Detection of Drugs

Detection of Drugs

  • Institution: University of Hertfordshire

  • Project: EPS NPS (European-Wide, Monitoring, Analysis and Knowledge Dissemination on Novel/Emerging Psychoactives)

  • Course: Detection of Drugs

  • Speaker: Dr Jacqueline Stair, Reader in Analytical Chemistry

  • Code: F156

Learning Objectives

  • Familiarity:

    • Common drugs of misuse and their chemical structures.

  • Understanding:

    • Relation of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) to common drugs of misuse and their chemical structures.

  • Analytical Techniques:

    • Use of analytical techniques for drug detection.

  • Data Interpretation:

    • How to interpret analytical data for the assessment of drugs of misuse.

Drugs of Abuse

  • Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

  • Online World Drug Report 2023:

    • Contains insights into global, regional, and sub-regional estimates and trends in drug demand and supply.

    • Features more than 90 key findings and 300+ data visualizations.

    • Key topics include:

    • Demand

    • Supply

    • Markets for various substances such as Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS), Cannabis, Cocaine, and Opioids.

Recognizing Drugs of Misuse Based on Chemical Structure

  • Examples of chemical structures of drugs:

    • Amps, NPS, and other classifications such as Opioids and Cannabinoids.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)

  • Definition:

    • NPS are substances of abuse, either pure or in preparations, not controlled by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, yet may pose public health risks.

  • Market Risk:

    • Rapid emergence of NPS, little known about their adverse effects, raising concerns for public health and drug policy.

  • Common Terms:

    • “Legal highs,” “bath salts,” and “research chemicals.”

  • Strategies for Monitoring:

    • Emphasize monitoring, information sharing, early warnings, and risk awareness to respond to NPS threats.