The Toxicology of New Psychoactive Substances (NSP): epidemiology of consumption by the analysis of hair and oral fluid samples

• Grant number: 18/00432-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: José Luiz da Costa
• Grantee: José Luiz da Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Karina Diniz Oliveira ; Marcos Nogueira Eberlin

Abstract

The abuse of psychoactive substances is a huge social and public health problem throughout the world. The New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) represent the most relevant group of drugs of abuse today, both due to the enormous diversity of substances that make up the group and the lack of toxicological or epidemiological data. NPS are substances or mixtures of psychoactive substances produced in clandestine laboratories by chemical synthesis from precursor substances found in nature or not. They can be synthesized by small modifications in the structure of molecules that already have known biological activity. They are often used to provide the user with effects similar to those produced by "traditional" and illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). NPS have become a serious public health problem, with reports worldwide of hospitalizations and user deaths following severe poisoning by these agents. Several countries have periodic or recurrent reports on NPS-type abuse substances identified in police seizures or party settings (where these substances are commonly consumed), which is not been done in Brazil yet. This information gives support not only epidemiological and statistical, but also helps to understand variations in drug trafficking and consumption by period of time (month or year) and region of the country. In addition, it may assist poisoning centers to be prepared for possible intoxications caused by these new toxic agents. This project aims to generate the first epidemiological data regarding the use of NPS in São Paulo state, through the analysis of samples of oral fluid and hair collected at parties of electronic music (the primary place where these substances are used). It is expected to obtain the first data on the consumption of this new and important group of drugs of abuse in our country in order to establish the main substances in circulation and their respective stay in the festive environment as the national legislation includes the NPS detected by the police forces in the list of banned substances. To this end, the project will also assist clinical toxicology centers in improving clinical and laboratory diagnosis of poisoning by different NPS classes, ensuring faster and safer medical treatment. (AU)

Scientific publications

(20)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; LANARO, RAFAEL; MARTINS, ALINE FRANCO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Use of injection-port derivatization for the analysis of cocaine and its metabolites in urine by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicology, AUG 2020. (17/02147-0, 18/00432-1, 18/11849-0)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; EBERLIN, MARCOS NOGUEIRA; HUESTIS, MARILYN A.; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. NBOMe instability in whole blood. Forensic Toxicology, v. 37, n. 1, p. 82-89, JAN 2019. (18/00432-1, 15/10650-8)

RODRIGUEZ CABAL, LUIS FELIPE; VARGAS MEDINA, DEYBER ARLEY; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; LANCAS, FERNANDO MAURO; SANTOS-NETO, ALVARO JOSE. Determination of ring-substituted amphetamines through automated online hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction-liquid chromatography. ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 411, n. 29, p. 7889-7897, NOV 2019. (17/02147-0, 18/00432-1, 16/21950-5, 10/19910-9)

CAMPELO, JACQUELINE DE M.; RODRIGUES, TAIS B.; COSTA, JOSE L.; SANTOS, JANDYSON M.. Optimization of QuEChERS extraction for detection and quantification of 20 antidepressants in postmortem blood samples by LC-MS/MS. Forensic Science International, v. 319, p. 8-pg., 2021-02-01. (18/00432-1)

PEREIRA, JIAN F. S.; MELO, LARISSA M. A.; ARANTES, LUCIANO C.; BORGES, PEDRO H. S.; FARIA, LUCAS, V; DA CUNHA, KELLY F.; SOUZA, KARLA A. O.; SOTE, WILLIAM O.; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; NOSSOL, EDSON; et al. Oxygen plasma-treated graphite sheet electrodes: A sensitive and disposable sensor for methamphetamines. Electrochimica Acta, v. 467, p. 13-pg., 2023-09-02. (18/11849-0, 18/00432-1)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Green analytical toxicology method for determination of synthetic cathinones in oral fluid samples by microextraction by packed sorbent and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicology, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2023-07-28. (17/02147-0, 20/10809-5, 18/11849-0, 18/00432-1)

TAÍS B. RODRIGUES; MÁRCIO H. MATSUBARA; ELVIS M. AQUINO; VICTOR A. P. GIANVECCHIO; DAMILA R. MORAIS; JOSE LUIZ COSTA. Development and Validation of a Method to Analyze Fentanyl and Its Analogues in Postmortem Blood Samples by LC-MS/MS. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 35, n. 7, 2024-02-12. (20/10809-5, 18/00432-1)

RODRIGUES, TAIS B.; MORAIS, DAMILA R.; GIANVECCHIO, VICTOR A. P.; AQUINO, ELVIS M.; CUNHA, RICARDO L.; HUESTIS, MARILYN A.; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Development and Validation of a Method for Quantification of 28 Psychotropic Drugs in Postmortem Blood Samples by Modified Micro-QuEChERS and LC-MS-MS. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY, v. 45, n. 7, p. 644-656, SEP 2021. (18/00432-1)

BARBOSA, LILIAN DE MELO; SANTOS, JANDYSON MACHADO; DE MORAIS, DAMILA RODRIGUES; NIMTZ, ALESSANDRA VALERIO; EBERLIN, MARCOS NOGUEIRA; DE OLIVEIRA, MARCELO FIRMINO; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Fast UHPLC-MS/MS method for analysis of furanylfentanyl in different seized blotter papers. DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, v. 11, n. 1, p. 178-183, JAN 2019. (18/00432-1, 15/10650-8)

COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; LANARO, RAFAEL; CUNHA, RICARDO LEAL; WALTHER, DONNA; BAUMANN, MICHAEL H.. Analytical quantification, intoxication case series, and pharmacological mechanism of action for N-ethylnorpentylone (N-ethylpentylone or ephylone). DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, v. 11, n. 3, p. 461-471, MAR 2019. (18/00432-1, 15/10650-8)

DE MORAIS, DAMILA RODRIGUES; DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; RODRIGUES, TAIS BETONI; LANARO, RAFAEL; BARBOSA, LILIAN DE MELO; ZACCA, JORGE JARDIM; EBERLIN, MARCOS NOGUEIRA; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry protocols for the analysis of NBOMes and NBOHs in blotter papers. Forensic Science International, v. 309, APR 2020. (18/00432-1, 16/23157-0, 18/11849-0)

CARDOSO, MARILIA S.; LANARO, RAFAEL; DOLORES, RAUL C.; MORAIS, DAMILA R.; ARANTES, ANA CAROLINA FURIOZO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Determination of Drugs of Abuse in Hair by LC-MS-MS: Application to Suicide Attempts Investigation. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY, v. 46, n. 5, p. 5-pg., 2021-06-15. (17/00274-4, 18/00432-1)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; MAGALHAES KAHL, JULIA MARTINELLI; FIORENTIN, TAIS REGINA; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. High-sensitivity method for the determination of LSD and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD in oral fluid by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicology, v. 40, n. 2, p. 10-pg., 2022-04-12. (20/07470-6, 18/11849-0, 20/10809-5, 18/00432-1)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; HUESTIS, MARILYN A.; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Screening of 104 New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and Other Drugs of Abuse in Oral Fluid by LC-MS-MS. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY, v. 44, n. 7, p. 697-707, SEP 2020. (17/02147-0, 18/11849-0, 18/00432-1)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; RODRIGUES, LEONARDO COSTALONGA; HUESTIS, MARILYN A.; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Miniaturized extraction method for analysis of synthetic opioids in urine by microextraction with packed sorbent and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A, v. 1624, AUG 2 2020. (17/02147-0, 18/11849-0, 17/24515-0, 18/00432-1)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; CARDOSO, MARILIA SANTORO; FURIOZO ARANTES, ANA CAROLINA; PIRAS COSER, PEDRO HENRIQUE; LIMA, LUCAS DE NORONHA; SAMPAIO MALUF, ANA CRISTHINA; DE CASTRO COMIS, MARIA ANGELICA; HUESTIS, MARILYN A.; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Prevalence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Brazil based on oral fluid analysis of samples collected at electronic music festivals and parties. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, v. 227, OCT 1 2021. (17/02147-0, 18/11849-0, 18/00432-1)

MAGALHAES KAHL, JULIA MARTINELLI; DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; RODRIGUES, LEONARDO COSTALONGA; CHINAGLIA, KAUE DE OLIVEIRA; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Quantification of amphetamine and derivatives in oral fluid by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, v. 196, MAR 20 2021. (17/02147-0, 18/00432-1)

FURIOZO ARANTES, ANA CAROLINA; DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; CARDOSO, MARILIA SANTORO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Development and validation of quantitative analytical method for 50 drugs of antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids in oral fluid samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicology, v. 39, n. 1, DEC 2020. (18/00432-1, 18/11849-0)

RODRIGUES DE MORAIS, DAMILA; CAMPELO, JACQUELINE DE MORAIS; RAZZO, DANIEL; EBERLIN, MARCOS NOGUEIRA; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; SANTOS, JANDYSON MACHADO. Forensic determination of crossing lines involving stamp and pen inks by mass spectrometry imaging. ANALYTICAL METHODS, v. 12, n. 7, p. 951-958, FEB 21 2020. (18/00432-1, 15/10650-8)

DA CUNHA, KELLY FRANCISCO; LANARO, RAFAEL; MARTINS, ALINE FRANCO; OLIVEIRA, KARINA DINIZ; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ. Use of injection-port derivatization for the analysis of cocaine and its metabolites in urine by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicology, v. 39, n. 1, p. 8-pg., 2020-08-01. (17/02147-0, 18/11849-0, 18/00432-1)