Flualprazolam and flubromazolam are synthetic benzodiazepines that have not been approved for use in humans. They are categorized as novel psychoactive substances (NPS), and have been increasingly encountered in forensic case work. This report examines information from cases analyzed for flualprazolam and flubromazolam between July 1 and December 31, 2021 to identify the prevalence, trends and demographic data associated with these novel drugs in Ontario, Canada. Flualprazolam was identified in blood, serum or liver in 395 death investigations, 108 impaired driving and five sexual assault cases. Among all case types, blood concentrations were determined in 123 individuals aged 19–66 years. In impaired driving and sexual assault cases, flualprazolam blood concentrations ranged from <1.3 to 227 ng/mL (median 11.0 ng/mL), whereas a range of 3–59 ng/mL (median 6.8 ng/mL) was reported in death investigations. Flubromazolam was identified in blood, serum or liver in 137 death investigations, 55 impaired driving and one sexual assault case. Blood concentrations ranged from <1.3 to 323 ng/mL in 65 individuals, aged 14–61 years. In impaired driving and sexual assault cases, flubromazolam blood concentrations ranged from <1.3 to 323 ng/mL (median 7.7 ng/mL), which overlapped with the range of 2–220 ng/mL (median 8.0 ng/mL) reported in death investigations. Other drugs were frequently detected with flualprazolam and flubromazolam with opioids identified in more than 89% of positive flualprazolam and flubromazolam cases. These results demonstrated the prevalence of flualprazolam and flubromazolam in Ontario, Canada. Trends showed that over the 6-month period, as the number of flubromazolam cases decreased, the incidences of flualprazolam increased. An overlap in concentrations of these drugs was observed in both death investigations and cases involving living individuals. These data provide valuable information for the scientific community regarding the use of these drugs in antemortem and postmortem casework.

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氟丙唑仑和氟溴马唑仑：加拿大安大略省法医案件工作中两种新型精神活性物质的血液浓度和流行率

氟丙唑仑和氟溴马唑仑是合成苯二氮卓类药物，尚未被批准用于人类。它们被归类为新型精神活性物质（NPS），并且在法医案件工作中越来越多地遇到。本报告审查了 2021 年 7 月 1 日至 12 月 31 日期间氟丙唑仑和氟溴马唑仑分析病例的信息，以确定加拿大安大略省与这些新药相关的流行率、趋势和人口数据。在 395 起死亡调查、108 起酒后驾驶案件和 5 起性侵犯案件中，血液、血清或肝脏中发现了氟丙唑仑。在所有病例类型中，测定了 123 名 19-66 岁个体的血液浓度。在驾驶不清醒和性侵犯案件中，氟丙唑仑的血液浓度范围为 <1.3 至 227 ng/mL（中位数 11.0 ng/mL），而据报告死亡的浓度范围为 3-59 ng/mL（中位数 6.8 ng/mL）调查。在 137 起死亡调查、55 起酒后驾驶案件和 1 起性侵犯案件中，血液、血清或肝脏中发现了氟溴唑仑。65 名年龄在 14-61 岁之间的个体的血液浓度范围为 <1.3 至 323 ng/mL。在不清醒驾驶和性侵犯案件中，氟溴唑仑血液浓度范围为 <1.3 至 323 ng/mL（中位数 7.7 ng/mL），与 2017 年报告的 2-220 ng/mL（中位数 8.0 ng/mL）范围重叠。死亡调查。在超过 89% 的氟丙唑仑和氟溴马唑仑阳性病例中，经常检出其他药物，包括氟丙唑仑和氟溴马唑仑以及阿片类药物。这些结果表明氟丙唑仑和氟溴马唑仑在加拿大安大略省的流行率。趋势显示，在 6 个月期间，随着氟溴唑仑病例数的减少，氟丙唑仑的发病率有所增加。在死亡调查和涉及活人的案件中都观察到这些药物浓度的重叠。这些数据为科学界提供了有关在死前和死后案例研究中使用这些药物的宝贵信息。