In this paper we propose an innovative methodology for automated profiling of illicit tablets by their surface granularity; a feature previously unexamined for this purpose. We make use of the tiny inconsistencies at the tablet surface, referred to as speckles, to generate a quantitative granularity profile of tablets. Euclidian distance is used as a measurement of (dis)similarity between granularity profiles. The frequency of observed distances is then modelled by kernel density estimation in order to generalize the observations and to calculate likelihood ratios (LRs). The resulting LRs are used to evaluate the potential of granularity profiles to differentiate between same-batch and different-batches tablets. Furthermore, we use the LRs as a similarity metric to refine database queries. We are able to derive reliable LRs within a scope that represent the true evidential value of the granularity feature. These metrics are used to refine candidate hit-lists form a database containing physical features of illicit tablets. We observe improved or identical ranking of candidate tablets in 87.5% of cases when granularity is considered.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.03.008 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Demonstration of an End-To-End Workflow Using Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe-Mass Spectrometry (ASAP-MS) With Real-Time Sample Recognition Software for the Identification of Falsified and Substandard Pharmaceutical Tablets.
Drug Test Anal
October 2024
Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical Technology & Development, Operations, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK.
Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a subclass of falsified and substandard medicines. They are illicit products, purporting to be genuine medicines, that are made and sold by criminal organisations. They represent a significant risk to patient safety, as well as a financial and reputational threat to the companies who make the genuine medicines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRepurposing prescribed hydromorphone: Alternative uses of safer supply and tablet-injectable opioid agonist treatment to meet unaddressed health needs.
Int J Drug Policy
November 2024
British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo ON, N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- In Canada, opioid agonist treatment programs provide hydromorphone to people at high risk of overdose, with varying methods for dispensing it, aimed at reducing reliance on contaminated drugs.
- A qualitative study involving in-depth interviews explored how individuals repurpose hydromorphone tablets to meet various personal needs beyond just treating addiction.
- Findings reveal that while many participants reduced their use of illicit drugs, they also used hydromorphone for managing anxiety, sleep issues, withdrawal symptoms, and chronic pain, highlighting its role in addressing unmet health needs in a public health context.
Comparison of strength and adulteration between illicit drugs obtained from cryptomarkets versus off-line.
Addiction
January 2025
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the quality and strength of drugs sourced from cryptomarkets versus those obtained offline, focusing on substances like MDMA, cocaine, and LSD.
- Results show that drugs from cryptomarkets had a higher likelihood of containing the expected substance and were generally stronger than those from offline sources, particularly for MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
- However, some cryptomarket drugs like MDMA tablets and amphetamine were found to be lower in strength compared to their offline counterparts.
The quantitative and qualitative analysis of dye in fentanyl tablets via ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy-A forensic approach.
J Forensic Sci
November 2024
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Testing and Research Laboratory, Dulles, Virginia, USA.
In the United States, illicit fentanyl is often trafficked as blue tablets mimicking the legitimate M-30 oxycodone tablet produced by Mallinckrodt. The analysis of dyes extracted from seized fentanyl tablets could provide a useful tool for law enforcement to establish linkages between cases and could prove useful for attributing a seizure to a given trafficking organization. Fentanyl tablet seizures associated with a particular drug trafficking organization (DTO), either through investigative or intelligence information, were used as the sample set for this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFForensic application of sandpaper spray ionization mass spectrometry (SPS-MS): Direct analysis of solid pharmaceutical formulations and edible cannabis products.
J Forensic Sci
November 2024
Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In this work, we employed a new ambient ionization mass spectrometry technique, sandpaper spray mass spectrometry (SPS-MS), as an efficient tool to analyze pills and tablets of pharmaceutical formulations. The following samples were analyzed: regulators of blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, and drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Additionally, a hard candy of Cannabis sativa containing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC) and its related isomer cannabidiol (CBD) was also evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant 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!