Tramadol, Methadone and Benzodiazepines added to Alcoholic Beverages

Abstract

Aims: To search for pharmaceutical additives in illicit alcoholic beverages referred to the laboratory of Legal Medicine Organization in Iran in 2017.

Methods: Hundred beverages were sampled. Ethanol content was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and then a liquid-liquid extraction combined with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a photodiode array detector (PAD) was employed for the qualitative analysis. The analysis was confirmed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS).

Results: In 15% either one or more of the following were detected: tramadol, methadone, diazepam, oxazepam, flurazepam and alprazolam. Tramadol was found with highest frequency.

Conclusions: The wide availability of addictive pharmaceutical is leading to fortification of alcoholic beverages on some countries. The addition of such depressant additives should be better known because of the potentially fatal consequences of the combination with ethanol, as well as the potential for adverse effects on behavior.

Keywords: alcoholic beverages; benzodiazepines; methadone; tramadol.