We describe the development and validation of a method for the quantification of drugs of abuse, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), in human placenta. Concentration ranges covered were 5-500 ng/g for amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, methadone, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, morphine, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, nicotine, and cotinine. Intra-assay and inter-assay imprecisions were less than 15.7% for lower quality control samples and less than 14.9% for medium and high quality control samples. Recovery range was 36.2-83.7%. Placenta samples were kept at -80 degrees C until analysis; analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles (samples stored at -20 degrees C). This accurate and precise assay has sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the analysis of specimens collected from women who voluntarily terminated their pregnancy at 12th week of gestation. The method has proven to be robust and accurate for the quantification of the principal recreational drugs of abuse in this period of the prenatal life. This is the first report that highlights the presence of drugs of abuse during the first trimester of gestation.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.12.044DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

drugs abuse
16
gas chromatography-mass
8
chromatography-mass spectrometry
8
quantification drugs
8
human placenta
8
12th week
8
week gestation
8
quality control
8
control samples
8
spectrometry assay
4

Similar Publications

Human nails have recently become a sample of interest for toxicological purposes. Multiple studies have proven the ability to detect various analytes within the keratin matrix of the nail. The analyte of interest in this study is fentanyl, a highly dangerous and abused drug in recent decades.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursors gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BD) have become a significant concern due to the increase in their recreational use and the high risks associated with it (e.g., overdose, addiction, life-threatening withdrawal syndromes).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: As illicit drug manufacturers find new ways to market their products and increase their profit margins, multiple contaminants have found their way into the illicit drug supply. The newest addition, xylazine, also known as "tranq," has spread through the city of Philadelphia and has recently been gaining ground across the United States, including in the state of Florida.

Case Presentation: This case describes a 37-year-old male with a significant past psychiatric history of severe polysubstance intravenous (IV) use, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Are individuals who use hallucinogens self-medicating their mental illness and are they more likely to abuse other illegal substances?

Design Setting Participants: Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) database was queried for correlations with hallucinogen use. Using age group as a control variable, different variables were run through a crosstab in order to find significant data pointing to the implications of hallucinogen use.

Results: The data from the crosstab analysis showed three key findings about hallucinogen use: Those with mental illness or substance abuse issues were substantially more likely to use hallucinogens, the hallucinogen use greatly increased with the pandemic along with further mental health issues, and those who used hallucinogens were more significantly likely to abuse other illegal substances, primarily in a younger population.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aim: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is strongly influenced by genetic factors; however the mechanisms underpinning this association are not well understood. This study investigated whether a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on a genome-wide association study for CUD in adults predicts cannabis use in adolescents and whether the association can be explained by inter-individual variation in structural properties of brain white matter or risk-taking behaviors.

Design And Setting: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses using data from the IMAGEN cohort, a European longitudinal study integrating genetic, neuroimaging and behavioral measures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!