Logan, Barry
The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) - 2023Aim: Describe the significance of quetiapine as a toxic adulterating substance in the illicit drug supply and its appearance with illicit drugs in toxicological casework.
Background:
- Quetiapine (Seroquel®) is an atypical antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
- Quetiapine causes sedation and sleepiness and has extensive off-label use as a sleep aid, although it is not approved for this application.
- It has a broad side effect profile which includes orthostatic hypotension, seizures, priapism, high blood sugar, tardive dyskinesia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
- Quetiapine has been identified as a toxic adulterating substance in the illicit drug supply being used to adulterate heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl in seized drug samples collected from West Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio.
Methods:
- Data from seized drug analysis from CFSRE for the incidence of adulterants in toxicological samples and seized drug samples was collected.
- Postmortem casework from NMS Labs was evaluated for the presence and concentration of quetiapine in postmortem toxicology casework was collected along with co-positivity of quetiapine with other licit and illicit drugs.
- Positivity for quetiapine in umbilical cord tissue for neonates with opioid positivity were evaluated.
POSTER PRESENTATION
