Sammanfattning
In recent years a large number of new yet unregulated synthetic psychoactive substances have appeared as alternatives to illegal drugs. They are available for purchase over the Internet and are commonly legal to use, possess, and supply (»legal highs«). In 2010, the Karolinska University Laboratory and the Swedish Poisons Information Centre started a joint project named »STRIDA«, to assess the occurrence of such products in Sweden and collect information about their toxicity and potential health risks. A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was also developed, currently allowing for simultaneous determination of about 60 substances. In urine and blood samples collected from patients presenting at emergency departments or intensive care units all over Sweden, several new substances have been identified, including various synthetic cannabinoids (»Spice«), cathinones, tryptamines and piperazines.