Short-term residual effects of smoked cannabis on simulated driving performance.

Rationale: Between periods of use, chronic cannabis consumers may display residual effects on selective cognitive functions, particularly memory and attention. Whether there are comparable deficits in real-world behaviors, such as driving, has not been thoroughly examined.

Objectives: The current study explored the association between driving simulator performance, cannabis use history, and demographic factors after ≥ 48 h of abstinence.

chronic cannabis exposure is associated with lower total brain volume in the first month of postnatal life.

I cannabis exposure is associated with deleterious offspring neural development and behaviors that emerge across the lifespan. We explored if brain morphology differed in neonates exposed and unexposed to cannabis in the first month of life. To evaluate differences in global and subcortical regional brain volume (in the amygdala and hippocampus) in neonates in the first month of life according to cannabis exposure.

Human diagnostic markers for intake of semi-synthetic cannabinoids (9R)- and (9S)-hexahydrocannabinol.

Background: Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) emerged on the illicit drug market in 2022, especially in cannabinoid consumables. HHC has a chiral center and is present as 9(R) and 9(S) epimers, exhibiting different potencies. This study explores the enantioselective metabolism of 9(R)- and 9(S)-HHC to identify and differentiate intake of these two toxicants.

Cannabinoid Profiling Across Toxicology Samples in Adolescents and Young Adults by Route of Administration and in Relation to Depression Symptoms.

Cannabis use is common, with diversity in cannabis products contributing to difficulty in accurately assessing the impact of cannabis use in vulnerable populations such as emerging adults. This study describes and assesses concurrence across toxicological matrices (oral fluid, plasma, urine, and hair) and self-reported cannabis use days. Further, it examines whether 11-nor-9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH, the primary metabolite of Δ9-tetrahydrocannbinol [THC]) concentration or use patterns varies by administration route (smoked flower or vaped concentrate) or predicts depression symptoms.

Oral fluid device performance in identifying amphetamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine use in Brazilian drivers.

Stimulant use while driving is a high-risk factor for collisions and fatalities. In recent years, several strategies to curtail impaired driving were employed on highways, including on-site oral fluid testing. This study evaluated four roadside oral fluid testing devices (AquilaScan®, Dräger DrugTest®, Druglizer®, and DrugWipe®) for the detection of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine in oral fluid from Brazilian drivers.

North America Laboratory Survey Data for Drug Testing in Drug Impaired Driving and Traffic Fatality Investigations.

In 2004, the National Safety Council's Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division (NSC-ADID) set out to provide guidance for the standardization of laboratory testing practices in driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and fatal motor vehicle crash investigations after identifying a lack of consistency in testing practices in this type of casework. A survey about laboratory testing practices, scopes of testing, and cutoffs was created using SurveyMonkey®, an online survey instrument, and sent to laboratories throughout the United States and Canada. Based on analysis of survey results and discussion, the first set of recommendations was published in 2007 with recommended scope and cutoffs for drug screening and confirmation in blood and urine.

Association of driving with blood delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: a systematic review.

Importance: Driving under the influence of cannabis increases the risk of motor vehicle collisions. In some jurisdictions, deterrence rests on the ability to detect delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in blood. Recent evidence suggests that there may be a nuanced relationship of blood THC to driving.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot study of cannabis-related driving impairment assessed by driving simulator and self-report.

Aims: In the context of increasing cannabis use, understanding how cannabis affects specific driving behaviors is crucial in mitigating risks and ensuring road safety.

Design And Setting: The current study included 38 adults aged 18-40 years, administered a single 0.5 g acute dose of vaporized cannabis (5.

Cannabinoids in hair and their prospective association with mental and physical health outcomes in adolescents.

Background: Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs in early adolescence, a crucial time for development. Cannabinoids within the cannabis plant (e.g.

Quantification of 11 kratom alkaloids including mitragynine and its main metabolites in human plasma using LC-MS/MS.

Recently in the USA, kratom consumers increasingly report use of the plant for self-treatment of mood ailments, the lack of energy, chronic pain, and opioid withdrawal and dependence. Several alkaloids are present in kratom leaves, but limited data are available on their pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, except for mitragynine. To support clinical studies, a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous quantification of 11 kratom alkaloids in human plasma was developed and validated.

MDMA pharmacokinetics: A population and physiologically based pharmacokinetics model-informed analysis.

Midomafetamine (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]) is under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration review for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in adults.

Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Adolescent and Adult Female Mice.

Animal studies suggest that adolescent exposure to Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC), the intoxicating constituent of cannabis, causes lasting functional alterations in brain and other organs. Those studies often neglect the impact that age- and sex-dependent differences in the distribution and metabolism of the drug might exert on its pharmacological effects. Here, we provide a comparative analysis of Δ-THC pharmacokinetics in adolescent and adult female mice, which identify significant dissimilarities in distribution and metabolism of Δ-THC between females of these age groups.

Assessing knowledge gaps and educational needs in urine drug test interpretation among health care professionals.

Objectives: Urine drug testing (UDT) is a critical tool used in medical, forensic, and occupational settings, but interpreting results can be challenging. We performed a study to assess the ability of health care professionals to interpret UDT results accurately.

Methods: In total, 911 clinical and laboratory professionals in the United States and Canada responded to a survey with questions gauging expertise in UDT interpretation.

Amygdala volume and depression symptoms in young adolescents who use cannabis.

Introduction: Both cannabis use and depressive symptomology increase in prevalence throughout adolescence. Concurrently, the brain is undergoing neurodevelopment in important limbic regions, such as the amygdala. Prior research indicates the amygdala may also be related to cannabis use and depressive symptoms.

Assessment of urine drug screen utility at autopsy to predict laboratory postmortem blood toxicology.

When faced with increasing drug-related deaths and decline in practicing forensic pathologists, the need to quickly identify toxicology-related deaths is evident in order to appropriately triage cases and expedite turnaround times. Lateral flow immunoassays conducted pre-autopsy offer quick urine drug screen (UDS) results in minutes and are used to inform the need for autopsy. Over 1000 medicolegal cases were reviewed to compare UDS results to laboratory enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) blood results to evaluate how well autopsy UDS predicted laboratory findings.

Kratom safety and toxicology in the public health context: research needs to better inform regulation.

Although kratom use has been part of life for centuries in Southeast Asia, the availability and use of kratom in the United States (US) increased substantially since the early 2000s when there was little information on kratom pharmacology, use patterns, and effects, all critical to guiding regulation and policy. Here we provide a synthesis of research with several hundred English-language papers published in the past 5 years drawing from basic research, epidemiological and surveillance data, and recent clinical research. This review of available literature aims to provide an integrated update regarding our current understanding of kratom's benefits, risks, pharmacology, and epidemiology, which may inform United States-based kratom regulation.

LC-MS-MS quantification of Δ8-THC, Δ9-THC, THCV isomers and their main metabolites in human plasma.

In recent years, potential therapeutic applications of several different cannabinoids, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), its isomer Δ8-THC and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ9-THCV), have been investigated. Nevertheless, to establish dose-effect relationship and to gain knowledge of their pharmacokinetics and metabolism, sensitive and specific analytical assays are needed to measure these compounds in patients. For this reason, we developed and validated an online extraction high-performance liquid/liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/LC-MS-MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of 13 cannabinoids and metabolites including the Δ8 and Δ9 isomers of THC, THCV and those of their major metabolites in human plasma.

Human Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine Pharmacokinetics after Single and Multiple Daily Doses of Oral Encapsulated Dried Kratom Leaf Powder.

Kratom leaves, consumed by millions worldwide as tea or ground leaf powder, contain multiple alkaloids, with mitragynine being the most abundant and responsible for most effects. Mitragynine is a partial µ-opioid receptor agonist and competitive antagonist at κ- and δ-opioid receptors; however, unlike morphine, it does not activate the β-arrestin-2 respiratory depression pathway. Due to few human mitragynine data, the largest randomized, between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of 500-4000 mg dried kratom leaf powder (6.

Metabolite markers for three synthetic tryptamines N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine, 4-hydroxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine, and 5-methoxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine.

N-Ethyl-N-propyltryptamine (EPT), 4-hydroxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine (4-OH-EPT), and 5-methoxy-N-ethyl-N-propyltryptamine (5-MeO-EPT) are new psychoactive substances classified as tryptamines, sold online. Many tryptamines metabolize rapidly, and identifying the appropriate metabolites to reveal intake is essential. While the metabolism of 4-OH-EPT and 5-MeO-EPT are not previously described, EPT is known to form metabolites by indole ring hydroxylation among others.

Exposure to Synthetic Psychoactive Substances: A Potential Cause for Increased Human Hepatotoxicity Markers.

Background: Approximately 30 million people worldwide consume new psychoactive substances (NPS), creating a serious public health issue due to their toxicity and potency. Drug-induced liver injury is the leading cause of liver disease, responsible for 4% of global deaths each year.

Content: A systematic literature search revealed 64 case reports, in vitro and in vivo studies on NPS hepatotoxicity.

Recommendations for effective collaboration and capacity building in epidemiological studies on the effect of alcohol and drug use on traffic safety in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: Alcohol or drug impairment is a major risk factor for road traffic crashes, and studies on this issue are essential to provide evidence-based data for policymakers. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such studies are often conducted in partnership with one or more organizations in high-income countries (HICs). The aim of this article is to provide recommendations for improving project planning and decision-making processes in epidemiological studies on alcohol, drug and traffic safety in LMICs involving HICs.

Metabolic Stability and Metabolite Identification of N-Ethyl Pentedrone Using Rat, Mouse and Human Liver Microsomes.

New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) are defined as a group of substances produced from molecular modifications of traditional drugs. These molecules represent a public health problem since information about their metabolites and toxicity is poorly understood. N-ethyl pentedrone (NEP) is an NPS that was identified in the illicit market for the first time in the mid-2010s, with four intoxication cases later described in the literature.