Forensic and Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Toxicological Analysis of Medical Drugs and Substances in Illegal Circulation in Ukraine

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v3i4.117

Keywords:

forensic pharmacy, toxicological chemistry, psychoactive drugs and substances, illegal trafficking

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a surge in the illegal circulation of medical drugs and substances in Ukraine, necessitating a comprehensive approach to their identification and analysis. This study delves into the forensic, pharmaceutical, chemical, and toxicological analyses of these substances, elucidating their origin, composition, and potential harm. Utilizing advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, the research provides an in-depth profile of commonly abused drugs and substances, many of which are cleverly disguised under seemingly benign nomenclatures. Forensic examinations highlighted the sophistication of counterfeit techniques that mimic legitimate pharmaceutical products, posing significant health risks to unsuspecting consumers. The toxicological assessments underscored the severe health implications associated with consumption, from acute poisoning to long-term physiological complications. This paper sheds light on the intricate nexus of illegal drug trafficking in Ukraine, emphasizing the urgency for robust pharmaceutical regulation, advanced forensic capabilities, and public awareness campaigns. Through its interdisciplinary approach, this research underscores the critical need for collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers to combat the escalating menace of illicit drugs and safeguard public health. Fatal cases due to poisoning by psychoactive substances of various classification and legal groups were systematized. Features of forensic and pharmaceutical, chemical and toxicological analysis were indicated. Attention was focused on the classification of means and substances according to the current legislation of Ukraine. The experience of the Department of Pharmacy of the Luhansk State Medical University in Rivne for the development of forensic and pharmaceutical, chemical and toxicological analysis in Ukraine was presented.

Author Biography

Viacheslav Tkachenko, Luhansk State Medical University

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor

Head of the Pharmacy Deprtment of the Luhansk State Medical University, Ukraine

References

Constitution of Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 1996. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text

Shapovalov V., Osyntseva A., Shapovalov V. Organization of pharmaceutical business, drug technology, forensic and clinical pharmacy: multidisciplinary innovative nanotechnologies in the development and implementation of new medical products to medical and pharmaceutical practice. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2022. Vol.2. No.3. P.1-18. URL: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i3.61 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v3i1.83

Zbrozgek S. Reform of the healthcare system as a basis for streamlining the organization of circulation and availability of medicines for patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2021. Vol. 1. No. 2. P. 1-32. URL: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v1i2.31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v1i2.31

4 million patients received essential medicines free of charge or with a partial co-payment within the framework of the "Affordable Medicines" program – Viktor Lyashko. Government portal. 14.09.2023. URL: https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/4-mln-patsiientiv-otrymaly-zhyttievo-neobkhidni-liky-bezoplatno-abo-z-chastkovoiu-doplatoiu-v-mezhakh-prohramy-dostupni-liky-viktor-liashko

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated January 06, 2023 No. 18 "On Amendments to the National List of Essential Medicines". Government portal. 06.01.2023. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/18-2023-%D0%BF#Text

Ivanishyn-Hayduchok L., Shapovalova V., Shapovalov V. ICD-11: Organizational and legal, medical and pharmaceutical, social and economic issues of implementation of the program of state guarantees of medical care in 2022 in Ukraine, based on the fundamental principles of the European Union. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2022. Vol.2. No.2. P.1-14. URL: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i2.53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i2.53

Shapovalova V. The ICD-11 for the twenty-first century: the first view from the organizational, legal, clinical and pharmacological aspects. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2022. Vol.2. N.1. P.1-13. URL: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i1.37.

Shapovalov (Jr.) V., Zbrozhek S., Gudzenko A. et al. Organizational and legal analysis of the pharmaceutical provision for the most common diseases of society. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. 2018. Vol.51. N.1. P.118-124. URL: http://globalresearchonline.net/journalcontents/v51-1/18.pdf.

Shapovalov V.V. (Jr.), Zbrozhek S.I., Shapovalova V.O. et al. Organizational and legal evaluation of availability of medicines’ circulation for cancer patients. Pharmacia. 2018. Vol. 65. N.2. P.17-22. URL: http://bsphs.org/?magasine=organizational-and-legal-evaluation-of-availability-of-medicines-circulation-for-cancer-patients.

Shapovalova V. Forensic and pharmaceutical risks in the organization of pharmacotherapy of covid, post-covid and long-covid disorders. COVID-19 and vaccination practice standards. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2022. Vol. 2. No. 4. P. 1–24. URL: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i4.69 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i4.69

Prishchepa Ya. Up to 1.5 million Ukrainians consume drugs. Suspilne. 26.10.2021. URL: https://suspilne.media/175098-do-15-miljona-ukrainciv-spozivaut-narkotiki-venediktova/

Irvine M. A., Oller D., Boggis J. et al. Estimating naloxone need in the USA across fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioid epidemics: a modelling study. The Lancet. Vol.7. No.3. e210-e218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00304-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00304-2

Yousif N. How the fentanyl crisis' fourth wave has hit every corner of the US. ВВС. 17.09.2023. URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66826895

Cocaine – the current situation in Europe (European Drug Report 2023). EMCDDA. 2023. URL: https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2023/cocaine_en

Gryzodub O., Shapovalov V. Quality Systems in Pharmacy: Multidisciplinary Context of the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine. SSP Modern Law and Practice. 2023. Vol. 3. No 1. Р. 1-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmlp.v3i1.81. URL: https://ssp.ee/index.php/mlp/article/view/81 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmlp.v3i1.81

Shapovalova V. A., Shapovalov, V. V., Agapov, D. A. (2019). Forensic pharmacy: review of the measures to counter the spreading of the psychoactive substances over the Internet. Farmatsevtychnyi Zhurnal. 2019. No.3. P.18-21. URL: https://pharmj.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/511/479

Linsky I.V., Minko O.I., Shapovalov V.V. Monitoring of trends in the spread of dependence on particularly dangerous narcotic drugs and other groups of psychoactive substances as a component of the national security system in Ukraine. Medicines of Ukraine. 2007. No. 112. P. 12-25

V.V. Shapovalov, A. O. A.O. Gudzenko, V.O. Shapovalova V.O. Pharmaceutical law regarding the assessment of crime related to the circulation of psychoactive substances and measures to combat drug-related morbidity. Pharmaceutical journal. 2006. No. 5. P.39-43. URL: https://pharmj.org.ua/archives/2006/2006-5.pdf

Shapovalov V.V. (mol.) Forensic and pharmaceutical monitoring of patients with drug addiction with psychical and behavioral problems after using of the psychoactive substances. Farmatsevtychnyi Zhurnal. 2011. No.1. Р. 25-28. URL: https://pharmj.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/705

Chernykh V.P., Piminov O.F., Shapovalova V.O. et al. From police chemistry – to forensic chemical-pharmaceutical examination, from forensic pharmacy – to pharmaceutical law (Historical information on the department of pharmaceutical law of the IPKSF of the National Academy of Sciences). Ukrainian Herald of Psychoneurology. 2009. Vol. 17. No. 2. Appendix. P. 59-66. URL: http://194.44.242.25/cgi-bin/Webirbis3/cgiirbis_64.exe?LNG=&Z21ID=&I21DBN=DB2_PRINT&P21DBN=DB2&S21STN=1&S21REF=&S21FMT=FULLW_print&C21COM=S&S21CNR=500&S21P01=0&S21P02=1&S21P03=A=&S21STR=%D0%9F%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D1%96%D0%BD%D0%B0,%20%D0%9E.%20%D0%92

Sosin I.K., Chuiev Yu.F., Shapovalova V.O. et al. Narcology: National Textbook. Kharkiv: Kolehium. 2014. 1500 p.

Gudzenko A. A., Shapovalov V. (Jr.) V., Shapovalova V.А. et al. Organizational and legal, forensic and pharmaceutical researches of pharmaceutical provision for mental disorders of victims in the emergencies at regional level. Likars’ka Sprava. 2018. Vol. 7-8. P. 149-157. URL: https://doi.org/10.31640/JVD.7-8.2018(24). DOI: https://doi.org/10.31640/JVD.7-8.2018(24)

Shapovalov V.V. (Jr.), Linskiy I.V. Evidence-based pharmacy: definition of the control regime for the medicines in the pharmaceutical correction schemes of the opioid dependence. Pharmaceutical Journal. 2013. No. 3. Р. 35-40. URL: https://pharmj.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/399.

Shapovalova V.A., Voloshyn P.V., Stefanov A.V. et al. Medicines for neurologists, psychiatrists and narcologists. Kh.: Fakt. 2003. 784 p.

Shapovalova V. The ICD-11 for the twenty-first century: the first view from the organizational, legal, clinical and pharmacological aspects. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2022. Vol.2. N.1. P.1-13. URL: https://DOI.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i1.37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i1.37

Shapovalova V.A., Shapovalov V.V. The clinical efficacy of the combined drug agent Valcophen in children. Likars'ka sprava. 1999. No.1. P.124–126. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10424023/.

Petyunin G.P., Polyakh A.M., Shepitko V.Yu. Narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors. A reference dictionary for law enforcement officers. Kharkiv: "Law". 2006. 96 p. https://www.academia.edu/26493156/%D0%A1%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%96%D1%8F_%D0%A1

Shapovalov V. Illegal drug laboratories: forensic and pharmaceutical, forensic and expert, forensic and toxicological, forensic and chemical, criminal and legal examination to combat drug trafficking, illegal circulation of prohibited psychoactive substances, morbidity. SSP Modern Law and Practice. 2023. Vol. 3. No. 2. P. 1-19. URL: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmlp.v3i2.100

Report on the drug and alcohol situation in Ukraine for 2022 (based on 2021 data). Kyiv, 2022. 77 p.

Georgievsky V.P. Chromatographic methods in the creation and control of medicinal products in Ukraine. Surface. 2014. Issue 6 (21). P. 326-421. URL: https://surfacezbir.com.ua/index.php/surface/article/view/559/559

Shapovalov V. Interdisciplinary Legal, Forensic and Pharmaceutical, Forensic and Chemical, Forensic and Narcological, Forensic and Toxicological, Criminal and Legal Study of the Illegal Trafficking of Amphetamine. SSP Modern Law and Practice. 2023. Vol. 3. No 3. Р.1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmlp.v3i3.108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmlp.v3i3.108

Krasnianska T., Ponomarenko M. Organization of the pharmaceutical business, drug technology and forensic pharmacy: modern trends in the development of the science of pharmaceutical law during the COVID-19 pandemic. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine. 2022. Vol. 2. No. 3. P.1 -15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i3.59 DOI: https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v2i3.59

Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/4651-17#n2444

Shapovalov V.V. Development of the scientific and practical foundations of the organization and conduct of forensic chemical-pharmaceutical examination of medicinal products: Author's abstract. thesis for PhD. Kharkiv 1997. 24 p.

Bugaichuk K.L., Savchenko O.O., Pribytkova N.O. Peculiarities of the pre-trial investigation of illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, forwarding or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues: scientific and methodological recommendations. Kharkiv. 2015. 99 c. URL: https://core.ac.uk/reader/187222290

Tychyna D.M., Antoshchuk A.O. etc. Investigation of illegal circulation of poisonous or potent drugs: method. river Kyiv: National. Acad. internal affairs. 2022. 54 p. URL: http://elar.naiau.kiev.ua/bitstream/123456789/22094/1/B2.pdf

Bayurka S.Y., Bondar V.S., Merzlikin S.I. etc. Analytical toxicology. Kharkiv: NFaU, 2017. 384 p.

Zavolovich A. Methods of forensic analysis of acute intoxications with ethyl alcohol (review of literary sources). Forensic medical examination. 2021. No. 2. P. 24-30. URL: http://forensic.bsmu.edu.ua/article/view/249793 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24061/2707-8728.2.2021.3

Panasenko O.I., Buryak V.P., Parchenko V.V. and others Aspects of determination of some narcotic substances Educational and methodological manual of the department of toxicological and inorganic chemistry of Zaporizhzhya State Medical University. Zaporizhzhia State Medical University. 2014. 129 p. URL: http://dspace.zsmu.edu.ua/bitstream/123456789/933/1/14Aspekty_vyznachennya_deyakykh.pdf

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated May 06, 2000 No. 770 "On approval of the list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/770-2000-%D0%BF#Text

Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated August 1, 2000 No. 188 "On approval of tables of small, large and especially large sizes of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors that are in illegal circulation". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0512-00#Text

Panasenko O.I. Toxicological chemistry: educational method. manual for students. Zaporizhzhia: ZDMU. 2015. 235 p. URL: http://dspace.zsmu.edu.ua/bitstream/123456789/3225/1/15Toksykolohichna%20khimiia.pdf

Guidance for the Validation of Analytical Methodology and Calibration of Equipment used for Testing of Illicit Drugs in Seized Materials and Biological Specimens. United Nations. 2009. 48 c. URL: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/scientists/guidance-for-the-validation-of-analytical-methodology-and-calibration-of-equipment.html

Guide to the application of the quality control system in drug testing laboratories. UN. 2009. 53 с. https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/QMS_R_web.pdf

New psychoactive substances – the current situation in Europe (European Drug Report 2023). EMCDDa. 2023. URL: https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2023/new-psychoactive-substances_en#edr-2023-nps-source-data-table1

Pampukha H.G. Regarding the prospects for the development of international forensic expert activity. Scientific and practical publication "Actual issues of standardization of judicial expert provision of justice in Ukraine. Development prospects" Materials of the international scientific and practical conference (Kyiv, July 4-5, 2018). P. 156-159.URL: https://m3rkxutm8pk3eqapl5ynjvb3gjps8uao.cdn-freehost.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/123456789.pdf

Emen Е., Aslan R., Aydoğdu М. et al. Development of a chemometric method in urine sample for newly designed hallucinating psychoactive substances: 5-MeO-MiPT. Ege Journal of Medicine. 2023.Vol. 62. No.3. P. 355-363. URL: http://egetipdergisi.com.tr/en/pub/issue/79039/1360340 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19161/etd.1360340

Cui S.-F., Yang H.-L., Lin S.-Y. et al. Identification and Quantification of the Main Psychoactive Ingredients of Cannabis in Urine Using Excitation–Eemission Matrix Fluorescence Coupled with Parallel Factor Analysis. ACS Omega. 2023. Р.1-9. URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.3c04913 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c04913

Barbarić L., Bezbradica S.C. A forensic application of genetic markers for distinction between drug-type and fiber-type. Cannabis sativa. Forensic Science International. 04.10.2023. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0379073823003031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111853

Fedorova A.O. The current state and prospects for the development of forensic medical identification of the time of death. Actual issues of standardization of judicial expert provision of justice in Ukraine. Development prospects. Materials of the international scientific and practical conference (Kyiv, July 4-5, 2018). P. 203-206. URL: https://m3rkxutm8pk3eqapl5ynjvb3gjps8uao.cdn-freehost.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/123456789.pdf

Ruvin O.G., Poltavskyi A.O. The creation of the technical committee 192 "forensic examination" of the national standardization body of Ukraine is another step on the way to improving the forensic and expert provision of justice in the state. Actual issues of standardization of judicial expert provision of justice in Ukraine. Development prospects. Materials of the international scientific and practical conference (Kyiv, July 4-5, 2018). P. 176-179.URL: https://m3rkxutm8pk3eqapl5ynjvb3gjps8uao.cdn-freehost.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/123456789.pdf

Chiappini S., Guirguis A., Martin Corkery J. & Schifano F. Misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to obtain illicit highs: how pharmacists can prevent abuse. The Pharmaceutical journal. 2020. URL: https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/research/misuse-of-prescription-and-over-the-counter-drugs-to-obtain-illicit-highs-how-pharmacists-can-prevent-abuse

Downloads

Published

2023-10-14

How to Cite

Tkachenko, V. (2023). Forensic and Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Toxicological Analysis of Medical Drugs and Substances in Illegal Circulation in Ukraine. SSP Modern Pharmacy and Medicine, 3(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.53933/sspmpm.v3i4.117

Issue

Section

Health Sciences. Pharmacy