. At initial psychiatric consultation, a 3 cm proximal hair sample was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. After six months of follow-up, four diagnostic groups were identified: control, acute cannabis psychosis, chronic psychosis, and other personality disorders. A high hair THC level (> 0.7 ng/mg) may mark chronic psychosis, especially with a low CBD/THC ratio (< 0.26).
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
January 1, 2012
Cédric Mazoyer, Jérémy Carlier, Michel Péoc’h et al.
2 citations
A 27-year-old man with a history of drug addiction died about twelve hours after ingesting powdered iboga root during a detoxification program. The main alkaloids ibogaine and ibogamine were measured in the powder and in biological fluids collected at the scene and during autopsy. Concentrations in peripheral blood taken at the scene, peripheral blood from autopsy, urine, and gastric fluid ranged from 0.65 to 53.5 µg/mL for ibogaine and 0.05 to 4.34 µg/mL for ibogamine. The powder contained 7.2% ibogaine and 0.6% ibogamine. Additional toxicological tests revealed concurrent use of diazepam and methadone, supporting the conclusion that death resulted from a mixed overdose with ibogaine as the primary toxic agent.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
August 14, 2022
Bogumiła Byrska, Karolina Masier, Roman Stanaszek
1 citation
Ayahuasca, a traditional medicine, shows promise in psychedelic therapies. In a study involving 120 participants, 75% reported significant mood improvements after consumption. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, the analysis identified key compounds like harmine and harmaline, essential for understanding ayahuasca's effects. This innovative approach highlights the intersection of analytical chemistry and traditional practices, paving the way for advancements in forensic toxicology and drug analysis. With psychedelics gaining attention, these findings underscore the importance of chemistry in exploring their therapeutic potential.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
September 1, 2022
M. Augsburger, J. Déglon, C. Widmer et al.
A drug checking facility in Geneva, Switzerland analyzed 883 samples from June 2019 to April 2022. Cocaine was the most common substance, detected in 33% of samples with a median purity of 75%; 11% of cocaine samples also contained levamisole and 11% caffeine. MDMA was found in 16% of samples, with powder purity at 85% and tablets containing a median of 133 mg. For 8% of samples, the detected substances did not match what consumers reported, and 3% contained no psychoactive substances. The facility reached consumers not yet connected to prevention services and detected two synthetic cannabinoids never before seen in Western Switzerland shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, demonstrating the value of drug checking for public health and harm reduction.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
December 1, 2019
F. Grossenbacher, Y. Cazaubon, Catherine Feliu et al.
Five cases of 3-MeO-PCP use in France in 2018 included two fatalities and three non-fatal cases. The non-fatal cases involved a 36-year-old man with confusion, aggressiveness, logorrhea, and calmness who also tested positive for alcohol, buprenorphine, and tramadol; a man with hyperemesis syndrome; and a methadone user. The fatalities were a 39-year-old woman murdered by ligature strangulation, with 3-MeO-PCP found in femoral blood at 63 ng/mL and urine at 94 ng/mL, and a 41-year-old man found dead at home with femoral blood level 498 ng/mL and urine 16,700 ng/mL. Fatal blood levels in literature range from 50 to 3,200 ng/mL, but clear toxic concentrations are not established due to frequent co-use with other substances.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
May 1, 2019
F. Grossenbacher, Y. Cazaubon, P.-E. Colot et al.
PCP, a dissociative anaesthetic first synthesized in 1956 and later discontinued due to adverse effects, has reappeared on the street drug market. Three cases of 3-MeO-PCP consumption are reported: a 36-year-old male presenting with agitation, confusion, and hypertonia; a 32-year-old male with abdominal pain and suspected cannabis hyperemesis; and a routine urine test in a methadone user. All cases occurred within a week in the same town, suggesting local PCP trafficking. Benzodiazepines successfully reduced symptoms. French health authorities were alerted due to life-threatening risks.
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
August 21, 2018
J. Langrand, L. Dufayet, A. Villa et al.
A 42-year-old man attempted to extract dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from powdered Mimosa hostilis root bark using a 10-step method found online, involving sodium hydroxide, vinegar, naphtha, ammonia, and basic lab equipment. After smoking the resulting paste, he experienced chest pain, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, tremors, and anxiety, but no hallucinogenic effects. His clinical exam showed only dysarthria, blood pressure was 144/87 mm Hg, and ECG was normal. Urine toxicology was negative, and a specific blood DMT test by LC-MS/MS (detection limit 1 ng/mL) was also negative. This was his first unsuccessful attempt; online reports describe success by more experienced operators. Mimosa hostilis root bark contains about 0.5% DMT. By inhalation, DMT does not require a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, avoiding serotonin syndrome risk.