title: Prevalence and blood concentrations of desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP) in drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs and in post-mortem cases.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of the use of desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP) among drivers apprehended on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and the prevalence of the drug in post-mortem cases in Finland. Serum samples from drivers apprehended on suspicion of DUID and blood samples from post-mortem cases in Finland between October 2010 and May 2012 were analysed for the presence of desoxypipradrol. All samples were analysed for desoxypipradrol by mass spectrometric methods following comprehensive drug screening. Psychomotor performance of subjects was assessed by a clinician. There were 106 positive desoxypipradrol samples from apprehended drivers (1.7% of all confirmed DUID cases) in the study period. In most cases amphetamine and/or benzodiazepines were also present. The median (range) desoxypipradrol concentration was 0.073 mg/L (0.006-0.890 mg/L). The presence of other psychoactive drugs confounded assessment of the effect of desoxypipradrol on psychomotor performance except for one case in which it was the only drug present at pharmacologically active levels. Desoxypipradrol was found in 5 autopsy cases (0.05% of the investigated cases) and thought to contribute to death in two of these. Even though there are few data available on the pharmacology of desoxypipradrol, based on our findings, and the growing number of users, it is reasonable to assume that desoxypipradrol - a long-acting psychostimulant with dangerous side effects has an increasing detrimental impact on traffic safety in Finland. However, it was only rarely found to be the cause of death in post-mortem cases.
authors: Vita Health Care Services Ltd, Vita Laboratory, Laivakatu 5F, 00150 Helsinki, Finland. pirkko.kriikku@helsinki.fi
authors: Pirkko
authors: P
authors: Kriikku
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Wilhelm
authors: Janne
authors: J
authors: Rintatalo
authors: Jukka
authors: J
authors: Hurme
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Kramer
authors: Ilkka
authors: I
authors: Ojanperä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010880:Piperidines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C084901:2-diphenylmethylpiperidine