Toxicological Analysis of Illicit Drugs Seized in Naples (Italy) and First Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoids during COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has consistently raised the number of drug seizures, in United States as in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the typology of seizures from “more traditional” drugs to New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs), depending on geographical area. In Europe, the most frequent NPSs are synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and cathinones, nonetheless synthetic opioids and phenethylamines are widely used.

Long-Term Detection in Hair of Zolpidem, Oxazepam and Flunitrazepam in a Case of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases are pretty common in forensic toxicology. In this case report, a 56-year-old female tourist claimed to have been sexually assaulted by five men after having had a drug-spiked alcoholic drink. Urine samples were collected at 38, 44 and 45 h after the alleged rape.

Fatal inhalation of volcanic gases in three tourists of a geothermal area.

The study reports the environmental, toxicological and histopathological forensic investigations applied on three victims of accidental death (father, mother and son), due to the fall in a volcanic pothole, during the touristic visit of the "Solfatara park", near Naples (Italy). At autopsy greenish skin discolouration was observed and all bodies showed the classical signs of asphyxial deaths, such as cyanosis and hemorrhagic pulmonary edema. Focal micro-hemorrhages were found in the brain at intracranial and subpial levels.

Alcohol and drugs use among drivers injured in road accidents in Campania (Italy): A 8-years retrospective analysis.

A recent update of the Italian Road Traffic Law (RTL 41/2016), established severe penal sanctions when drivers, driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or drugs (DUID), are involved in road accident that results in death or injuries. A study was carried out to assess the trends of consumption of alcohol, illicit drugs or pharmaceutical among injured drivers suspected for DUI or DUID from 2009 to 2016 in the region of Campania (Italy). Confirmation toxicological analyses were performed on 780 blood samples and 1017 urine samples collected from 1797 injured drivers.

Ethical Implications in Vaccine Pharmacotherapy for Treatment and Prevention of Drug of Abuse Dependence.

Different immunotherapeutic approaches are in the pipeline for the treatment of drug dependence. "Drug vaccines" aim to induce the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to drugs and prevent them from inducing rewarding effects in the brain. Drugs of abuse currently being tested using these new approaches are opioids, nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Clinical and Forensic Diagnosis of Very Recent Heroin Intake by 6-acetylmorphine Immunoassay Test and LC-MS/MS Analysis in Urine and Blood.

Aim: The study evaluates the suitability of a specific immunoassay screening test for 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) in the setting of suspected very recent heroin consumption for forensic and clinical purposes.

Material And Method: The EMIT® II Plus 6-AM immunoassay was applied in 65 cases that had already tested positive for morphine in urine or blood. Biological samples (n.

A five years study on drug-related deaths in Campania (Italy).

Objectives: The study regards n. 267 drug related deaths submitted to toxicological analyses for forensic purpose, since 2008 to 2012, at the Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of the Second University of Napoli (SUN), Italy. Among the cases studied (94% males and 6% females) the 13.