Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health最新文献

{"title":"Police Seizure of Drugs and Other Psychoactive Substances in a Northern Region of Russia","authors":"A. Gil","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Drugs and psychoactive substances is a continuous problem in Russia and worldwide. Northern industrial regions of Russia, including Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra), are vulnerable to the epidemic of drug use due to: the higher level of economic development, intensive migration, severe northern climate.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The data on police seizure of drugs for 2024 in KhMAO-Yugra was analyzed. Results and</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The region's black market is dominated by stimulants and other synthetic drugs (197kg or 88.2% of all seized drugs) with their illegal trafficking continuing to pose the main threat. Stimulants were mainly represented by amphetamine-type drugs (1272 cases of seizure): N-methylephedrine analogues (α-PVP), mephedrone, and MDMA. Non-synthetic drugs of the cannabis and opium groups accounted for only 9.1% and 0.3% of the seized drugs, respectively. Compared to 2003, the amount of methadone seized increased by 7% (from 1.4kg to 1.5kg), heroin – decreased by 99.3% (from 57.3kg to 0.4kg), cocaine – increased 22-fold (from 3g to 66g). Drugs are usually distributed contactlessly and enter the region predominantly by motor transport from other regions of the country mainly situated in the Urals Federal District. Criminal groups, commonly originating countries of Central Asia, retain a significant control over illegal drugs distribution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Drug Checking in Identifying Novel Substances in Aotearoa New Zealand","authors":"O. Johnson,&nbsp;H. Partington,&nbsp;C. Trueman,&nbsp;J. George,&nbsp;J. Bown,&nbsp;E. Carroll,&nbsp;C. Spearin,&nbsp;E. Hughes,&nbsp;R. Ponton","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Aotearoa New Zealand was the first country to legalise Drug Checking in 2021, aiming to reduce drug-related harm by helping people who use drugs to make informed decisions. The service has grown significantly, evidenced by a near 300% increase in sample numbers. Samples associated with harm or that cannot be identified in-field are sent for laboratory analysis. Several samples have been found to contain novel psychoactive substances (NPS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A review of samples submitted by Drug Checking Providers was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of NPS and other dangerous substances.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, benzodiazepines, nitazenes, and ketamine-analogues are the most detected groups of NPS, including the first reported detection of N-cyclohexyl-pentylone internationally. First detections in Aotearoa now often occur through Drug Checking, a shift from NPS detections in seized samples which was prevalent a few years ago.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Drug Checking provides an unparalleled insight into drug trends, the identification of NPS, and other potentially dangerous substances circulating in Aotearoa’s drug supply. This drug intelligence provides a community-level harm reduction benefit. Other jurisdictions should consider Drug Checking to gain a wider picture of the national drugscape than traditional methods of informing early warning systems from analysing seizures alone.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Introducing Pooled Urine and Wastewater Samples Testing for Identification of Psychoactive Substances in the Northern Region of Russia","authors":"A. Gil","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Data provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs based on seizures of psychoactive substances (PS) and by medical organizations conducting laboratory testing of biological samples sometimes provide an incomplete or contradictory picture of the PS availability and consumption.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An analysis was conducted of the concept developed and adopted for the implementation of testing pooled urine samples and wastewater samples for PS in the Russia’s Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The implementation of the measures outlined in the concept will enable the following priority tasks to be achieved: 1) conducting PS community-wide surveillance, 2) obtaining data on PS use in real-time or near-real-time, 3) achieving a high level of impartiality of PS use assessments, 4) eliminating risks associated with invasive assessment methods, 5) identification of hidden or undetected PS use, 6) reduction of economic costs associated with PS surveillance, 7) monitoring of emerging trends and detecting novel substances, 8) providing a more nuanced understanding of drug use, helping policymakers tailor interventions more effectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>It is expected that the implementation of the concept of introducing new methods for detecting psychoactive substances will lead to a more effective response to current changes in the drug situation in the region and to a reduction in morbidity and mortality attributable to psychoactive substances use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mortality Associated with Nitazenes May Be Underestimated Due to Post-Mortem Degradation","authors":"S. Chen,&nbsp;R. Moore,&nbsp;S. Hudson,&nbsp;C. Copeland","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Nitazenes are highly potent synthetic opioids that are being increasingly detected in the UK illicit drug market. Following reports from toxicologists of inconsistent post-mortem test results, we investigated the stability of nitazenes in post-mortem tissues and performed pharmacoepidemiological modelling to understand the impact nitazene degradation may be having on mortality statistics.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In vivo study: rats (n=12) were administered a nitazene with post-mortem samples taken on post-mortem Day 1 and Day 7 to assess pre-sampling stability. These samples were then stored in the fridge for 1 month and re-tested to assess post-sampling stability. Pharmacoepidemiology study: Nitazene cases were extracted from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality with exponential smoothing modelling performed to assess forecasted and actual trends in non-nitazene deaths.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All three nitazenes tested (metonitazene, n-desethyl isotonitazene, n-pyrrolidino etonitazene) degraded in post-mortem blood. On average only 14% of the nitazene detected in the Day 1 samples which were tested immediately remained in the Day 7 samples stored in the fridge for 1 month (n=12). Pharmacoepidemiological modelling revealed a 30% increase in excess death in areas with known nitazene outbreaks in 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Nitazene-related-deaths are likely being underestimated due to their degradation in post-mortem blood samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring the Results of Chemical-Toxicological Studies of New Psychoactive Substances in the Sverdlovsk Regional Center for the Treatment of Acute Poisoning in 2015–2025","authors":"M. Gofenberg","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>According to the Sverdlovsk Regional Center for the Treatment of Acute Poisoning, more than 30% of all acute chemical poisonings are associated with the use of narcotic drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPS).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Retrospective study of laboratory data on all cases of acute poisoning with narcotic, psychotropic and new psychoactive substances in the Sverdlovsk Regional Poisoning Treatment Center, Yekaterinburg, Russia, from January 2015 to January 2025. Screening chemical-toxicological examination of urine of patients with acute poisoning was performed using the gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For 10 years, the main group of substances detected in acute poisonings in the Sverdlovsk region have been substances with psychostimulant action. In 2015–2025, in the Sverdlovsk region, both structural analogues of methamphetamine have become widespread and pyrrolidino-substituted cathinones. Since 2023, a significant number of acute poisonings with 4-chloromethylcathinone have been detected. The number of acute poisonings with synthetic cannabimimetics has decreased, but the number of acute poisonings with opioids (methadone) has increased, including fatal ones. Since 2023, the number of poisonings from Amanita mushrooms and dietary supplements containing dried pieces of these mushrooms has increased. At the same time, cases of polydrug addiction are increasingly being identified, when the use of more than one drug is recorded combined use of new psychoactive substances, medications (neuroleptics, baclofen, etc.), veterinary drugs, 1,4-butanediol, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and alcohol.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The detection rate of various compounds in chemical-toxicological studies changes over time, but the main group of NPS detected in laboratory diagnostics of acute poisoning over 10 years are synthetic cathinones. The most severe cases of acute poisoning, including fatal ones, are associated with the combined use of drugs, medications and NPS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Introducing CounseLLMe: A dataset of simulated mental health dialogues for comparing LLMs like Haiku, LLaMAntino and ChatGPT against humans","authors":"Edoardo Sebastiano De Duro,&nbsp;Riccardo Improta,&nbsp;Massimo Stella","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100170","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100170","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We introduce CounseLLMe as a multilingual, multi-model dataset of 400 simulated mental health counselling dialogues between two state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs). These conversations - of 20 quips each - were generated either in English (using OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 and Claude-3’s Haiku) or Italian (with Claude-3’s Haiku and LLaMAntino) and with prompts tuned with the help of a professional in psychotherapy. We investigate the resulting conversations through comparison against human mental health conversations on the same topic of depression. To compare linguistic features, knowledge structure and emotional content between LLMs and humans, we employed textual forma mentis networks, i.e. cognitive networks where nodes represent concepts and links indicate syntactic or semantic relationships between concepts in the dialogues’ quips. We find that the emotional structure of LLM-LLM English conversations matches the one of humans in terms of patient-therapist trust exchanges, i.e. 1 in 5 LLM-LLM quips contain trust along 10 conversational turns versus the <span><math><mrow><mn>24</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span> rate found in humans. ChatGPT and Haiku’s simulated English patients can also reproduce human feelings of conflict and pessimism. However, human patients display non-negligible levels of anger/frustration that is missing in LLMs. Italian LLMs’ conversations are worse in reproducing human patterns. All LLM-LLM conversations reproduced human syntactic patterns of increased absolutist pronoun usage in patients and second-person, trust-inducing, pronoun usage in therapists. Our results indicate that LLMs can realistically reproduce several aspects of human patient-therapist conversations and we thusly release CounseLLMe as a public dataset for novel data-informed opportunities in mental health and machine psychology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100170"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Child-therapist acoustic synchrony and response trajectories in autism intervention: an AI-based automated analysis using dynamic systems theory and affective computing","authors":"Giulio Bertamini ,&nbsp;Silvia Perzolli ,&nbsp;Arianna Bentenuto ,&nbsp;Cesare Furlanello ,&nbsp;Mohamed Chetouani ,&nbsp;David Cohen ,&nbsp;Paola Venuti","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Child-clinician interpersonal dynamics are central to psychotherapy and are increasingly acknowledged as key elements in autism intervention. However, quantitatively studying fine-grained aspects such as the child-clinician synchrony patterns poses challenges, limiting translational research. Moreover, synchrony is rarely investigated with a long-term perspective. This study employed an AI-based, fully automated computational pipeline to analyze child-clinician interpersonal acoustic synchrony through the lens of complex dynamic systems and affective computing.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We followed 25 autistic preschoolers over one year of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI). Three 60-minute intervention sessions, at the beginning, after three months, and after one year, were analyzed second-by-second, totaling 75 videos. After AI-based automatic speech segmentation, acoustic synchrony was assessed using Cross-Recurrence Quantification Analysis to derive interaction metrics over the entire therapy sessions employing affective prosodic features. Robust Bayesian correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between affective acoustic synchrony and developmental learning rates at different time points.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>No significant associations were found at baseline, while correlations emerged after three months and became more pronounced at one year. Early in therapy, interactions with a stronger internal structure, particularly in loudness, spectral dynamics, and voice quality, were linked to higher developmental gains. After one year, the relationship between synchrony and response shifted toward metrics reflecting transition dynamics and stability. Associations with fine-grained spectral features particularly characterized this phase.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Specific and different synchrony aspects were associated with therapy response trajectories both in the initial and latter phases of therapy. Acoustic features involved in intervention response are known to participate in the emotional content of speech, highlighting the contribution of affective aspects to therapy.</div><div>These findings provide valuable insights into the role of interpersonal synchrony in autism intervention and underscore the potential of computational methods in monitoring treatment progress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100176"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144510888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of internet emotional relationships, family and marital intimacy in predicting substance use relapse: A structural equation modeling study","authors":"Mohammad Khorrami ,&nbsp;Kosar Haghani ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Agheh Kholerdi ,&nbsp;Farideh ghavasi ,&nbsp;Pouneh Hasannezhad vayani ,&nbsp;Farshid Fathy Karkaragh","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The type and quality of relationships that individuals struggling with addiction establish in their daily lives play a crucial role in their recovery and liberation from addiction. Therefore, this study aims to predict substance use relapse based on marital intimacy, family intimacy, and internet emotional relationships.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of addicted individuals aged 24 to 65 and above with substance abuse. The socio-statistics of this study were all substance users in NA in Bojnord city/ North Khorasan province/ Iran: 2024. Participants were either self-referred or admitted through legal intervention. A total of 384 individuals were selected as available sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires, including the Walker &amp; Thompson Marital Intimacy Scale, the Family of Origin Scale by Hovestadt et al., the Iranian Internet Emotional Relationships Questionnaire by Barghi Irani and Aziz, and the Substance Use Relapse Prediction Scale by Wright et al. After data collection, raw data were scored and analyzed using SPSS 16 and R software. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients, stepwise regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and path analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistical analyses revealed a significant relationship between substance use relapse and marital intimacy, family intimacy, and internet emotional relationships (P &lt; 0.001). Specifically, increased marital and family intimacy significantly reduced the likelihood of substance use relapse among addicted individuals (P &lt; 0.001). Another finding indicated an inverse yet significant relationship between substance use relapse and internet emotional relationships (P &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Based on the findings, marital intimacy, family intimacy, and internet emotional relationships can predict substance use relapse in individuals struggling with addiction. Therefore, it is recommended to organize educational programs aimed at fostering intimacy within family relationships to promote constructive interactions between family members and addicted individuals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field Quantification of MDMA in Seized Samples Using Portable NIR Spectroscopy","authors":"B. Jurásek,&nbsp;E. Vedralová,&nbsp;M. Martinec,&nbsp;M. Kuchař","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>MDMA represents one of the most commonly used illicit stimulant in Europe. Traditional analytical methods for MDMA analysis are time-consuming and require laboratory facilities, limiting field applications. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy offers rapid, non-destructive identification and quantification capabilities suitable for on-site forensic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Instrumentation: A MicroNIR On-Site-W spectrometer with 3D-printed sample holder. Calibration sets: Binary mixtures of MDMA hydrochloride (10–90% w/w) were prepared with cutting agents: caffeine, talc, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. Data analysis: Spectral preprocessing included detrending, Savitzky-Golay first and second derivative, and standard normal variate (SNV) normalisation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component regression (PCR) models were developed using CAMO Unscrambler X with 5 principal components. Validation: Street samples (n=39) seized by law enforcement agencies in the Czech Republic.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The measured NIR spectra from the calibration sets were used to create PCA and PCR models. The street samples were measured by the NIR spectrometer and evaluated using the created models. The PCA models successfully differentiated MDMA from adulterants and the PCR models enabled us the quantification of the street MDMA samples. The purity of the street samples were confirmed by either GC-FID or HPLS-DAD.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Portable NIR spectroscopy paired with chemometric modeling provides a robust field-deployable solution for MDMA quantification. The approach supports rapid on-scene decision-making in drug enforcement operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of Etodesnitazene Metabolites Using UHPLC-HRMS/MS in Various In Vitro and In Vivo Models","authors":"M. Mrňavá,&nbsp;P. Palivec,&nbsp;Š. Friedrichová,&nbsp;M. Kuchař","doi":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.etdah.2025.100244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Etodesnitazene, a synthetic benzimidazole opioid, has recently emerged drug market as a potent new psychoactive substance with significant abuse potential. Due to limited data on its metabolism, there is a critical need to elucidate its biotransformation pathways along with confirmation of the structures using synthesized standards for forensic and toxicological purposes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In vitro incubations were performed using pooled human and rat liver microsomes, hepatocytes, and cytosolic fractions to assess both phase I and phase II metabolism. For in vivo studies, urine samples were collected from male Wistar rats. Analysis of all samples was performed by UHPLC-HRMS/MS, and metabolic pathways were determined using Compound Discoverer, FreeStyle and MassFrontier softwares. The selected metabolites were further synthesized and analyzed under the same conditions to confirm the structure.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across all models, several phase I and phase II metabolites were detected, including hydroxylated, N-dealkylated, and glucuronidated derivatives observed mainly in hepatocyte incubations and rat urine.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The combined use of in vitro and in vivo models provided a comprehensive overview of etodesnitazene metabolism. The data obtained (structure, m/z, RT, fragmentation spectra) can be utilized by forensic toxicology laboratories to confirm the presence of this substance in, for instance, urine, blood or hair samples of users. Concurrently, the confirmation and synthesis of our metabolite standards establish the foundation for future pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72899,"journal":{"name":"Emerging trends in drugs, addictions, and health","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}