Skip to main content
Log in

Emerging trends in methaqualone and analogues abuse: insights from online forums

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:
Forensic Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Yang H, Wang S, Qi H, Liu J, Wang Y, Gu J, Wurita A, Hasegawa K (2022) 2-Methoxyqualone, a new recreational drug, discovered from a package seized by the police: a preliminary report. Forensic Toxicol 40:414–416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00626-w

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Yang H, Wang Y, Liu J, Qiu S, Gu J, Bai H, Li J, Wurita A, Hasegawa K (2023) The next addiction-causing drug class 4-quinazolinone derivatives: analyses of methaqualone analogs including recently discovered 2-methoxyqualone by different modes of mass spectrometry. Forensic Toxicol 41:59–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00631-z

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Inger JA, Mihan ER, Kolli JU, Lindsley CW, Bender AM (2023) DARK Classics in chemical neuroscience: methaqualone. ACS Chem Neurosci 14:340–350. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00697

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Romanek K, Fels H, Dame T, Skopp G, Musshoff F, Eiglmeier H, Eyer F (2021) Return of the quaaludes? prolonged agitated delirium after intentional ingestion of the methaqualone analog SL-164–a case report. Subst Abus 42:503–505. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2021.1903648

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Woods KM (2021) Two fatalities involving mebroqualone. J Anal Toxicol 45:308–311. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkaa077

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ceschi A, Giardelli G, Müller DM, Elavumkudy S, Manini AF, Rauber-Lüthy C, Hofer KE (2013) Acute neurotoxicity associated with recreational use of methylmethaqualone confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Toxicol 51:54–57. https://doi.org/10.3109/15563650.2012.758855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hongkun Y, Jinlei L, Lina D, Yue W, Junmei W, Wurita A (2021) Detection and quantification of psychotropic drug etaqualone in human hair using GC–MS/MS. Leg Med 53:101964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2021.101964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lund K, Srihari P, Suhandynata RT, Schwartz K, Fitzgerald RL, Kreshak AA (2022) Qua-alluding to the past: a case of methaqualone analog ingestion. J Anal Toxicol 46:e82–e87. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkab103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Auckloo MBKM, Davies BB (2019) Post-mortem toxicology in violent fatalities in Cape Town, South Africa: a preliminary investigation. J Forensic Leg Med 63:18–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2019.02.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Qiu S, Kang Y, Wang Y, Liu J, Yang H, Gu J, Bai H, Hasegawa K, Wurita A (2023) Quantification of a new recreational drug 2-methoxyqualone in human hair using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Sci Int 345:111620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111620

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ahmad I, Akand SR, Shaikh M, Pawara R, Manjula SN, Patel H (2022) Synthesis, molecular modelling study of the methaqualone analogues as anti-convulsant agent with improved cognition activity and minimized neurotoxicity. J Mol Struct 1251:131972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131972

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bluelight.org (2022) Quaaludes what are they like. https://bluelight.org/xf/threads/quaaludes-what-are-they-like.916749/. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  13. Reddit.com (2018) Smoking Qualone analogs: some info and insight. https://www.reddit.com/r/researchchemicals/comments/88r7pz/smoking_qualone_analogs_some_info_and_insight/. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  14. Reddit.com (2021) Methaqualone Synthesis Results. https://www.reddit.com/r/ObscureDrugs/comments/qgdzrn/methaqualone_synthesis_results/. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  15. Reddit.com (2020) My experience with sl-164. https://www.reddit.com/r/researchchemicals/comments/k6v1z1/my_experience_with_sl164/. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  16. Reddit.com (2022) Grail of Grails. a full intact 100ct bottle of QUAALUDE 150’S. you have likely seen 300’s but these 150’s are rarely ever discovered intact. https://www.reddit.com/r/ObscureDrugs/comments/vysiql/grail_of_grails_a_full_intact_100ct_bottle_of/. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  17. Reddit.com (2022) soooo... anyone tried Nitromethaqualone yet? https://www.reddit.com/r/researchchemicals/comments/uw29an/soooo_anyone_tried_nitromethaqualone_yet/?sort=new. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  18. Reddit.com (2023) Mandrax (methaqualone) meant for South Africa but made in India. https://www.reddit.com/r/ObscureDrugs/comments/10sonpd/mandrax_methaqualone_meant_for_south_africa_but/. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  19. Erowid.org (2023) Methaqualone. https://erowid.org/chemicals/methaqualone/methaqualone.shtml. Accessed 15 Mar 2023

  20. Plaut O, Girod C, Staub C (1998) Analysis of methaqualone in biological matrices by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. comparison with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Forensic Sci Int 92:219–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0379-0738(98)00018-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Grové AA, Rohwer ER, Laurens JB, Vorster BC (2006) The analysis of illicit methaqualone containing preparations by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for forensic purposes. J Forensic Sci 51:376–380. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00053.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Yang H, Dai L, Wang Y, Liu J, Qiu S, Gu J, Bai H, Wurita A, Liao L (2022) Analytical method for detection and quantification of new emerging drug etaqualone in human blood and urine by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Leg Med 59:102125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patryk Kuropka.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the author.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kuropka, P., Zawadzki, M. & Szpot, P. Emerging trends in methaqualone and analogues abuse: insights from online forums. Forensic Toxicol 41, 329–331 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-023-00665-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-023-00665-x

Navigation