On 27th March 2016 a client of the drug-checking service near Turin submitted a sample for examination, initially thinking it  was amphetamine (speed),  while it turned out to be composed of brown/orange crystals.

The sample was submitted to  the colorimetric test by Infoshock and Lab57. It was analysed with MARQUIS and the result was a “yellow colour” and with MANDELIN, that  gave an “olive-green” colour result

The sample was submitted to RAMAN Spectometry and  the result was:

METHYLONE

The sample was submitted to GC-MS and the result was:

METHYLONE 26%

4-FA 56%

Rapid information: methylone and 4FA are respectively a synthetic cathinone and a phenylethylamine, that  mimick the effects of stimulants such as ecstasy, amphetamine and cocaine. METHYLONE AND 4FA ARE NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES: there aren’t enough studies on them and there are no records of their use by man. For these characteristics they appear as  HIGH-RISK DRUGS WITH UNKNOWN AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS.