Nuove sostanze psicoattive (NSP) - strategie analitiche per la loro determinazione

One of the challenges for the forensic toxicologists is the rapid identification of new substances that appear on the illicit market. In fact until august 2013 about 280 new substances were identified. Their use among the general population is another clue point, more difficult due to the fact that these substances are excreted mainly as metabolites. Here is described the approach of the laboratory of forensic toxicology of the UCSC for the determination of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in clandestine seizures. It is also reported a multidisciplinary approach for the study of metabolism of these substances, based on the theoretical prediction of main metabolites, followed by in vitro studies and by the development of analytical methods for the screening of NPS in biological fluids.