title: Results of an international drug testing service for cryptomarket users.
abstract: User surveys indicate that expectations of higher drug purity are a key reason for cryptomarket use. In 2014-2015, Spain's NGO Energy Control conducted a 1-year pilot project to provide a testing service to cryptomarket drug users using the Transnational European Drug Information (TEDI) guidelines. In this paper, we present content and purity data from the trial.
  
  
  
  219 samples were analyzed by gas chromatography associated with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Users were asked to report what substance they allegedly purchased.
  
  
  
  40 different advertised substances were reported, although 77.6% were common recreational drugs (cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines, LSD, ketamine, cannabis). In 200 samples (91.3%), the main result of analysis matched the advertised substance. Where the advertised compound was detected, purity levels (m±SD) were: cocaine 71.6±19.4%; MDMA (crystal) 88.3±1.4%; MDMA (pills) 133.3±38.4mg; Amphetamine (speed) 51.3±33.9%; LSD 123.6±40.5μg; Cannabis resin THC: 16.5±7.5% CBD: 3.4±1.5%; Ketamine 71.3±38.4%. 39.8% of cocaine samples contained the adulterant levamisole (11.6±8%). No adulterants were found in MDMA and LSD samples.
  
  
  
  The largest collection of test results from drug samples delivered from cryptomarkets are reported in this study. Most substances contained the advertised ingredient and most samples were of high purity. The representativeness of these results is unknown.
authors.affiliation: C.S. Puerta Bonita I. SERMAS. Madrid (Spain) c/Alegría 24, 28028 Madrid, Spain; Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: caudevilla@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caudevilla
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fornís
authors.affiliation: Drug Policy Modelling Program, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; Centre of Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
authors.forename: Monica J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina Gil
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lladanosa
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Energy Control (ABD). Barcelona (Spain) C/Llibertat, 27, 08012 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calzada
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D004340:Drug Contamination; D055030:Drug Users; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D038622:Internationality; D020407:Internet; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Adulterants; Cryptomarkets; Drug checking; Drug markets; Drug trend monitoring; Purity