FATAL POISONING WITH THE SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID AB-CHMINACA AND ETHYL ALCOHOL – A CASE STUDY AND LITERATURE REVIEW
Joanna GIEROŃ, Piotr ADAMOWICZ
Institute of Forensic Research, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
The largest group of new psychoactive substances is synthetic cannabinoids. Those that are placed on the list of controlled substances are immediately replaced by new uncontrolled ones. Significant and frequent changes on the “legal high” market often result in intoxications. The synthetic cannabinoid AB-CHMINACA was patented in 2009 and appeared on the European (narcotic) drug market in 2014. Users describe the effects of this substance as very strong and long-lasting when compared to other synthetic cannabinoids, but also as most similar to marijuana. The authors describe the circumstances and toxicological findings in a fatal intoxication of an individual with AB-CHMINACA (in combination with alcohol). The man had smoked a herbal preparation from a package labelled Mocarz (Strongman). Adverse effects were observed within a short period of time and the man collapsed. He died after about 1.5 hours of “legal high” administration. The cause of death ascertained by the medical examiner was acute cardiorespiratory failure. Post-mortem samples were analysed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). AB-CHMINACA was detected and quantified. The determined concentrations in different biological materials were in the range of 0.1 to 2.7 ng/ml. The authors also discuss papers published up to October 2016 in which the concentrations of AB-CHMINACA in autopsy materials have been presented. The described case shows the health risks associated with AB-CHMINACA use; it is the first in which the simultaneous presence of this substance and ethyl alcohol was demonstrated. It may indicate a dangerous depressant effect of these substances on the central nervous system, which consequently leads to death.
Słowa kluczowe
AB-CHMINACA; Fatal intoxication; Synthetic cannabinoid; LC-MS/MS.