Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38053148›Full record

ArticleHarm reduction journal2023

First drug-checking study at an electronic festival and fentanyl detection in the central region of Mexico.

Silvia L Cruz, Miguel Bencomo-Cruz, María E Medina-Mora, Fabiola Vázquez-Quiroz, Clara Fleiz-Bautista

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Harm reduction journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Interpol review of forensic drug chemistry, 2022-2025.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Silvia L CruzDepartment of Pharmacobiology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, Mexico.
Miguel Bencomo-CruzSubstance Analysis Program-Deliberar A. C. and ReverdeSer Collective A. C., Mexico City, Mexico.
María E Medina-MoraOpioids Working Group. Global Studies Seminar, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
Fabiola Vázquez-QuirozNational Institute of Psychiatry Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz (INPRFM), Calzada México-Xochimilco 101 Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, 14370, Mexico City, Mexico.
Clara Fleiz-BautistaOpioids Working Group. Global Studies Seminar, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. clarafleiz@yahoo.com.mx.
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México · MXInstituto Nacional de Psiquiatría · MX

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPerception of drug adulteration has increased in Mexico, but there is little research on adulterants and toxicity. The aim of this study was to identify drug composition in an electronic music outdoor festival nearby Mexico City.

methodsThe participants completed a questionnaire with demographic data, harm reduction strategies, drug-use patterns, history, and the drug they expected to find. We took a small sample of each substance and prepared it for drug checking. A two-section drug testing station was placed within the grounds of the festival. Interaction with participants occurred at the front part. Drug checking was conducted at the rear part. The service was free of charge, voluntary and confidential. Forty persons aged 22 to 48 years participated (mode = 28), of which 92.5% were male, most (82.5%) were single. Through the Substance Analysis Program of "ReverdeSer Collective," we conducted the testing with the attendants that provided 51 drug samples, following ethical and biosafety protocols. We used colorimetry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and fentanyl immunoassay strips for sample analysis.

resultsSubstances of choice among attendants were psychostimulants (MDMA and other amphetamine-like drugs) and hallucinogens. Most samples contained what the users expected plus adulterants. Main adulterants were methylene-dioxy-ethyl-amphetamine, methylene-dioxy-propyl-amphetamine, hydroxyamphetamine, and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine. Fentanyl was present in 2 out of 4 cocaine samples and in 14 of the 22 confirmed MDMA samples.

conclusionsSome of the adulterants found pose serious health risks, especially fentanyl, amphetamine-like substances, and venlafaxine. Therefore, it is urgent to monitor these adulterants at electronic music festivals and to implement prevention, treatment, and harm reduction public policies. Naloxone distribution and drug-assisted therapies should be part of government programs in Mexico.

Indexed as

Illicit DrugsN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamineAmphetamineFemaleFentanylHolidaysHumansMaleMexicoVenlafaxine HydrochlorideAmphetamineFentanylIllicit DrugsN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamineVenlafaxine HydrochlorideAdulterantsDrug-checkingFentanylFestivalStimulantsYoung people

Identifiers

PMID38053148
PMCPMC10698886
OpenAlexW4389358954

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.