A fatal case of poisoning of a 19-year-old after taking 3-MMC

Forensic Sci Int. 2019 Jul:300:e34-e37. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.040. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Abstract

The significant increase in the number of new psychoactive substances on the drug market has recently been a serious problem. The manuscript presents a fatal case of suicide poisoning with 3-MMC (3-methylmethcathinone). The biological material collected during the autopsy of a 19-year-old woman, transferred to the toxicological Laboratory in Katowice ToxLab, was subjected to a chemical and toxicological analysis. The toxicological analysis of blood, vitreous humor and gastric contents revealed 3-methylmetcatinone at a concentration of 800 ng/ml, 153 ng/ml and 5,5 mg, respectively. The presence of 3-MMC has also been confirmed in physical evidence secured on site. 3-methylmethcathinone is a dangerous psychoactive substance that caused the death of the 19-year-old.

Keywords: 3-MMC; Designer drugs; Fatal poisoning; New psychoactive substances.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Designer Drugs / analysis
  • Designer Drugs / poisoning*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Methamphetamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methamphetamine / analysis
  • Methamphetamine / poisoning
  • Psychotropic Drugs / analysis
  • Psychotropic Drugs / poisoning*
  • Suicide
  • Vitreous Body / chemistry
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Designer Drugs
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Methamphetamine
  • 3-methylmethcathinone