The diffusion of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the
illicit drug market is a worldwide problem. The aim of the study is to describe the qualitative distribution of drugs of abuse in seized materials confiscated in the Italian territory over the last two years. Between 2013 and 2015 162
seizures of substances purchased through the Internet and confiscated by police authorities were analyzed: 35
seizures (22%) were crystals of
3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC). Although 3-MMC is subject to the relevant legislation in Italy, it is not controlled in other countries such as the Netherlands, from which the shipments originated. 33
seizures (20%) were crystals of
4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC), 19
seizures (12%) were powders containing
methylenedioxypyrovalerone (
MDPV).
N,N-diallyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DALT) was identified in 5 powders, whereas
ethylphenidate in six and pyrrolidinophenones in fourteen seized powders: 6 α-PVP (
alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone), 6 α-PHP (
alpha-pyrrolidinohexiophenone) and 1 α-PVT (
alpha-pyrrolidinopentiothiophenone). Other substances identified were cathinones such as
pentedrone,
methylone, buthylone,
ethylone,
methedrone, 3-CMC (3-chloromethcathinone),
3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC),
flephedrone (4-fluoromethcathinone or 4-FMC), 2-FMC and 3-FMC (2- and 3-fluoromethcathinone), MPPP (4-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinopropiophenone), bk-2C-B (2-amino-1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one). Other compounds were NM2AI (N-methyl-2-aminoindane), MPA (1-(thiophen-2-yl)-2-methylaminopropane),
MTTA (
mephtetramine), 4-APB and 6-APB (4- and 6- (2-aminopropyl)benzofuran), 2-fluoromethamphetamine, 1mCPP (1-meta-chlorophenylpiperazine) and
diphenidine, detected for the first time in Europe. Only three
seizures contained synthetic
cannabinoids, consisting of herbal blends soaked in
N-(1-adamantyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (AKB48), or a mixture of 5-F-AKB48 and BB-22 (1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-8-quinolinyl ester-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid). In some mixtures of drugs - such as granules - 4-MEC and
pentedrone were detected, also with traces of
diphenidine on one occasion. In other cases
5-MeO-DALT,
ethylphenidate and
caffeine were mixed together. In one batch, the mixture was
flephedrone and methoxethamine, whereas in another one the sample contained
methylone,
ethylone,
methedrone,
4-fluoroamphetamine,
5-MeO-DALT and 5MeO-MiPT (N-methyl-N-isopropyl-5-methoxytryptamine). In 9
seizures,
tablets shipped together with NPS were also found to contain
sildenafil. The analyses performed on these
seizures showed the presence of a wide number of NPS within the Italian boundaries coming from abroad, therefore this study confirms the threat for the public health, especially when the content of NPS being sold is not reported on the label or misleading.