The variability of ecstasy tablets composition in Brazil.
Loraine R Togni, Rafael Lanaro, Rodrigo R Resende, Jose L Costa
Journal of Forensic Sciences 2015 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12584 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 150 |
| Population | Seized ecstasy tablets from São Paulo State Police |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Chemical profiling Designer drugs Forensic science Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry Forensic drug analysis Ecstasy composition Illicit drug markets |
| Citations | 54 |
| Key findings | MDMA was present in only 44.7% of seized ecstasy tablets, with 20 other active substances identified, indicating a shift away from MDMA in the illicit market. |
Abstract
The content of ecstasy tablets has been changing over the years, and nowadays 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is not always present in the tablets. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition in the seized tablets labeled as ecstasy. We analyzed samples from 150 different seizures made by Sao Paulo's State Police by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MDMA was present in 44.7% of the analyzed samples, and another twenty different active substances were identified in these tablets, such as caffeine, 2C-B, piperazines, amphetamines, phencyclidine, and others. Methamphetamine was present in 22% of these samples. The results demonstrate a huge shift in the pattern of trafficking of synthetic drugs, where MDMA has been replaced in tablets mostly by illicit psychoactive substances, in a clear attempt to bypass the law. The great variability in the tablets composition may lead to an increased risk of drug poisoning.