An overview of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in northeast Brazil: NMR-based identification and analysis of ecstasy tablets by GC-MS

The actual illicit market for synthetic drugs is characterized by a wide variety of psychoactive substances of different chemical and pharmacological classes, such as amphetamine-type stimulants and new psy-choactive substances. The knowledge about its chemical composition, as well as the nature and quantity of the active substances present, is important for emergency care in intoxication cases by these substances and to establish adequate chemical and toxicological analysis procedures in forensic laboratories. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances in the states of Bahia and Sergipe, in the northeast region of Brazil, involving samples of drugs seized by the local police forces from 2014 to 2019. In a total of 121 seized and analyzed samples, in which ecstasy tablets predominated (n = 101), nineteen substances were identified using GC-MS and 1D NMR techniques, com-prising classical synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS). In order to determine the com-position of ecstasy tablets, an analytical method based on GC-MS was applied after validation. Analyzes of 101 ecstasy tablets showed that MDMA was the main substance, being found in 57% of the samples, in amounts between 27.3 and 187.1 mg per tablet. In addition, mixtures of MDMA, MDA, synthetic cathinones and caffeine were observed in 34 samples. These results demonstrate that the variety of substances found and the composition of seized materials in northeast Brazil is similar to other studies carried out previously in other Brazilian regions. (c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The illicit market for synthetic drugs in the northeast region of Brazil, specifically in Bahia and Sergipe states, contains a diverse range of psychoactive substances, including amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances. Understanding the chemical composition and quantity of these substances is crucial for emergency care and forensic analysis. A study was conducted on drug samples seized by local police forces from 2014 to 2019, revealing the prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances. Various substances were identified using GC-MS and 1D NMR techniques, including classical synthetic drugs and NPS.