New designer drugs
New designer drugs are consistently pouring into the market. Despite of their near identical chemical structure with common narcotics, immunological screening tests available fail to detect those newly developed substances.
Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) belongs to the group of the amphetamines. Because of its euphoric, partly hallucinogenic effect, this strong stimulance is consumed as party drug in considerable amounts. Mixed consumption and pollution with blending materials result in a range of nearly unlimited side effects.
Intoxications with death results have been reported already. In January 2010 Germany admitted mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) to annex I of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG) the German Narcotics Act. Mephedrone can be reliably detected by liquid chromatography double mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Prior sample shipment it should be confirmed with the laboratory partner that the method has been established in the laboratory already. Mephedrone can be detected at concentration levels of 1,500ng/ml with the DrugWipe® Amphetamine test. This concentration level can be achieved by the typical consumption method of sniffing mephedrone. In this case the DrugWipe® Amphetamine test detects the powder residues in the oral fluid.
Other consumption methods as tablets may not achieve high enough concentrations in saliva for the detection with DrugWipe®.
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)
MDPV has been developed as a substitute for methylephenidate (brand name: ritaline), also an amphetamine related substance, but has never been approved.
In Germany the admittance of MDPV into annex II of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG) is most likely with the next amendment. At present it is classified as a pharmaceutical in terms of the Arzneimittelgesetzes (AMG) the German Pharmaceutical Law. Therefore manufacture and commercial sale without permission is illegal. In Switzerland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden MDPV is officially classified as narcotic. In the UK MDPV is a „Class B drug“, therefore possession and distribution without permission are illegal. In Australia MDPV has not been prohibited so far, but cumulative seizures have been reported by official authorities. The DrugWipe® tests are not designed to detect MDPV.
