Mix of new substances psychoactive, NPS, found in blotters sold in two Colombian cities

Forensic Sci Int. 2019 Nov:304:109969. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109969. Epub 2019 Sep 28.

Abstract

The new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Colombia are detected by national authorities, in blotters strip, in different circumstances and places: airports, music concerts, discos and parks. Blotters are marketed as LSD and cause several cases of intoxication and death in some consumers: due to acute intoxication or when mixed with other drugs and may have different effects on the central nervous system (CNS). This study was conducted to research into and identify the chemical composition of the drugs impregnated in the blotters sold in two Colombian cities. This research provides the analysis of 70 doses coming from forensic cases of the Colombian Attorney General's Office in Bogota and from the Laboratory of Narcotics of the Colombian National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (North Headquarter) in Barranquilla. Mixtures of drugs, such as DOB, 25I-NBOMe, MDMA and 25I-NBOMe imine were found within the blotters through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (CGMS); these drugs are classified by international authorities as NPS belonging to the phenylethylamines group. The results clearly warn about a growing public health problem in the country.

Keywords: 25I-NBOMe; Blotters; CNS; DOB; GC–MS; MDMA; NPS; Phenylethylamine.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Sublingual
  • Colombia
  • DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine / isolation & purification
  • Designer Drugs / isolation & purification
  • Dimethoxyphenylethylamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dimethoxyphenylethylamine / isolation & purification
  • Drug Contamination
  • Drug Trafficking*
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs / isolation & purification*
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / isolation & purification*
  • Paper
  • Substance-Related Disorders

Substances

  • Designer Drugs
  • Dimethoxyphenylethylamine
  • Illicit Drugs
  • DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine
  • 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine
  • 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)ethanamine
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine