Illegal Manufacture Research Articles

Linked electronic medication systems in community pharmacies for preventing pseudoephedrine diversion: A review of international practice and analysis of results in Australia

Pseudoephedrine is a precursor often diverted into the illegal manufacture of amphetamine type substances (ATS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a linked electronic medication recording system (LEMS) established in Australian pharmacies in 2005 for preventing the diversion of pseudoephedrine. The number of illegal ATS laboratories detected in each jurisdiction of Australia from 1996-1997 to 2004-2005 were analysed by linear regression nationally and by each jurisdiction. The statistical significance of seizures in 2005-2006 was based on the comparison of the observed value to the 95% prediction confidence intervals calculated from the historical data for each jurisdiction and nationally. Pharmacies in Queensland commenced an LEMS in late 2005 to minimise retail pseudoephedrine diversion. The number of ATS laboratories seized in 2005-2006 in Queensland was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than predicted by historical data. For all other jurisdictions and nationally the totals of laboratories seized in 2005-2006 were not significantly different from predicted values. The significant decline in ATS illegal laboratories seized in Queensland in 2005-2006 suggests the effective use of LEMS in pharmacies to minimise pseudoephedrine diversion. In order to evaluate a national LEMS, more frequent data on numbers of linked pharmacies, ATS laboratories seized and indicators of pseudoephedrine sales and misuse are required. Testing the use of LEMS by pharmacies for preventing the diversion of other medicines seems appropriate.

Movement Disorders and MDMA Abuse

This article present the cases of two young men with chronic MDMA abuse who later developed movement disorders typical of the Parkinson's syndrome. It is worth noting that both men bought the presumed MDMA from the same illicit source. Potential risks of MDMA use and movement disorders are discussed. The risks inherent from contaminants and similar factors associated with illegal drug manufacture are discussed. The authors conclude that as long as nonpharmaceutical-grade MDMA is illicitly produced, health risks will be associated with its use.

Global Increase in Counterfeit Pesticides

PI-174, an 8-page illustrated fact sheet by Frederick M. Fishel, describes the growing problem of illegal manufacture and trade of counterfeit pesticides, types of counterfeit and illegal pesticides, effects of illegal trade and counterfeit pesticides, challenges to fighting the problem, steps that need to be taken, and examples. Includes sources of additional information. Published by the UF Department of Agronomy, January 2009.

Slightly Hypertonic Saline and Dextran-40 in Resuscitation of Methamphetamine Burn Patients

The inherent danger of illegal manufacture of methamphetamine is explosion and fire with the "cookers" presenting to burn centers for treatment. Recent studies have shown that methamphetamine burn patients required resuscitation volumes two to three times that of the standard Parkland formula and experienced a higher mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to compare the fluid resuscitation requirements and other characteristics of our methamphetamine-positive burn patients with a control group of methamphetamine-negative burn patients. A retrospective study of burn patients with methamphetamine-positive urine toxicology screens was conducted from August 1996 to April 2005. The data collected were age, sex, %total body surface area (%TBSA) burn, urine toxicology screen result, length of stay (LOS), ventilator days, weight, urine output, and fluid requirement during the first 24 hours along with fluid type, survival, and hospital charges. Methamphetamine-positive patients were matched to controls for %TBSA, age, and sex. Eleven methamphetamine-positive burn patients were well matched with 11 methamphetamine-negative controls. There was no difference in intubation rate, ventilator days, LOS, and there were no deaths in either group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups for the ratio of the 24-hour fluid resuscitation requirement divided by the estimate from the Parkland formula. Hospital charges were similar for the two groups. The largest volume of fluid infused was lactated Ringers (LR) and the slightly hypertonic fluid combination of LR + 50 mEq sodium bicarbonate + 3.4 mmol potassium phosphate. Both groups also received a dextran-40 (Rheomacrodex) infusion. In contrast to previous studies, our experience with methamphetamine-positive burn patients shows that they did not have an increased initial fluid requirement, a longer LOS, more days on the ventilator, higher hospitalization charges nor an increased mortality rate. The only apparent difference between our study and others is in the method of resuscitation. The slightly hypertonic fluid combination of LR + 50 mEq sodium bicarbonate +3.4 mM potassium phosphate was used for resuscitation along with Rheomacrodex. Prospective trials should be conducted on this fluid resuscitation strategy to determine wider applicability for all large burn patients.

Simultaneous analysis of d-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan and l-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan by high pressure liquid chromatography equipped with PDA

d-3-Methoxy-17-methylmorphinan (Dextromethorphan, DXM), which is a structural analog of morphine and codeine, has been widely used as a non-narcotic antitussive agent. It is a safe drug in therapeutic dose and does not produce analgesic effects, while its enantiomer, l-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan called levomethorphan (LXM) is a potent narcotic analgesic. DXM has been widely abused in Korea due to its hallucinogenic effect in large doses; therefore, the health authorities have regulated its use as a psychotropic agent since 2003. As its abuse has been serious, a possibility that DXM would be smuggled into Korea has also increased. Moreover, it has been suspected that there was the possibility of the adulteration or substitution of DXM with LXM due to their chemical similarities. Therefore, it was necessary for us to establish the enantiomeric separation of DXM and LXM. In this study, a liquid chromatographic method using a chiral column capable of separating stereoisomers of DXM as well as analyzing the major metabolites of DXM, 3-methoxymorphinan, 3-hydroxymorphinan, and 17-hydroxymethylmorphinan was developed. The validation of a method was studied through repeatability of retention times. Using this method, 32 confiscated DXM samples were analyzed to identify the enantiomers of DXM. As a result, DXM was detected in all samples and there was no evidence of the adulteration or substitution of DXM with LXM. Nevertheless, the stereochemical analysis of DXM and LXM is important not only to identify starting materials for illegal drug manufacture but also to understand the trends of abused drugs.

The black market in prescription drugs

A black market is an illicit trading system that avoids government regulation. It operates outside the law and is driven by the opportunity for profit and the needs of consumers. It is subject to the economic rules of supply and demand and can be rapidly subverted by a change in the laws that make possible its existence. Because the legitimate business of selling prescription drugs is very profitable and highly regulated, opportunities for blackmarket entrepreneurship of these drugs exist in both developed and developing countries. Regulations that govern legitimate access to pharmaceuticals are set by state, national, and international bodies. India has circumvented international patent law by creating a national black market, thereby making it legal to copy a medicine that has been patented elsewhere as long as a different and unique manufacturing process is used. This has allowed the Indian people and other foreign buyers to access highquality medications at a fraction of the cost of the same medication in the USA or Europe, but the practice has understandably been criticised vigorously by multinational pharmaceutical firms and the World Trade Organization.

Burns from illegal drug manufacture: case series and management.

This case series presents our experience with burns sustained while manufacturing illegal drugs. All adult burn admissions in an 18-month period were retrospectively reviewed. All patients suspected of sustaining burns from illegal drug manufacture were contacted. Information regarding the burn mechanism was sought. Nine of the 64 adult burn admissions were caused by explosions during the manufacture of cannabis oil. Young males with hand and face burns were heavily represented. First-aid treatment was often ignored in favor of hiding incriminating evidence. Only two patients gave honest admission histories. Illegal drug manufacture is becoming more common as synthetic drugs become more consumer desirable. Burns sustained may be thermal and/or chemical. Dishonest patient histories negatively influence burn management. A high level of suspicion is required for diagnosing and treating burns from illegal drug manufacture. Public education is unlikely to be effective as the financial rewards outweigh the perceived risks.

Changing Typology of Organised Crime in a Post-Socialist Lithuania (the Late 1980s–Early 2000s)

This paper analyzes the dynamics of organised crime in post-socialist Lithuania. Three overlapping periods in evolution of organised crime are discerned. During the mid 1980s organised crime emerged with the attempts to liberalise the state socialism by legalizing cooperative and individual property as a basis for economic activities. By the early 1990s organised crime in Lithuania began to metamorphose from illegal manufacturing to opportunistic criminality associated with the privatisation of state property. Since the mid 1990s organised crime has again undergone change. It has entered what could be termed a maturation phase. This maturation was influenced by a number of factors including; the end of the privatization process, resumed growth of the economy, development of the legal and fiscal infrastructure to regulate a market economy, and increasing effectiveness and successes of policing in Lithuania [1]. In this article the political, socio-economic, organisational and cultural factors that influenced the dynamics of change in organised crime are analyzed.

Classification of Venezuelan spirituous beverages by means of discriminant analysis and artificial neural networks based on their Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations

Copper, zinc and iron concentrations were determined in “aguardiente de Cocuy de Penca” (Cocuy de Penca firewater), a spirituous beverage very popular in the North-Western region of Venezuela, by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). These elements were selected for their presence can be traced to the (illegal) manufacturing process of the aforementioned beverages. Linear and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), and artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained with the backpropagation algorithm were employed for estimating if such beverages can be distinguished based on the concentrations of these elements in the final product, and whether it is possible to assess the geographic location of the manufacturers (Lara or Falcón states) and the presence or absence of sugar in the end product. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) performed poorly, overall estimation and prediction rates being 51.7% and 50.0%, respectively. A QDA showed a slightly better overall performance, yet unsatisfactory (estimation: 79.2%, prediction: 72.5%). Various ANNs, comprising a linear function (L) in the input layer, a sigmoid function (S) in the hidden layer(s) and a hyperbolic tangent function (T) in the output layer, were evaluated. Of the networks studied, the (3L:5S:7S:4T) gave the highest estimation (overall: 96.5%) and prediction rates (overall: 97.0%), demonstrating the superb performance of ANNs for classification purposes.

It's a disaster: Emergency departments' preparation for a chemical incident or disaster

Nurses in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department have a significant role to play in the treatment and resuscitation of victims of a chemical disaster. Chemical disasters are unique because casualties are contaminated. Nursing staff triage casualties and they have direct contact with contaminated patients, before and during decontamination. Consequently they require adequate personal protective equipment and information regarding isolation and decontamination. The use of chemicals has increased since the turn of the century. Hazardous chemical emergencies arise from accidents in production, storage, transportation and the disposal of chemical substances. Their illegal manufacture and use by terrorists makes the likelihood of a chemical disaster with mass casualties in Australia very real. Emergency departments are ill-prepared to deal with this scenario, and very few disaster plans include a comprehensive decontamination component. To achieve an effective response with the best utilisation of resources, it is vital for emergency services personnel and A&E departments to be prepared.

Traffic in Amphetamines: Patterns of Illegal Manufacture and Distribution

Traffic in Amphetamines: Patterns of Illegal Manufacture and Distribution