Hair Analysis of Methoxphenidine in a Forensic Chemsex Case

Abstract

Methoxphenidine (MXP, 2-MeO-diphenidine) is a dissociative anesthetic drug of the diarylethylamine type, recently introduced for recreational purposes through the online-based sale of new psychoactive substances (NPSs). The concentration of MXP in hair has never been reported, either in cases of chemsex use or in fatal cases. A 55-year-old man was found dead at his home the morning after a chemsex party. Toxicological analyses indicated high concentrations of MXP in femoral blood (606 µg/L), cardiac blood (254 µg/L) and hair (13 ng/mg). We also identified 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) in femoral blood (traces) and urine (238 µg/L). The concentrations of all other drugs were consistent with living subjects. This case highlights the risk of MXP poisoning in the context of chemsex and emphasizes the importance of including NPS in postmortem toxicology examinations.