New “Lethal highs”: A case of a deadly cocktail of GHB and Mephedrone

Abstract Drug scenes within several countries have changed in recent years to incorporate a range of licit psychoactive products collectively known as “legal highs”: these in combination with substances already in use can cause major health problems and even death. Consumption of Gamma-hydroxybutyri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2012-11, Vol.223 (1), p.e38-e41
Main Authors: Aromatario, Mariarosaria, Bottoni, Edoardo, Santoni, Mariangela, Ciallella, Costantino
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Amphetamines
Autopsy
Cardiomegaly - pathology
Central Nervous System Stimulants - poisoning
Cocaine
Coma
Designer Drugs - poisoning
Drug dosages
Ecstasy
Fatalities
Forensic sciences
Forensic Toxicology
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
GHB
Hepatomegaly - pathology
Humans
Hydroxybutyrates - poisoning
Immunoassay
Male
Mephedrone
Methamphetamine - analogs & derivatives
Methamphetamine - poisoning
Pathology
Pulmonary Edema - pathology
Related death
Risk assessment
Substance abuse treatment
Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis
Toxicology
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Summary:Abstract Drug scenes within several countries have changed in recent years to incorporate a range of licit psychoactive products collectively known as “legal highs”: these in combination with substances already in use can cause major health problems and even death. Consumption of Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) spread from 1980s to 2000s, when several nations have enacted laws that have made it illegal. Cases of GHB-caused or related deaths are often described in association with alcohol or traditional drugs (heroin, cocaine, amphetamine); few cases of acute lethal toxicity due to Mephedrone have been recently reported; we describe the first case of fatality due to concomitant consumption of GHB and Mephedrone. A 43 years old man died during a drugs-based party: the two substances were not detected at toxicological screening, but were identified by further analysis on the basis of circumstantial data reported by a survivor. Through our work we aim to bring to the attention in the emerging role of new drugs of abuse, and highlight problems in identifying these drugs with immunoassay screening test commonly used.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.09.014