Strategie analitiche per la ricerca di nuove sostanze psicoattive in campioni biologici

Aim. Since most routine analyses do not include screening procedures for new psychoactive substances (NPS), the real understanding of their extent within the territory is limited. The aim of our laboratory was to set up an effective strategy for the detection of NPS, taking into consideration the available samples and the purpose of the investigation (e.g. driving relicensing or workplace drug testing). Materials and methods. Immunometric screening test of 45 urine samples were performed and subjected to confirmation for both amphetamines and synthetic cathinones detection. Such test was performed using a new specific GC-MS method developed for the detection of 18 synthetic cathinones, 2 natural cathinones and 1 recently trafficked amphetamine. An UHPLC-MS/MS method for the detection of 23 synthetic cannabinoids in keratin matrix was also developed and applied to 344 real hair samples. Results. 19 urine samples out of 45 turned out positive to at least one targeted substance: 9 to pseudoephedrine, 4 to phenylpropanolamine and 6 to illicit cathinones. Out of 344 samples (keratin matrix), 15 samples turned out positive to at least one synthetic cannabinoid. Several cases of poly-abuse were observed. JWH-073 and JWH-122 were the most frequently detected drugs. Conclusions. Due to the wide range of NPS chemical structures and metabolites, the possibility to develop and implement effective screening strategies become extremely challenging. Positive outcomes from amphetamines/metamphetamines immunochemical screening tests require further validations as well as natural and synthetic cathinones. On the other hand, blood and hair analysis can be used to effectively determine the diffusion of synthetic cannabinoids among the population by detecting the parent drugs, instead of their largely unknown metabolites.