CHAPTER 5: NMR Spectroscopy Applied in Identification of Synthetic Drugs

Despite efforts to prevent and reduce drug abuse worldwide, the consumption of synthetic substances has been increasing significantly. The control is still difficult because new psychoactive substances (NPS) appear all the time, making the analytical process of chemical identification of substances increasingly complex. In this context, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), an unambiguous structural identification technique requiring no standards, has been widely applied in the identification of the active principles and excipients contained in the drugs seized in their different forms of presentation, such as tablets, blotter papers and powders. NMR also contributes to the characterization of the chemical profile of these drugs of abuse that sometimes contains a mixture of active principles and excipients. NMR is also very useful in identifying isomers without the need for standards, thus demonstrating its vast potential in the forensic area.