Analysis of 25 C NBOMe in Seized Blotters by HPTLC and GC–MS
B. Duffau, Cristian Camargo, M. Kogan, E. Fuentes, B. Cassels
Journal of Chromatographic Science July 12, 2016 DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmw095 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA new HPTLC method was developed and validated to identify and quantify the synthetic hallucinogen 25-C-NBOMe in seized blotters, with confirmation by GC–MS. Analysis of 15 real samples found 25-C-NBOMe in all cases, with dosages ranging from 701.0 to 1943.5 µg per blotter. The findings suggest that NBOMes are replacing LSD as the main hallucinogenic drug consumed in blotters in Chile, addressing a serious forensic, regulatory, and public health issue.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Method validation and analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Seized blotters containing 25-C-NBOMe |
| Keywords | Chemistry Medicine |
| Key finding | All 15 seized blotters contained 25-C-NBOMe in a dosage range of 701.0–1943.5 µg per blotter, indicating that NBOMes are replacing LSD as the main hallucinogenic drug in blotters in Chile. |
Abstract
Use of unauthorized synthetic drugs is a serious, forensic, regulatory and public health issue. In this scenario, consumption of drug-impregnated blotters is very frequent. For decades, blotters have been generally impregnated with the potent hallucinogen known as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); however, since 2013 blotter stamps with N-2 methoxybenzyl-substituted phenylethylamine hallucinogen designated as “NBOMes” have been seized in Chile. To address this issue with readily accessible laboratory equipment, we have developed and validated a new HPTLC method for the identification and quantitation of 25-C-NBOMe in seized blotters and its confirmation by GC–MS. The proposed method was validated according to SWGTOX recommendations and is suitable for routine analysis of seized blotters containing 25-C-NBOMe. With the validated method, we analyzed 15 real samples, in all cases finding 25-C-NBOMe in a wide dosage range (701.0–1943.5 µg per blotter). In this situation, we can assume that NBOMes are replacing LSD as the main hallucinogenic drug consumed in blotters in Chile.