Drug testing and analysis
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Drug testing and analysis · Jul 2011
ReviewThe pharmacology and toxicology of the synthetic cathinone mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone).
Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a synthetic cathinone that is used as a recreational drug. It has been available since 2007 but its availability and use increased significantly during 2009 and 2010. In this review article we will summarize the available literature on the sources, availability, and prevalence of the use of mephedrone. We will also discuss the pharmacology of mephedrone, the patterns of acute toxicity associated with its use, the reports of fatalities associated with its use, and the potential for mephedrone dependence.
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Drug testing and analysis · Jul 2011
Development of a rapid LC-MS/MS method for direct urinalysis of designer drugs.
The current immunoassay screening methodologies used to detect sympathomimetic amines within the context of workplace drug testing may fail to detect a number of the emerging designer drugs, for example β-keto amphetamines and piperazine derivatives, commonly referred to as 'legal highs'. Therefore, a rapid multi-analyte qualitative screening method, using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), was investigated for analysis of new designer drugs that have emerged from the former legal highs market. Eight analytes were targeted as model compounds: 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (bk-MDMA, 'methylone'), 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one (bk-MBDB, 'butylone'), 4-methoxymethcathinone (bk-PMMA, 'methedrone'), 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP), 1-(3-trifluoromethyl phenyl)-piperazine (TFMPP), 1-(3-chloro phenyl)-piperazine (mCPP), and 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). ⋯ Although not all compounds were completely resolved chromatographically, two product ions conferred sufficient specificity to allow target analyte identification. Although all target analytes were readily detected at 500 ng/ml, a cut-off of 1000 ng/ml was chosen to mirror the amphetamine screening cut-off commonly used for routine analysis of workplace drug testing samples. In conclusion, direct analysis using LC-MS/MS offers an attractive way forward for the development of a rapid routine screen for new psychoactive substances, particularly given the growing number of novel compounds.
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Drug testing and analysis · Jun 2011
Historical ArticleEarly drug discovery and the rise of pharmaceutical chemistry.
Studies in the field of forensic pharmacology and toxicology would not be complete without some knowledge of the history of drug discovery, the various personalities involved, and the events leading to the development and introduction of new therapeutic agents. The first medicinal drugs came from natural sources and existed in the form of herbs, plants, roots, vines and fungi. Until the mid-nineteenth century nature's pharmaceuticals were all that were available to relieve man's pain and suffering. ⋯ The active principle in white willow, salicin or salicylic acid, had a bitter taste and irritated the gastric mucosa, but a simple chemical modification was much more palatable. This was acetylsalicylic acid, better known as Aspirin®, the first blockbuster drug. At the start of the twentieth century, the first of the barbiturate family of drugs entered the pharmacopoeia and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Drug testing and analysis · Mar 2011
IFDAT-International forum for drug and alcohol testing, 12-14 April 2010, Barcelona, Spain.
The second programme of its kind globally, the highly successful, collaborative, productive and energizing IFDAT-International Forum for Drug and Alcohol Testing, was held in Barcelona, Spain, from 12-14 April. IFDAT was attended by over 100 delegates, conference sponsors and exhibitors from the international workplace drug and alcohol testing industry. Representing over 20 countries, the delegate professionals, speakers, and presenters included employers, service agents, an international publisher, and workplace testing suppliers. ⋯ Delegates from around the globe exchanged their experiences and thoughts about effective workplace drug testing programmes over two days of intensive presentations and panel discussions. The presenters and panelists included drug and alcohol testing professionals, authorities, and intellectuals from around the world. IFDAT conferences are planned for every 18 months, and the next Forum, to be held in Houston, Texas, USA is in the planning process for 2011.
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Drug testing and analysis · Jan 2011
Biography Historical Article Classical ArticleThe detection of doping by means of chromatographic methods. 1966.