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n‐Ethyl Pentylone‐Related Deaths in Alabama |
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| Authors: | Daniel Atherton MD Daniel Dye MD C Andrew Robinson PhD Rachel Beck PhD |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294;2. Jefferson County Coroner's/Medical Examiner's Office, Birmingham, AL, 35233Corresponding author: Daniel Atherton, M.D. E‐mail:;3. Jefferson County Coroner's/Medical Examiner's Office, Birmingham, AL, 35233 |
| Abstract: | n‐Ethyl pentylone (NEP) is a chemical substance derived from cathinone. Synthetic cathinones are an evolving group of drugs with stimulating, mind‐altering effects sometimes referred to as novel or new psychoactive substances (NPS). There is scarce information in the medical literature regarding forensic cases in which NEP is detected in toxicological testing. We present four fatalities involving NEP from Alabama in 2017. Deaths were attributed to NEP toxicity in two cases (peripheral blood concentrations of 0.121 and 0.953 mg/L) and injuries caused by gunshot wounds in two cases (peripheral blood concentrations of 0.045 and 0.031 mg/L). One case involving NEP described an individual who exhibited classic CNS‐stimulant induced erratic behavior before being found dead. These cases enhance the forensic literature regarding specific NPS like NEP and provide contextual reference for professionals considering the significance of NEP in toxicological interpretation. |
| Keywords: | forensic science forensic toxicology n‐ethyl pentylone novel psychoactive substance toxicological interpretation excited delirium |