Identification of Synthetic Cathinones in Unknown Substances in Sri Lanka

Abstract

There is a high tendency of ‘legal highs’ entering the local drug market. Most of the countries including Sri Lanka have controlled these drugs, because of their adverse side effects. 4-Methyl methcathinone, (4-MMC, Mephedrone) and 3-Methyl methcathinone (3-MMC, Mataphedrone) are psychoactive substances categorized under the group of synthetic cathinones. These drugs are commonly available in powder forms and crystalline forms and produce effects similar to those of MDMA, amphetamines and cocaine. Three cases containing unknown substances were submitted to the Narcotics Laboratory of the Government Analyst’s Department of Sri Lanka for further examination to find out the presence of narcotic drugs if any. Comprehensive analytical scheme including TLC, UV- Visible spectroscopy, GC-MS and RAMAN spectroscopy was applied for the qualitative analysis. The results obtained from TLC, UV-Visible, GC-MS, and RAMAN spectroscopy, confirmed the presence of Mephedrone (4-MMC) and Metaphedrone (3-MMC) in the unknown substances, and 3-MMC and 4-MMC were identified for the first time in Sri Lanka at the Government Analyst’s Department. Even though, Mephedrone is a controlled substance in Sri Lanka, 3-MMC is still not included as a controlled substance. Therefore, it is high time for Sri Lankan legal authorities to pay more attention in controlling New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).