Abstract
Phenethylamines are introduced as a class of illicit drugs. The structure and forensic identification of amphetamine, methamphetamine, phentermine, phenylpropanolamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, aka ecstasy), ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, cathinone, methcathinone, khat, and mescaline are presented. A detailed discussion on optical isomerism is provided, along with the short- and long-term physical and psychological effects of abuse. A comprehensive flowchart illustrates results of chemical-screening methods, and the use of GCMS and FTIR for definitive identification is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Suggested Reading
Allen, A. C.; Kiser, W. O. Methamphetamine from Ephedrine: Chloroephedrine and Aziridine. J. Forensic Sci. 1987, 32, 953–962.
Auerbach, L. Microcrystalline Identification Test of Some Amphetamines and hydrochlorothiazide: A Collaborative Study. JAOAC, 1978, 61, 1435–1440.
Chamakura, R. P. The MDMA Tablets. Microgram 1994, 27, 316–329.
Christian, D. R. Jr. Analysis of Controlled Substances. In Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, 3rd ed.; James, S. H.; Nordby, J. J., Eds.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, 2009.
Dal Cason, T. A. A Re-examination of the Mono-Methoxy Positional Ring Isomers of Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, and Phenul-2-Propanone. Forensic Sci. Int. 2001, 119, 168–194.
Dal Cason, T. A. The Characterization of Some 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenylisopropylamine (MDA) Analogs. J. Forensic Sci. 1989, 34, 928–961.
Davenport, T. W.; Allen, A. C.; Cantrell, T. S. Synthetic Reductions in Clandestine Amphetamine and Methamphetamine Laboratories. A Review. Forensic Sci. Int. 1989, 42, 183–199.
Emboden, W. A. Narcotic Plants. McMillan Publishing: New York, 1972.
Erickson, Carl. Dopamine-A Sample Neurotransmitter. http://www.utexas.edu/research/asrec/dopamine.html (accessed August 2009).
Esnu, K. Plant Anatomy. John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1965.
Glaston, T. R.; Rasmussen, G. T. Identification of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine. Microgram. 1972, 5, 60–63.
Glennon, R. A. Stimulus Properties of Hallucinogenic Phenylalkylamines and Related Designer Drugs: Formulation of Structure-Activity Relationships. In Classical Hallicinogens: An introductory Overview; Lin, G. C.; Glennon, R. A., Eds.; National Institute on Drug Abuse: Rockville, MD, 1994, pp. 4–32.
Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, E.; Hemley, L. Are “Entactogens” a Distinct Psychoactive Class? The Contribution of Human Experimental Studies to the Classification of MDMA and Other Chemically Related Methylenedioxyamphetamine Derivatives. Heffter Rev. Psychedelic Res. 1988, 1, 46–51.
Henderson, G. et al. Designer Drugs: The California Experience. In Clandestinely Produced Drugs, Analogs, and Precursors. U. S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration: Washington, D. C., 1989.
Kovar, K. A. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Hallucinogens, Entactogens and Stimulants. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1998. 31 (suppl.), 69–72.
Kram, T. C. Approaches to Drug Sample Differentiation. J. Forensic Sci. 1979, 24, 596–599.
Mescaline. http://www.drugtext.org/library/books/recreationaldrugs/mescaline.htm (accessed August 2009).
Methcathione. http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/meth1.htm (accessed August 2009).
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Methamphetamine. http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html (accessed August 2009).
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Street Terms. http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/default.asp (accessed August 2009).
Shulgin, A. T. Basic Pharmacology and Effects. In Hallucinogens: A Forensic Handbook; Laing, R.; Siegel, J. A., Eds.; Academic Press: New York, 2003, pp 67–137.
The Partnership for a Drug Free America. Methcatinone. http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Methcathinone (accessed August 2009).
United Nations. Recommended Methods for The Identification and Analysis of Amphetamine, Methamphetamine and Their Ring-Substituted Analogs in Seized Materials. Manual for Use by National Drug Testing Laboratories; ST/NAR/34; United Nations Publication: New York, 2006.
U. S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. Drugs and Chemicals of Concern: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/mdma/mdma.htm (accessed August 2009).
Wielbo, D.; Tebbett, I. R. The Use of microcrystal Tests in Conjuction with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for the Rapid Identification of Street Drugs. J. Forensic Sci. 1992, 37, 1134–1148.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Khan, J.I., Kennedy, T.J., Christian, D.R. (2012). Phenethylamines. In: Basic Principles of Forensic Chemistry. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-437-7_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-437-7_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-934115-06-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-437-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)