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International Journal of Legal Medicine
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine 2/2022

Open Access 01-03-2022 | Intoxication | Case Report

Analytical findings in a non-fatal intoxication with the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-ADB (5F-MDMB-PINACA): a case report

Authors: Franziska Gaunitz, Hilke Andresen-Streichert

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 2/2022

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Abstract

The case report centres on analytical findings from a spice sample (mixed with tobacco (as a cigarette) for consumption), and its corresponding plasma sample, smoked by a 31-year-old man who was attended by emergency services following collapse. The man was fully conscious and cooperative during initial medical treatment. Suddenly, he suffered a complete loss of self-control, whereupon the police was notified. The man encountered the police officers when exiting the apartment, at which point he threatened them with clenched fists and reached for a plant bucket in order to strike out in the direction of the officers. At the trial, he described himself as confused and as being completely overwhelmed, having lost self-control, suffered a panic attack and “just wanted to get out the situation”. Furthermore, he stated that he had no recollection of the incident. He feared death due to palpitations, heart pain, dizziness and repetitive anxiety states. Routine systematic as well as extended toxicological analysis of the plasma sample, taken approximately 2 h after the incident, confirmed the use of cannabis and spice. Plasma concentrations of THC, OH-THC and THC-COOH were 8.0 μg/L, 4.0 μg/L and 147 μg/L, respectively. Furthermore, analysis confirmed uptake of 5F-ADB (5F-MDMB-PINACA) via detection of both 5F-ADB and the 5F-ADB N-(5-OH-pentyl) metabolite. The spice sample additionally contained 5F-MDMB-PICA, which was not detected in the plasma sample. A differentiation between a possible co-use and a recent use of cannabis was not possible. In summary, this case once more underlines the health risks of spice use.
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Metadata
Title
Analytical findings in a non-fatal intoxication with the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-ADB (5F-MDMB-PINACA): a case report
Authors
Franziska Gaunitz
Hilke Andresen-Streichert
Publication date
01-03-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-021-02717-6

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