A new method for measuring the effect of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) has been developed by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the National Board of Forensic Medicine. The method provides a scientific basis for narcotics classification, allowing for the classification of a majority of the substances tested as narcotic drugs. The result of analyses of 17 suspected psychoactive cannabinoid drugs is described in an article published in Forensic Science International.
Narcotics classification in Sweden is based on the exact chemical structure of each compound. When new synthetic drugs come on the market, it takes time to classify new variants as illegal. In the meantime, they are easy to obtain, leading many people to mistakenly believe that they are safe or harmless.
One group of NPS are synthetic cannabinoids, which can cause unwanted side effects such as hallucinations, nausea, arrhythmia, and anxiety. Public agencies in several countries have warned against sweets containing synthetic cannabis, which look identical to normal sweets. Not only is there a risk that children may eat cannabis sweets by mistake, but the strength of synthetic cannabinoids may also vary considerably, with some being up to 100 times stronger than ordinary cannabis.
The Public Health Agency requires scientific basis describing the effects of new compounds for narcotics classification. Researchers have developed a method for fast measurement of the effects of new substances as part of a collaboration between the Public Health Agency, the National Board of Forensic Medicine, and Linköping University. The method uses cultured cells with the cannabinoid receptor on the cell surface to measure the effect of the substance being tested. By measuring the effects of eight different concentrations of the substance, they can measure the effect in relation to dose. Once the analysis is ready, the information is sent directly to the Public Health Agency.
Fifteen of the 17 substances examined turned out to be able to activate the cannabinoid receptor, allowing for the quick classification of 14 of the substances as narcotics in Sweden. The researchers have further developed the method so as to also measure the effects on the cellular systems affected by substances similar to amphetamine, cocaine, heroin, morphine, and fentanyl.
This new method provides a quick and relatively simple way to classify NPS and other narcotics, which can help combat drug abuse and keep people safe.
