Analytical data of designated substances (shitei-yakubutsu) controlled by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law in Japan, part I: GC-MS and LC-MS

Abstract

In the last 10 years, many analogs of narcotic substances have been widely distributed in Japan as easily available psychotropic substances and this has become a serious problem. They have been sold as video cleaners, incense and reagents via the Internet or in video shops. They are not controlled under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law because their pharmacological effects have not yet been proved scientifically. As a countermeasure to prevrent the abuse fo these substances, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare amended the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law in 2006 so thet 31 non-controlled psychotropic substances (11 tryptamines, 11 phenethylamines, 6 alkyl nitrites, 2 piperazines and salvinorin A) and 1 plant (Salvia divinorum) are now controlled as "Designated Substances (Shitei-Yakubutsu) " as of April 2007. Five other compounds (4 phenethylamines and 1 piperazine) were also added to this category in January 2008. In this study, we developed simultaneous analytical methods for these designated substances using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and present retention times, UV spectra, electron ionization (EI), GC-MS, and electrospray ionization (ESI) LC-MS data. © 2008 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.