The toxicology of New Psychoactive Substances (NSP): epidemiology of consumption by oral fluid samples and characterization of their in vitro metabolism

Abstract

The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has grown exponentially in recent years. Due to their high capacity to generate effects in low doses, the number of intoxications has grown along with the consumption. While some NPS do not fall under the current anti-drug legislation, this substance gains easy access to users mainly through the internet, making their control more difficult. Despite the international surveys on seizures and NPS consumption, in Brazil these data are scarce, restricting themselves to cases of intoxication reported in the literature, and these numbers are probably underestimated. Objectives: the aim of this work is to generate the first epidemiological data on NPS consumption in São Paulo state, by collection and analysis of oral fluid samples of participant of electronic music parties. From these data, we will also analyze the in vitro metabolism of the most recurrent NPS that do not yet present this type of study. Material and method: The collection will be voluntary and anonymous, where the volunteer will answer a brief questionnaire and, in return, receive a card with number and specific passwords of his sample to access the result of the analysis in a site developed for this purpose. Samples will be extracted by Microextraction by Packed Sorbent (MEPS) and liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In vitro metabolism of the most recurrent NPS will be analyzed with Human Liver Microsome (HLM) and possible metabolites will be identified by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Expected results: It is expected to generate the first data on the consumption of this new and important group of drugs of abuse in the electronic music festival environment in order to establish the main substances in circulation. From the studies of in vitro metabolism, it is expected to predict the toxicokinetics of the most incident substances in this context, as well as structural elucidation of their main metabolites. (AU)