Psychoactive drugs in the road traffic in the legal and consultative aspects—Experience gained by the Forensic Medicine Department, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice

Introduction

In the years 1997–2007 in the Forensic Medicine Department, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice a total of 785 blood samples collected from drivers being the perpetrators of road accidents was tested for the presence of psychoactive drugs.

Methods

The studies took advantage of FPIA (Abbott), ELISA (Neogen), LC–MS and GC FID.

Results

21% of tested samples were positive. In the blood of the driver cannabinoids, amphetamine and its derivatives were most frequently found. Moreover, individual opium alkaloids, their combinations with barbiturates, benzodiazepines or amphetamine, benzodiazepine derivatives (isolated cases), drugs of benzodiazepine group in combination with barbiturates, tramadol or tricyclic anti-depressants (isolated cases), carbamazepine, phenotiazine, cocaine, dibenzepine, benzene, toluene and acetone were determined.

Conclusion

The obtained results showed cannabinoids and amphetamine derivatives to be the most frequent whereas opium alkaloids, barbiturates and benzodiazepines rather rare psychoactive drugs found in the tested blood samples of the drivers involved in the road accidents. The authors suggest screening psychoactive drugs not only in drivers involved in road accidents but also those put through the routine road check procedures. While giving opinions on the influence of the above mentioned drugs on the psychophysical efficiency of road traffic users, drugs and compounds which are not subject to legal control but have an effect on the human psychomotor efficiency and thus, enhance the risk of the road accident should be also taken into account.     

Validation of the Direct Analysis in Real Time Source for Use in Forensic Drug Screening

Abstract:  The Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) ion source is a relatively new mass spectrometry technique that is seeing widespread use in chemical analyses world-wide. DART studies include such diverse topics as analysis of flavors and fragrances, melamine in contaminated dog food, differentiation of writing inks, characterization of solid counterfeit drugs, and as a detector for planar chromatography. Validation of this new technique for the rapid screening of forensic evidence for drugs of abuse, utilizing the DART source coupled to an accurate mass time-of-flight mass spectrometer, was conducted. The study consisted of the determination of the lower limit of detection for the method, determination of selectivity and a comparison of this technique to established analytical protocols. Examples of DART spectra are included. The results of this study have allowed the Virginia Department of Forensic Science to incorporate this new technique into their analysis scheme for the screening of solid dosage forms of drugs of abuse.     

Immunity and Susceptibility in Illicit Drug Initiation in Israel

We model the initiation process into cannabis and hard drugs using long-term survivor analysis. This approach hypothesizes two sub-populations: a population that is immune to drugs, who will never use them no matter how long they live, and a population which is susceptible to drugs for whom it is a matter of time until they begin to use drugs. We use data for Israel to test competing hypotheses concerning the timing of drug use initiation and the determination of susceptibility. Cigarettes do not significantly affect immunity to drugs, but they tend to speed up the rate of initiation for those who smoke them. This implies that anti-smoking policy may only delay drug use initiation without affecting immunity. Finally, drug initiation in Israel is not explained by variables that are traditionally associated with criminality.     

当前我国强制戒毒工作存在的问题及对策

当前我国面临的禁毒斗争形势依然十分严峻,一个庞大的吸毒群体给禁吸强戒工作提出了新的挑战,也成为禁吸强戒工作的紧迫任务。但在我国强制戒毒工作中还存在一些问题,如《强制戒毒办法》中的某些缺陷,戒毒所警力配备、经费、戒毒科研等问题。解决好这些问题,是禁吸戒毒工作的重要任务。     

重庆地区毒品犯罪的现状和对策建议

重庆位于长江与嘉陵江交汇之处,历史上是川、藏、滇、黔等西南各省区的水陆交通枢纽。解放前是烟毒的主要集散地。解放后,党和政府采取了一系列果断有效的措施,创造了人类文明史上短短几年彻底禁绝毒品的奇迹,以“无毒国”的光辉形象享誉世界30年。20世纪50年代之后,世界毒品犯罪的格局发生了巨大变化,国际毒品从种植、生产、加工、贩运、销售形成一体化、组织化、集团化、网络化的格局,形成了“供、销两旺”的世界大趋势。重庆面临毒品多头渗入,新型毒品猛增,吸毒人群中的亚文化现象侵蚀青少年的精神意志等严重现状,鉴于此提出一系列的对策及建议。     

对新形势下创建“无毒社区”的思考

自1999年包头会议以来,"无毒社区"创建活动在全国范围内拉开序幕,一定程度上获得了巨大收效,同时它也成为当前构建社会主义和谐社会不可忽视的一个重要方面.     

成就与问题:毒品犯罪研究学术史述评

新中国毒品犯罪的学术研究,始自20世纪80年代中期,成果丰硕。毒品犯罪研究具有明显的应世性、阶段性、地域性特征。主要研究范式为毒品犯罪的注释性研究、犯罪学研究、诉讼法学研究、刑事一体化研究等。多种研究范式、多学科视角的运用推进了毒品犯罪研究领域的广度与深度。但这些研究范式也存在着僵化、简单化、不协调、不均衡等问题,而且毒品犯罪的刑事政策、社会政策研究的空白亟待填补。     

Mass spectral and NMR spectral data of two new designer drugs with an alpha-aminophenone structure: 4'-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinohexanophenone and 4'-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinobutyrophenone

This study presents and discusses the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic and mass spectroscopic data of the new designer drug 4'-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinobutyrophenone (MPBP) and its homolog 4'-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MPHP) which were seized in 2004 and 2000 in Germany for the first time. The structure elucidation of the aliphatic part of MPBP was carried out by product ion spectroscopy of the immonium ion formed after electron ionization as well as with 1H and 13C NMR. Product ion spectroscopy of immonium ions again proved to be a powerful tool to determine the structure of designer drugs and to distinguish between isobaric structures of the alkyl-amino moiety.