Crystals and tablets in the Spanish ecstasy market 2000-2014: Are they the same or different in terms of purity and adulteration?
Claudio Vidal Giné, Mireia Ventura Vilamala, Iván Fornís Espinosa, Cristina Gil Lladanosa, Nú Calzada Álvarez, Ariadna Fitó Fruitós, Joan Rodríguez Rodríguez, Antonia Domíngo Salvany, Rafael De La Torre-Fornell
Forensic Science International June 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study of voluntarily submitted drug samples Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6,200 |
| Population | Ecstasy samples voluntarily provided by drug users in Spain, 2000-2014 |
| Duration | January 2000 to December 2014 |
| Measures | thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, ultraviolet spectrophotometry |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Adulteration Illegal markets Purity |
| Key findings | Crystal ecstasy was the most common format (60.6%) and more often contained only MDMA than tablets, but adulterated crystals contained more combinations of adulterants, including phenacetin, lidocaine, dextromethorphan, and methamphetamine, which were found almost exclusively in crystals. MDMA content in crystals remained stable, whereas tablet MDMA doses increased sharply after 2010. |
Abstract
Although 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has a long history in recreational settings, research on its composition (purity and adulteration) has focused only on tablets even though crystal format is readily available for users. Drug specimens collected between January 2000 and December 2014 were analyzed at Energy Control's facilities. All samples were voluntarily provided by drug users. Sample identification was made with thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and quantification with ultraviolet spectrophotometry (only in unadulterated samples). Between January 2000 and December 2014, 6200 samples purchased as ecstasy by their users were analyzed. Crystals were the most frequent format (60.6%) followed by tablets (38.8%). During the study period, the proportion of samples containing only MDMA was higher in crystals than in tablets. Compared with tablets, adulterated crystal samples contained the same number of adulterants but more combinations of different substances. Although caffeine was commonly detected as adulterant both in crystals and tablets, other substances such as phenacetin, lidocaine, dextrometorphan or methamphetamine were detected almost exclusively in crystal samples. The amount of MDMA in crystal samples remained stable unlike tablets for which a huge increase in MDMA dose was observed since 2010. Crystal samples of ecstasy showed clear differences compared to ecstasy tablets and this must be taken into account both in research and harm reduction.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Individuals who took MDMA in a clinical setting | 1986 | Observational study | |
| Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Abstinent MDMA users | 1998 | Observational cohort | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Older, more educated, drug-experienced individuals | 1986 | Observational cohort | |
| Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Young people who were regular or novice MDMA users, or non-users | 1998 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Variability in content and dissolution profiles of MDMA tablets collected in the UK between 2001 and 2018 – A potential risk to users? Drug Testing and Analysis April 22, 2019
- MDMA interactions with pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology March 31, 2020
- Are ecstasy induced serotonergic alterations overestimated for the majority of users? Journal of Psychopharmacology May 7, 2018
- An analytical study of iboga alkaloids contained in Tabernanthe iboga-derived products offered by ibogaine treatment providers Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo) April 1, 2020
- First drug-checking study at an electronic festival and fentanyl detection in the central region of Mexico Harm Reduction Journal December 10, 2023
and 9 more in the library
Cites 10
- Instability of the ecstasy market and a new kid on the block: mephedrone Journal of Psychopharmacology September 8, 2010
- Pharmacology of MDMA in Humans Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
- New psychoactive substances as adulterants of controlled drugs. A worrying phenomenon? Drug Testing and Analysis 2014
- Monitoring new psychoactive substances (NPS) in The Netherlands: data from the drug market and the Poisons Information Centre. Drug and Alcohol Dependence February 1, 2015
- MDMA powder, pills and crystal: the persistence of ecstasy and the poverty of policy Drugs and Alcohol Today April 13, 2009
and 5 more in the library