sodium-oxybate and benzoylecgonine

This communication reports the blood concentrations of alcohol and drugs from 376 cases of alleged driving under the influence of drugs analysed at the Forensic Science Service Chorley and London laboratories between February 2010 and March 2011. The samples were analysed for alcohol, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, MDMA, opiates, γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine, methadone and methylmethcathinone (the 4-isomer of which is known as mephedrone). The results were interpreted with respect to the number and type of drugs of abuse detected and the concentrations measured. Alcohol was quantified in 113 cases (30%), and of these a level in excess of the prescribed UK limit for driving of 80 mg% was present in 90 cases. In 80 cases, only the concentration of alcohol was measured, the concentrations of both drugs and alcohol were measured in 33 cases. In the remaining 263 cases, only the concentrations of relevant drugs of abuse were measured. The most common drug of abuse quantified was cocaine which was detected in 92 cases, either as the active drug or as its major metabolite benzoylecgonine, followed by diazepam which was quantified in 76 cases. Concentrations of some new drugs, and drugs rarely reported in driving under the influence cases are also presented.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine; Automobile Driving; Central Nervous System Depressants; Chromatography, Liquid; Cocaine; Diazepam; England; Ethanol; Female; Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Ketamine; Male; Methadone; Methamphetamine; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Narcotics; Nordazepam; Sodium Oxybate; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance-Related Disorders; Wales; Young Adult

Two hundred and forty-seven serum samples which have been collected by police during roadside testing and have been found positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and/or 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine (MDE) were analyzed for gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Serum samples were spiked with deuterated GHB as internal standard and acetonitrile was added to achieve dilution and protein precipitation. Samples were analyzed with a LC-MS/MS system operated in the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) using a TurboIonSpray source. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Synergi Polar RP column applying a gradient elution with a runtime of 15 min. To differentiate between endogenous and exogenously administered GHB a cut-off concentration of 10 microg/mL was applied. Five samples exceeded this concentration and were found positive for GHB. These samples were only found positive for amphetamine but no other amphetamine derivatives were detected, while in three samples THC and in one sample cocaine, benzoylecgonine and ethanol were found.

Topics: Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Amphetamines; Automobile Driving; Central Nervous System Depressants; Cocaine; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Ethanol; Female; Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Male; Sodium Oxybate; Substance Abuse Detection