Novel psychoactive substance intoxication resulting in attempted murder.
Richard J. Stevenson, Laurence Tuddenham
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine July 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2014.04.007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A man in his twenties with a previous history of drug-induced psychosis and no previous history of violence |
| Interventions | 3-methoxyphencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP) methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) butane gas |
| Keywords | Attempted murder Drug intoxication Mental health law Novel psychoactive substance |
| Key findings | After snorting large quantities of 3-MeO-PCP and MDPV and inhaling butane, a man with a prior history of drug-induced psychosis developed vivid hallucinations and bizarre ideas and stabbed his father multiple times. The authors report that his pre-existing residual symptoms were not considered relevant to his criminal liability at the time of the offence. He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to four years in prison; the hallucinations took six weeks to fully recede. |
Abstract
A man in his twenties who had no previous history of violence, snorted large quantities of two substances he identified as 3-methoxyphencyclidine (3-MeO-PCP), and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV); both are recognised as novel psychoactive substances, or commonly described in the media as "legal highs". He also inhaled butane gas. He experienced vivid hallucinations and developed bizarre ideas. During this state of mind he stabbed his father multiple times and was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He had a previous history of drug induced psychosis and although he had some slight residual symptoms before he consumed the substances, these were not considered relevant to his criminal liability at the time of the offence. The hallucinations caused by the use of these substances took six weeks to completely recede. He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to four years in prison.
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- The Bridge Between Classical and “Synthetic”/Chemical Psychoses: Towards a Clinical, Psychopathological, and Therapeutic Perspective Frontiers in Psychiatry November 20, 2019
- A Fatality Related to Two Novel Hallucinogenic Compounds: 4-Methoxyphencyclidine and 4-Hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine Journal of Analytical Toxicology August 10, 2015
- The First Fatal Intoxication with 3-MeO-PCP in the UK and a Review of the Literature. Journal of Analytical Toxicology May 20, 2022
- Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) as a risk factor for psychosis: A systematic review of the literature Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews October 19, 2025
- 3-Methoxy-Phencyclidine Induced Psychotic Disorder: A Literature Review and an 18F-FDG PET/CT Case Report. Pharmaceuticals March 31, 2024
and 9 more in the library
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- The ketamine analogue methoxetamine and 3- and 4-methoxy analogues of phencyclidine are high affinity and selective ligands for the glutamate NMDA receptor. PLoS One June 14, 2016