Abstract
The recently abused substances called "legal drugs", such as Natural Ecstacy, Herbal Ecstacy and RUSH, were analyzed to confirm that they contain no controlled drugs using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Seventeen samples were examined for narcotics, stimulants or other controlled substances. While none of them were detected, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were found in five samples. Their concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (LC) to be below ten per cent, within the limit regulated by the stimulants control law. Caffeine was also detected in seven samples. Therefore, the exciting effect of the "legal drugs" was considered to be caused by ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and caffeine.
