Legally flawed, scientifically problematic, potentially harmful: The UK Psychoactive Substance Bill

This journal has often analysed legislation in the field of drug policy. Rarely has it discussed a proposed law that has such deep problems in its legal and scientific bases. The Psychoactive Substances Bill, which is currently proceeding through the UK Parliament, will (if enacted) create a ‘blanket ban’ on the production, importation, exportation and supply of all psychoactive substances for human consumption, except for those that are specifically exempted. The Bill provides for a range of civil and criminal penalties, with a maximum seven-year prison sentence

Origami Chips: Development and validation of a paper-based Lab-on-a-Chip device for the rapid and cost-effective detection of 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and its metabolite, 4-methylephedrine in urine

4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) has emerged in drug seizures as a new psychoactive substance (NPS) causing a public health risk of global concern. Currently, there are no commercial microfluidic devices for the selective detection of mephedrone and so this study presents a simple, low cost and portable paper-based Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) device with colorimetric detection to fill this gap. Limits of detection for mephedrone in spiked urine and dissolved powder (aqueous) samples are clinically relevant at 4.34 ng mL-1 and 2.51 ng mL-1 respectively. No cross-reactivity for commonly encountered cutting agents, interferents and adulterants were detected. Mephedrone and its main metabolite were detectable in aqueous samples within 3 minutes. Stability and reproducibility measurements showed no significant difference in signal intensity over eight weeks and no significant difference within or between devices. The proposed device has the potential to provide cost-effective, rapid, on-site testing within forensic or clinical settings and therefore has wide global applicability