CANSFORD LABS

Report on lethal use of legal highs

Lolita Tsanaclis

Lolita Tsanaclis

on May 15, 2019

Data published by the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (NPSAD) has highlighted the increase in drug related deaths due to the use of ‘legal highs’ commonly referred to as Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
The presence of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in toxicology tests performed for post mortem examinations indicated the prevalence of NPS has increased 800% over three years (2009 – 2012).
Cansford Laboratories presented the increasing incidence of one NPS, Mephedrone (Meow Meow) use at the Society of Hair Testing in Toronto during 2012. Previously, we reported an increase in the number of samples testing positive for Mephedrone.
From Cansford laboratory’s data, we are noticing an increasing number of samples testing positive for Amphetamines, with Mephedrone still being positive in around 10% of samples which are analysed for the drug.
Hair drug and alcohol checklist download
Lolita Tsanaclis

Lolita Tsanaclis

Dr. Lolita Tsanaclis, Chief Scientific Officer of Cansford Laboratories Limited, has been developing methods for the analysis of drugs in hair since 1993. She has been involved in drug testing using hair, blood and oral fluid samples for medico-legal and workplace sectors for over three decades. Dr Tsanaclis is published extensively as author and as co-author in highly regarded peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.

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