News
28-July 2010 - LGC Standards introduces certified
reference material for banned ‘legal high’
NRG-1
LGC Standards adds naphyrone to its library of drug-related
chemical reference materials
LGC Standards,
Europe’s leading supplier of reference materials, has characterised
and introduced the first reference material to assist forensic,
clinical and toxicology laboratories to identify and quantify the
newly classified Class B drug naphthylpyrovalerone (naphyrone).
This material was classified as a Class B drug by the UK
Government on Friday 23 July 2010. NRG-1, a product alleged to
contain naphyrone was one of the latest materials to be promoted by
‘legal highs’ vendors as a legal alternative to Ecstasy.
The newly banned material is closely related to pyrovalerone and
methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). It is a triple monoamine uptake
inhibitor, affecting the dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrin
systems to produce its psychoactive effects. It is also reported to
be particularly potent, requiring doses of only a few tens of
milligrams. The risk of overdose amongst users is therefore
high.
Characterised at its facilities in Luckenwalde, Germany, LGC
Standards is able to provide drug and toxicology laboratories with
a reference material for naphyrone, as an addition to its extensive
range of ‘designer drug’ materials which include MDAI and ‘designer
cathinones’ such as mephedrone.
Ric Treble, Scientific Advisor at LGC commented: “To correctly
identify ‘legal highs’ and banned drugs within clinical and
forensic settings, it is vital for laboratories to have ready
access to reliable reference materials. LGC Standards has been very
successful at purifying and characterising the active ingredients,
and then producing reference standards for these drugs, allowing
laboratories throughout Europe to have access to reliable reference
materials very soon after the drugs become available on the
streets”.
LGC Standards is also in the process of producing a reference
material for dimethocaine, and various other novel materials being
marketed as ‘legal highs’ and ’research chemicals’.
For further information on the new naphyrone reference material
and other available products, please contact LGC Standards by
email: askus@lgcstandards.com or tel:
+44 (0)20 8943 8480. Supply of this product is subject to ownership
of correct controlled drugs licenses.
Further information on legal highs can be found at: http://www.talktofrank.com/drugs.aspx?id=3597
- Ends -
Notes to editors