Hair analysis as a tool to evaluate the prevalence of synthetic cannabinoids in different populations of drug consumers

摘要: Among the new psychoactive products, herbal mixtures containing synthetic cannabimimetics are likely most abused worldwide. In this study, a specific ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for detection of 23 cannabinoids in hair samples was developed order to (1) expand number screened compounds, coherent with substances emerging European territory, (2) evaluate their consumption on large period examination, and (3) diffusion among different populations drug consumers. The employs digestion sample NaOH followed by extraction n-hexane/ethylacetate, injection into UHPLC-MS/MS system. After validation, applied analysis 344 previously tested our laboratory common drugs. Overall, 15 were found positive at least one cannabinoid. Coherent published results, present data show that young males, former or still active Cannabis consumers, represent population often involved consumption. Several cases poly-abuse also determined. frequently detected JWH-073 (11 samples) generally low concentration (mean 7.69 ± 14.4 pg/mg, median 1.9 range 1.6-50.5 pg/mg), JWH-122 (8 samples, mean concentration: 544 968 28.4 7.4-2800 pg/mg). Other drugs included JWH-250, JWH-081, JWH-018, JWH-210, JWH-019, AM-1220. For several cannabinoid lower than 50 underlining need established cut-off values discrimination between chronic occasional use (or external contamination). Language: en