The diploma thesis called "Stress among Methamphetamine Users" focuses on the phenomenon of stress in general, but especially on the strategies of coping with stressful situations. These so-called coping strategies are given great attention in contemporary research. The thesis inquires into the development of the Czech drug scene and particularly focuses on methamphetamine as a typical "Czech drug". It describes the period of methamphetamine early expansion in the Czech drug scene, the subsequent period of radical intervention of justice and police into the resulting socially unbearable situation, and the recent respective state of affairs. It also deals with the risks associated with the use of methamphetamine and the various forms of its application. In this respect it logically gives attention to the issue of drug addiction in general and the methamphetamine addiction in particular. An indispensable part of the thesis is a description of the phenomenon of stress according to selected distinguished experts in this area Paulík (2010), Baštecká (2009) a Joshi (2007). The initial discussion of specifically defined and operationalized stress is followed by a discussion of coping in general. First, the emergence of coping is discussed. The theoretical section provides definitions of various scientifically developed coping strategies and deals with the situation around the SVF 78 instrument as well as with the stress coping strategies and the phenomenon of stress itself. The section discusses different coping strategies and identifies their respective pitfalls as well as their influence on people from the holistic model viewpoint. The theoretical section is concluded with the topic of social work with drug addicts and its basic pillars. Describes the aims, research questions and hypotheses of the thesis. Two aims were selected for the thesis: "to find out which coping strategies are used by methamphetamine users" and "to find out how coping strategies change over a prolonged period of methamphetamine use". Three research questions and four associated hypotheses were formulated on the basis of these aims. The hypotheses are operationalized in this chapter. The methodological section discusses the SVF 78 instrument which was used to gather data from drug addicted respondents. The data were gathered in contact centres in South Bohemia via quantitative strategy of data gathering. Next, the research sample consisting of 50 respondents and the ethical aspects of the research are described. An indispensable part of the section is also a description of the statistical methods used for data evaluation. Next chapter, called "Results", describes the research sample with respect to respondents' sex, with the actual ratio being 54 percent of female respondents and 46 percent of male respondents. The respondents' age is described here as well together with an average age, median and standard deviations. Another thing mentioned is respondents' time period of methamphetamine use and their highest achieved education. The discussion section focuses on obtained results and their comparison with actual researches. Despite very interesting results it is necessary to assert that none of the hypotheses was statistically verified. However, analysis of similar studies leads us to a discovery of an analogous problem. The most interesting study in this regards appears to be Konopka et al. (2013) which found no significant differences in coping strategies adopted by benzodiazepine users. In spite of this it is possible to point at frequency differences which were found among methamphetamine users. They were found in particular with respect to the relation between negative coping strategies ratio and period time of methamphetamine use, where negative coping strategies were preferred by respondents using methamphetamine for more than 11 years etc. The concluding section summarizes the research results and reflects on the aims of the thesis.

O Brasil destaca-se no cenário mundial em relação ao consumo de estimulantes anfetamínicos (ATS), e estudos nacionais têm evidenciado grande prevalência na utilização destas substâncias por motoristas profissionais. O fluido oral apresenta uma série de vantagens sobre as matrizes tradicionais para a monitorização do consumo de ATS no trânsito, e vem sendo empregada em diversos países. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a especificidade de imunoensaios comerciais na detecção preliminar dos ATS comercializados no Brasil em amostras de fluído oral e desenvolver e validar um método para a confirmação e quantificação de anfetamina (AMP), metanfetamina (MET), anfepramona (DIE), fenproporex (FEN) e metilfenidato (MPH) no fluído oral por microextração em fase sólida (SPME) e cromatografia a gás com detector de massas (CG/EM). A especificidade analítica dos imunoensaios foi avaliada por meio do estudo das informações técnicas de diversos produtos e da realização de ensaios experimentais com três testes. O método confirmatório por SPME-CG/EM foi desenvolvido a partir da técnica de imersão (DI-SPME), sob agitação magnética, à temperatura ambiente, utilizando fibras revestida por polidimetilsiloxano (30 μm), propilcloroformato como agente derivatizante e adição de Na2CO3 e de Na2SO4 para aumentar o pH e a força iônica do meio, respectivamente. Os testes imunológicos atualmente disponíveis para a triagem de ATS em fluido oral são importados e não detectam, mesmo em altas concentrações, os principais ATS consumidos no Brasil: FEN, DIE e MPH. O método por SPME-CG/EM foi linear para os ATS estudados no intervalo de 2-256 ng.mL-1, exceto para o FEN cujo intervalo foi de 4-256 ng.mL-1. Os limites de detecção foram 0,5 ng.mL-1 (MET), 1 ng.mL-1 (MPH) e 2 ng.mL-1 (DIE, AMP, FEN). A exatidão do método situou-se entre 98,2 – 111,9% e a precisão não excedeu 15% de desvio padrão relativo. O método foi aplicado com sucesso na estimação do perfil farmacocinético do FEN e da AMP no fluído oral de seis indivíduos do sexo masculino, após a administração de dose única de especialidade farmacêutica nacional contendo 25 mg de cloridrato de FEN. / The Brazil stands out on the world as a major consumer of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), and several national studies have shown high prevalence in the consumption of these substances by professional drivers. Oral fluid has many advantages over the conventional biological fluids for monitoring ATS use on roads, and has been employed with this purpose in several countries. The aim of this study is to assess the specificity/cross-reactivity of commercial oral fluid immunoassays in detecting the prescription ATS marketed in Brazil and to develop and validate a method for confirmation and quantification of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MET), amfepramone (DIE), fenproporex (FEN) and methylphenidate (MPH) in oral fluid by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analytical specificity of immunoassays was evaluated through the study of the technical information of commercial products and through experimental testing of three kits. The confirmatory SPME-GC-MS method employed SPME immersion technique (DI-SPME), under magnetic stirring, at room temperature, using polydimethylsiloxane (30 μm) fibers, in-matrix propylchloroformate derivatization, Na2CO3 and Na2SO4 to increase both pH and ionic strength. Immunological tests currently available for ATS screening in oral fluid are imported and do not detect, even at high concentrations, the main ATS consumed in Brazil: FEN, MPH and DIE. The SPME-GC-MS method was linear for the studied ATS over the range of 2-256 ng.mL-1, except for FEN where the linear range was 4-256 ng.mL-1. The detection limits were 0.5 ng.mL-1 (MET), 1 ng.mL-1 (MPH) and 2 ng.mL-1 (DIE, AMP, FEN). Accuracy was within 98.2 – 111.9% of the target concentrations and precision did not exceed 15% of relative standard deviation. The method was successfully applied to estimate the pharmacokinetic profile of FEN and AMP in oral fluid of six male subjects after administration of a single dose of 25 mg FEN hydrochloride.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-04-28 / Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia (AFIP) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A sensibilização comportamental refere-se ao aumento progressivo do efeito estimulante induzido após repetidas administrações de drogas de abuso como cocaína e anfetaminas. Estudos prévios sugerem que o ambiente pareado aos efeitos destas drogas parece ter um importante envolvimento no fenômeno da sensibilização comportamental. Além disso, o tratamento com uma droga de abuso pode interferir com a resposta comportamental eliciada por outra, quando essas possuirem algum mecanismo de ação comum. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar o envolvimento da aprendizagem contextual no fenômeno da sensibilização comportamental induzida pelo modafinil e metanfetamina e se haveria uma sensibilização cruzada entre as duas drogas. Os animais foram treinados e testados na tarefa do condicionamento de medo ao contexto (CMC). Após 15 dias foi realizado o teste da novidade, sem nenhuma manipulação farmacológica, às caixas de atividade locomotora. Para avaliar o desenvolvimento da sensibilização comportamental, após 24 horas do teste da novidade grupos diferentes de animais receberam injeções diárias de modafinil (50mg/kg) ou veículo (Experimento 2) e metanfetamina (1mg/kg) ou salina (Experimento 3) via ip por 10 dias e a atividade locomotora foi registrada nos dias 1, 5 e 10. Para avaliar a expressão da sensibilização comportamental, todos os animais foram desafiados com veículo e modafinil (50mg/kg - Experimento 2) e salina e metanfetamina (1mg/kg - Experimento 3) nas caixas de atividade e no campo aberto. No teste de sensibilização cruzada animais pré-tratados com veículo e modafinil receberam uma dose aguda de metanfetamina (Experimento 2) e animais pré-tratados com salina e metanfetamina receberam uma dose aguda de modafinil (Experimento 3). Em ambos os experimentos foi verificado um aumento progressivo na atividade locomotora e uma evidente diferença individual nos níveis de sensibilização comportamental entre os animais tratados com as drogas. Nos experimentos 2 e 3, todos os animais apresentaram resposta similar de tempo de congelamento no teste CMC. A expressão da sensibilização ao modafinil foi observada no ambiente previamente pareado com as administrações e foi bloqueada no ambiente não pareado. No caso da metanfetamina a expressão ocorreu em ambos ambientes. Também foi observado sensibilização cruzada simétrica entre modafinil e metanfetamina. Os resultados do presente estudo apontam para um envolvimento da aprendizagem contextual na sensibilização comportamental, porém parece não ser generalizado para todas as drogas psicoestimulantes. Além disso, apontam que existe uma grande variabilidade individual ao desenvolvimento da sensibilização comportamental ao modafinil e à metanfetamina. Ainda pode-se sugerir que exista um mecanismo similar de ação entre o modafinil e a metanfetamina. / The behavioral sensitization refers to the progressive increase of the stimulatory effect induced by repeated administration of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and amphetamine. Previous studies suggest that the environment paired with the drug stimulant effect of those drugs has an important role in the behavioral sensitization phenomena. Besides, the chronic treatment with one drug of abuse can induce a different patter of response to the administration of other drug indicating that both drug share some similar mechanism of action. The present study aimed to investigate the involvement of contextual learning in the modafinil and methamphetamine behavioral sensitization phenomena and if there is cross-sensitization between the two drugs. Fifteen days after the contextual fear conditioning task, mice received repeated administration of vehicle or modafinil (50mg/kg - Experiment 2) and saline or methamphetamine (1mg/kg - Experiment 3) for 10 days; they were tested in activity cages on days 1, 5 and 10. To evaluate the expression of behavioral sensitization the mice were challenged with vehicle or modafinil (50mg/kg - Experiment 2) and saline or methamphetamine (1 mg/kg - Experiment 3) and then they were tested in the activity cages and in the open field arena. For cross-sensitization test, mice from Experiment 2 were challenged with saline and methamphetamine (1mg/kg) and those mice from Experiment 3 were challenged with vehicle and modafinil (50mg/kg). In both experiments we did not find any correlation between the levels of freezing in the contextual fear conditioning task and different levels of sensitization. Modafinil-sensitized subgroup of mice expressed clear behavioral sensitization in the activity cage, but not in the open field, suggesting a context-dependent expression of modafinil sensitization. We also observed a symmetric cross-sensitization between modafinil and methamphetamine. Our findings indicate that there are a important individual variability to the development of behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine and to modafinil. Besides, we suggest that modafinil and methamphetamine seem to share similar mechanisms of action. / FAPESP: 08/56049-0 / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

abstract: Globally, addiction to stimulants such as methamphetamine (METH) remains a significant public health problem. Despite decades of research, no approved anti-relapse medications for METH or any illicit stimulant exist, and current treatment approaches suffer from high relapse rates. Recently, synthetic cathinones have also emerged as popular abused stimulants, leading to numerous incidences of toxicity and death. However, contrary to traditional illicit stimulants, very little is known about their addiction potential. Given the high relapse rates and lack of approved medications for METH addiction, chapters 2 and 3 of this dissertation assessed three different glutamate receptor ligands as potential anti-relapse medications following METH intravenous self-administration (IVSA) in rats. In chapters 4 through 7, using both IVSA and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedures, experiments assessed abuse liability of the popular synthetic cathinones 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) , methylone, α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) and 4-methylethylcathinone (4-MEC). Results from these seminal studies suggest that these drugs possess similar abuse potential to traditional illicit stimulants such as METH, cocaine, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Finally, studies outlined in chapter 8 assessed the potential neurotoxic or adverse cognitive effects of METH and MDPV following IVSA procedures for the purpose of identifying potential novel pharmacotherapeutic targets. However, results of these final studies did not reveal neurotoxic or adverse cognitive effects when using similar IVSA procedural parameters that were sufficient for establishing addiction potential, suggesting that these parameters do not allow for sufficient drug intake to produce similar neurotoxicity or cognitive deficits reported in humans. Thus, these models may be inadequate for fully modeling the adverse neural and psychological consequences of stimulant addiction. Together, these studies support the notion for continued research into the abuse liability and toxicity of METH and synthetic cathinones and suggest that refinements to traditional IVSA models are needed for both more effective assessment of potential cognitive and neural deficits induced by these drugs and screening of potentially clinically efficacious pharmacotherapeutics. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2014

abstract: Evidence from the 20th century demonstrated that early life stress (ELS) produces long lasting neuroendocrine and behavioral effects related to an increased vulnerability towards psychiatric illnesses such as major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are complex neurological and behavioral psychiatric illnesses. The development, maintenance, and relapse of SUDs involve multiple brain systems and are affected by many variables, including socio-economic and genetic factors. Pre-clinical studies demonstrate that ELS affects many of the same systems, such as the reward circuitry and executive function involved with addiction-like behaviors. Previous research has focused on cocaine, ethanol, opiates, and amphetamine, while few studies have investigated ELS and methamphetamine (METH) vulnerability. METH is a highly addictive psychostimulant that when abused, has deleterious effects on the user and society. However, a critical unanswered question remains; how do early life experiences modulate both neural systems and behavior in adulthood? The emerging field of neuroepigenetics provides a potential answer to this question. Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), an epigenetic tag, has emerged as one possible mediator between initial drug use and the transition to addiction. Additionally, there are various neural systems that undergo long lasting epigenetics changes after ELS, such as the response of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to stressors. Despite this, little attention has been given to the interactions between ELS, epigenetics, and addiction vulnerability. The studies described herein investigated the effects of ELS on METH self-administration (SA) in adult male rats. Next, we investigated the effects of ELS and METH SA on MeCP2 expression in the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum. Additionally, we investigated the effects of virally-mediated knockdown of MeCP2 expression in the nucleus accumbens core on METH SA, motivation to obtain METH under conditions of increasing behavioral demand, and reinstatement of METH-seeking in rats with and without a history of ELS. The results of these studies provide insights into potential epigenetic mechanisms by which ELS can produce an increased vulnerability to addiction in adulthood. Moreover, these studies shed light on possible novel molecular targets for treating addiction in individuals with a history of ELS. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2015

Methodics of drug crime investigation Abstract The subject of my diploma work is the methodics of drug crime investigation. Above all, I have chosen this subject because I am deeply interested in the problem of drug and circumstances that are linked with this issue. As police officer I have a lot of experience on the field of drug crime investigation and I decided to focus my diploma work especially on the methodics of serious organized and international drug crime. My diploma work is structured into two parts and seven chapters. In the General part I tried to explain most important facts about drug crime, its history, its causes and I mentioned some specifics of the drug scene in the Czech Republic. Chapter 2 of my diploma work is aimed to provide detailed information about various kinds of drugs, about their origin, appearance and effects on human health. Very important part of my diploma work is also next chapter that is aimed on legal regulation of drug treatment in our country. Relevant crimes and misdemeanors were mentioned as well as some de lege ferenda suggestions concerning this issue. Chapter 4 deals with general principles of creating methodics of single crimes investigation. It describes essential components of these methodics, recommended approaches and tries to explain the necessity of...

O Brasil destaca-se no cenário mundial em relação ao consumo de estimulantes anfetamínicos (ATS), e estudos nacionais têm evidenciado grande prevalência na utilização destas substâncias por motoristas profissionais. O fluido oral apresenta uma série de vantagens sobre as matrizes tradicionais para a monitorização do consumo de ATS no trânsito, e vem sendo empregada em diversos países. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a especificidade de imunoensaios comerciais na detecção preliminar dos ATS comercializados no Brasil em amostras de fluído oral e desenvolver e validar um método para a confirmação e quantificação de anfetamina (AMP), metanfetamina (MET), anfepramona (DIE), fenproporex (FEN) e metilfenidato (MPH) no fluído oral por microextração em fase sólida (SPME) e cromatografia a gás com detector de massas (CG/EM). A especificidade analítica dos imunoensaios foi avaliada por meio do estudo das informações técnicas de diversos produtos e da realização de ensaios experimentais com três testes. O método confirmatório por SPME-CG/EM foi desenvolvido a partir da técnica de imersão (DI-SPME), sob agitação magnética, à temperatura ambiente, utilizando fibras revestida por polidimetilsiloxano (30 μm), propilcloroformato como agente derivatizante e adição de Na2CO3 e de Na2SO4 para aumentar o pH e a força iônica do meio, respectivamente. Os testes imunológicos atualmente disponíveis para a triagem de ATS em fluido oral são importados e não detectam, mesmo em altas concentrações, os principais ATS consumidos no Brasil: FEN, DIE e MPH. O método por SPME-CG/EM foi linear para os ATS estudados no intervalo de 2-256 ng.mL-1, exceto para o FEN cujo intervalo foi de 4-256 ng.mL-1. Os limites de detecção foram 0,5 ng.mL-1 (MET), 1 ng.mL-1 (MPH) e 2 ng.mL-1 (DIE, AMP, FEN). A exatidão do método situou-se entre 98,2 – 111,9% e a precisão não excedeu 15% de desvio padrão relativo. O método foi aplicado com sucesso na estimação do perfil farmacocinético do FEN e da AMP no fluído oral de seis indivíduos do sexo masculino, após a administração de dose única de especialidade farmacêutica nacional contendo 25 mg de cloridrato de FEN. / The Brazil stands out on the world as a major consumer of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), and several national studies have shown high prevalence in the consumption of these substances by professional drivers. Oral fluid has many advantages over the conventional biological fluids for monitoring ATS use on roads, and has been employed with this purpose in several countries. The aim of this study is to assess the specificity/cross-reactivity of commercial oral fluid immunoassays in detecting the prescription ATS marketed in Brazil and to develop and validate a method for confirmation and quantification of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MET), amfepramone (DIE), fenproporex (FEN) and methylphenidate (MPH) in oral fluid by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analytical specificity of immunoassays was evaluated through the study of the technical information of commercial products and through experimental testing of three kits. The confirmatory SPME-GC-MS method employed SPME immersion technique (DI-SPME), under magnetic stirring, at room temperature, using polydimethylsiloxane (30 μm) fibers, in-matrix propylchloroformate derivatization, Na2CO3 and Na2SO4 to increase both pH and ionic strength. Immunological tests currently available for ATS screening in oral fluid are imported and do not detect, even at high concentrations, the main ATS consumed in Brazil: FEN, MPH and DIE. The SPME-GC-MS method was linear for the studied ATS over the range of 2-256 ng.mL-1, except for FEN where the linear range was 4-256 ng.mL-1. The detection limits were 0.5 ng.mL-1 (MET), 1 ng.mL-1 (MPH) and 2 ng.mL-1 (DIE, AMP, FEN). Accuracy was within 98.2 – 111.9% of the target concentrations and precision did not exceed 15% of relative standard deviation. The method was successfully applied to estimate the pharmacokinetic profile of FEN and AMP in oral fluid of six male subjects after administration of a single dose of 25 mg FEN hydrochloride.

abstract: The maternal separation (MS) paradigm is an animal model of early life stress. Animals subjected to MS during the first two weeks of life display altered behavioral and neuroendocrinological stress responses as adults. MS also produces altered responsiveness to and self-administration (SA) of various drugs of abuse including cocaine, ethanol, opioids, and amphetamine. Methamphetamine (METH) causes great harm to both the individual user and to society; yet, no studies have examined the effects of MS on METH SA. This study was performed to examine the effects of MS on the acquisition of METH SA, extinction, and reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior in adulthood. Given the known influence of early life stress and drug exposure on epigenetic processes, group differences in levels of the epigenetic marker methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core were also investigated. Long-Evans pups and dams were separated on postnatal days (PND) 2-14 for either 180 (MS180) or 15 min (MS15). Male offspring were allowed to acquire METH SA (0.05 mg/kg/infusion) in 15 2-hr daily sessions starting at PND67, followed by extinction training and cue-induced reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior. Rats were then assessed for MeCP2 levels in the NAc core by immunohistochemistry. The MS180 group self-administered significantly more METH and acquired SA earlier than the MS15 group. No group differences in extinction or cue-induced reinstatement were observed. MS15 rats had significantly elevated MeCP2-immunoreactive cells in the NAc core as compared to MS180 rats. Together, these data suggest that MS has lasting influences on METH SA as well as epigenetic processes in the brain reward circuitry. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Psychology 2013

O Brasil destaca-se no cenário mundial em relação ao consumo de estimulantes anfetamínicos (ATS), e estudos nacionais têm evidenciado grande prevalência na utilização destas substâncias por motoristas profissionais. O fluido oral apresenta uma série de vantagens sobre as matrizes tradicionais para a monitorização do consumo de ATS no trânsito, e vem sendo empregada em diversos países. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a especificidade de imunoensaios comerciais na detecção preliminar dos ATS comercializados no Brasil em amostras de fluído oral e desenvolver e validar um método para a confirmação e quantificação de anfetamina (AMP), metanfetamina (MET), anfepramona (DIE), fenproporex (FEN) e metilfenidato (MPH) no fluído oral por microextração em fase sólida (SPME) e cromatografia a gás com detector de massas (CG/EM). A especificidade analítica dos imunoensaios foi avaliada por meio do estudo das informações técnicas de diversos produtos e da realização de ensaios experimentais com três testes. O método confirmatório por SPME-CG/EM foi desenvolvido a partir da técnica de imersão (DI-SPME), sob agitação magnética, à temperatura ambiente, utilizando fibras revestida por polidimetilsiloxano (30 μm), propilcloroformato como agente derivatizante e adição de Na2CO3 e de Na2SO4 para aumentar o pH e a força iônica do meio, respectivamente. Os testes imunológicos atualmente disponíveis para a triagem de ATS em fluido oral são importados e não detectam, mesmo em altas concentrações, os principais ATS consumidos no Brasil: FEN, DIE e MPH. O método por SPME-CG/EM foi linear para os ATS estudados no intervalo de 2-256 ng.mL-1, exceto para o FEN cujo intervalo foi de 4-256 ng.mL-1. Os limites de detecção foram 0,5 ng.mL-1 (MET), 1 ng.mL-1 (MPH) e 2 ng.mL-1 (DIE, AMP, FEN). A exatidão do método situou-se entre 98,2 – 111,9% e a precisão não excedeu 15% de desvio padrão relativo. O método foi aplicado com sucesso na estimação do perfil farmacocinético do FEN e da AMP no fluído oral de seis indivíduos do sexo masculino, após a administração de dose única de especialidade farmacêutica nacional contendo 25 mg de cloridrato de FEN. / The Brazil stands out on the world as a major consumer of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), and several national studies have shown high prevalence in the consumption of these substances by professional drivers. Oral fluid has many advantages over the conventional biological fluids for monitoring ATS use on roads, and has been employed with this purpose in several countries. The aim of this study is to assess the specificity/cross-reactivity of commercial oral fluid immunoassays in detecting the prescription ATS marketed in Brazil and to develop and validate a method for confirmation and quantification of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MET), amfepramone (DIE), fenproporex (FEN) and methylphenidate (MPH) in oral fluid by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analytical specificity of immunoassays was evaluated through the study of the technical information of commercial products and through experimental testing of three kits. The confirmatory SPME-GC-MS method employed SPME immersion technique (DI-SPME), under magnetic stirring, at room temperature, using polydimethylsiloxane (30 μm) fibers, in-matrix propylchloroformate derivatization, Na2CO3 and Na2SO4 to increase both pH and ionic strength. Immunological tests currently available for ATS screening in oral fluid are imported and do not detect, even at high concentrations, the main ATS consumed in Brazil: FEN, MPH and DIE. The SPME-GC-MS method was linear for the studied ATS over the range of 2-256 ng.mL-1, except for FEN where the linear range was 4-256 ng.mL-1. The detection limits were 0.5 ng.mL-1 (MET), 1 ng.mL-1 (MPH) and 2 ng.mL-1 (DIE, AMP, FEN). Accuracy was within 98.2 – 111.9% of the target concentrations and precision did not exceed 15% of relative standard deviation. The method was successfully applied to estimate the pharmacokinetic profile of FEN and AMP in oral fluid of six male subjects after administration of a single dose of 25 mg FEN hydrochloride.

Between 2003 and 2007, concerns about the illegal drug crystal methamphetamine (meth) increased dramatically in British Columbia despite research data that indicated usage rates were low among the general youth and adult populations. This dissertation draws on the insights of social constructionist theories that challenge the assumption that social problems are the natural outcome of ‘society’s ills,’ and explores the claims-making activities including public policy, that construct a ‘social problem’ like meth. This project draws on semi-structured interviews with members of citizen groups, policy-makers in the B.C. provincial government, representatives from health authorities and community-based services. It also includes textual analysis of key public policy and other documents. My analysis explores the narratives of illicit drug use that emerged from this data. The findings indicate that public policy officials and citizen groups held different perspectives about what kind of problem meth posed, as well as about the appropriate programs and policies government should use to respond to this drug. To problematize meth, citizen group members drew on long-standing emotionally driven claims informed by law enforcement and media, to shape meth as a uniquely addictive and dangerous agent with the potential to ensnare innocent victims from all walks of life. Public policy officials, on the other hand, insisted that governmental responses to meth must be similar to other prohibited substances, and should be evidence-based to avoid the influence of politics. These evidence-based responses, however, were shaped by values-based frameworks emerging from the marriage between neo-liberal ideas about governing and what Foucault calls ‘governmentality’. The twin pressures of public outrage, and this marriage of ideologies, shaped a hybrid of governmental approaches to the meth ‘problem’ that illustrated the complex and contradictory forces at work inside state institutions and between state institutions and non-governmental actors. Citizen groups pressured government using claims that bypassed scientific ‘evidence’ about drug use, in favour of frightening assertions about the need to protect children from the supposedly uniquely dangerous effects of this drug. These claims were used to gain support from politicians, resulting in new funding and program initiatives such as the Crystal Meth Secretariat that took as axiomatic a criminalized approach to drug use that excluded harm reduction measures. These claims depended upon and highlighted law enforcement and media based claims about meth and illicit drug use. But in neither case did official government responses, or crystal meth groups scrutinize or challenge the health and social inequities that shape illicit drug use. Rather both governmental and citizen group responses focused on change at the individual level eschewing sociological insights about the social conditions that shape illicit drug use and its harms. / Graduate / 2013-04-24