New psychoactive substances and classic drugs: analysis of consuption and victimization risks estimation by external causes

• Grant number: 24/04999-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio Yonamine
• Grantee: Henrique Silva Bombana
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil has a mortality rate from external causes of 71 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, which is considered high by global standards. These deaths have various causal factors, with alcohol and other psychoactive drugs being significant contributors to the increased risk of fatal injuries. Due to its continental dimensions, Brazil encompasses diverse cultural, social, and economic realities that can directly impact the pattern of drug consumption in each region and the associated mortality risks from this pattern. In addition to classic drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines, new psychoactive substances currently pose new challenges to public health and safety. These substances are synthetic compounds capable of mimicking the effects of classic drugs, often with consequences that are still largely unknown. Incidents of seizures and intoxications involving these substances have been increasing annually within the national territory. Therefore, the aim of this project is to study of the prevalence of use of psychoactive substances and its risks for death by external causes. The project proposes conducting toxicological analyses on post-mortem blood samples from victims of violent deaths in the cities of Belém - PA, Recife - PE, Brasília - DF, Vitória - ES, and Curitiba - PR, collected within the Thanatus Project (agreement between Ministry of Justice and Public Safety and USP). The analyses will be carried out using liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to determine the consumption of cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, ecstasy, benzodiazepines, heroin, fentanyl, ketamine, and new psychoactive substances (synthetic cannabinoids, phenethylamines, and synthetic cathinones). The findings will be compared among the different regions of Brazil, and an analysis will be conducted on the consumption patterns in each region and for each cause of death. The data obtained from this study can be used to support the implementation of specific public policies for each Brazilian region and enable the methodology of sample collection and toxicological analyses to be used in monitoring the effectiveness of these actions.

Scientific publications

(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)

BOMBANA, HENRIQUE SILVA; MEIRELLES, GABRIELA DE PAULA; DE OLIVEIRA, RODRIGO ALVES; LEYTON, VILMA; YONAMINE, MAURICIO. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in oral fluid: development of a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2025-04-22. (24/02868-2, 23/11314-8, 24/04999-7)