Senior Manager, EY Digital Health
 PhD Candidate, NTNU

He is a psychologist with board specialization in clinical addiction and addiction psychology and works combined as a research fellow at NTNU and as an advisor in digital health at EY Digital health.

His PhD work aims to use statistical learning, neurocognitive measures and mobile sensor data to be able to predict drug use and relapse to drug use. As well as describing individual and temporal variability in the likelihood of relapse. In other words, to identify a digital phenotype for relapse.

The project is a collaboration with various researchers at NTNU, from the USA (Stevens Institute of Technology and Virginia Commonwealth University), the Black Dog Institute in Sydney and collaboration with industrial partners.

 Senior Consultant, Nidelv DPS
 PhD Candidate, Department of Mental Health, NTNU

Guro works as a physician at Nidelv DPS. She has specialized in 

Senior Consultant, St. Olavs Hospital and Vestre Viken HF

Associate Professor, NTNU

Joachim Frost, PhD. is a Specialist in Clinical Pharmacology. He presented his thesis in 2016 on a dessertation in forensic toxicology. 

In addition to this, he has contributed to around 25 written scientific publications in the pharmaceutical and drug field, with topics related to poisonings, the influence of drugs on traffic, side effects/misuse of drugs and laboratory medicine diagnostics and  business.

He has participated in several national harmonization projects in clinical pharmacology, and is the head of the Norwegian Association for Clinical Pharmacology. He is project manager for the Forensic Toxicology Project (ForTox), a research project established by the forensic pathology and pharmacology professional community at NTNU and St. Olav's hospital, and board member of the Nordic Association of Forensic Toxicologists.

  Physician, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olavs Hospital

Katrine works as a physician at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology. She completed her PhD in medicine with a double-blinded randomized controlled trial on oxytocin nasal spray for alcohol addiction in 2020, and is co-supervisor on a new PhD project with oxytocin nasal spray for benzodiapine addiction.

The principal subject matter of her research is medical treatment for substance abuse disorders. Katrine is leader of the research group Biological Research in Addiction and Clinical Toxicology (BRACT), and is a member of the International Society of Addiction Medicine - New Professionals Exploration, Training & Education (ISAM-NExT), Publication Subcommittee.

 Senior Consultant, Department of Clinical Pharmacology,
 St. Olavs Hospital
 Adjunct Professor,
 Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU

Olav Spigset, M.D. Ph.D. is Senior Consultant at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olav Hospital and Professor of clinical pharmacology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway.
He has extensive research experience in clinical pharmacology/toxicology, including pharmakokinetics/toxicokinetics, drug safety and drugs of abuse, and has published more than 350 scientific articles. He is editor of a Norwegian textbook in pharmacology (Legemidler og bruken av dem), he is a member of the scientific board of the national electronic drug interaction database, headed by the Norwegian Medicines Agency (www.interaksjoner.no) and he is chairman of the scientific board of the Norwegian drugs and therapeutics handbook (Norsk legemiddelhåndbok).

He is also member of the editotrial borads of several international scientific journals, and member of the National drug shortage advisory group at the Norwegian Directorate of Health. He has supervised about 15 Ph.D. students.

 Chemist, St. Olavs Hospital

Per Ole M Gundersen works as a chemist at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology. He works at the analytical FoU section. He works with new methods for the analysis of drugs and medicines, and has been particularly involved in the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the detection of new psychoactive drugs.

Senior Consultant, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olavs Hospital
Associate Professor, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU
 

Ragnhild is a specialist in clinical pharmacology, Ph.D. She is a Senior Consultant at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at St. Olav's hospital and as an associate professor at Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at NTNU, head of the Teaching Unit for Pharmacology and teaches at the professional study program for medicine at NTNU.

She is involved in pharmacological and toxicological research with the main focus on markers for alcohol consumption (alcohol markers) and how their use can improve diagnostics and treatment of alcohol-related disorders. 

 Researcher, Mental Health Clinic, St. Olavs Hospital
 Adjunct Professor, Department of Mental Health, NTNU

Rolf Gråwe holds a position as Professor II at the Department of Mental Health at NTNU and as a researcher at the Mental Health Clinic at St Olav's Hospital. The main areas of research are serious mental disorders and drug problems.

Gråwe has been - alone or with others - the author of approximately 150 publications, of which just over half are original scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals. Sixteen are publications with main results from RCT studies. He has also published 35 books and book chapters, many of which are clinical recommendations on how to help people with schizophrenia, anxiety, depression or drug problems.

He participates in the board of the research group Biological Research in Addiction and Clinical Toxicology (BRACT) in collaboration with the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at NTNU, and is head of the research group Research Group in Addiction and Addiction Medicine at the Department of Mental Health, NTNU.

 
 Senior Consultant and psychiatrist, Blå Kors clinic Lade

Sverre Georg Sæther is a medical doctor specialized in psychiatry and addiction medicine, and works as a senior consultant at the Department of Detoxification at the Blå Kors clinic Lade. He holds a PhD in medicine (psychiatry), and his thesis concerned Biomarkers of systemic and neuronal autoimmunity in acute psychiatric disorders. 

Sæther has been the author (alone or with others) of more than 15 scientific publications in national and international journals. His subjects of interest have been biological psychiatry at the intersection of immunology, neurology and psychiatry - and in recent years addiction medicine. He participates in the board of the research group Biological Research in Addiction and Clinical Toxicology (BRACT).

 Senior Consultant, Clinic for Drug Addiction and Addiction Medicine,
 St Olavs Hospital
 PhD - Candidate

Trine Finanger is a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics as well as drug and addiction medicine.
She works at the Clinic for Drug Addiction and Addiction Medicine at St Olavs Hospital. She is also a research fellow and researches on the subject of alcohol, women's health and the use of the alcohol marker PEth.

 Department Manager, Department of Clinical Pharmacology,
 St Olavs Hospital

Trond Oskar Aamo is a doctor and specialist in clinical pharmacology. He has worked as a doctor in drug and addiction medicine for several years. Aamo has extensive teaching commitments within pharmacology and toxicology, mainly within doctors' further and continuing education as well as the education of other healthcare personnel.

He has co-authored 34 scientific publications in national and international journals. The main subject of his clinical work and research has been psycho-pharmacology and clinical toxicology, in particular drug testing and pharmacological treatment of addiction states. He is a member of the Forensic Medicine Commission, toxicological group, and has regular assignments as a toxicological expert in court cases. 

Doctor in specialisation, Clinic for Drug and Addiction Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital

Tone works as a specialist doctor at the Clinic for Drug and Addiction Medicine. She is responsible for the double-blind randomized study dealing with the effect of oxytocin nasal spray during tapering of benzodiazepines, which is taking place at the Detoxification Department, Blå Kors, Klinikk Lade. Results of the study are expected in 2025. She is also a member of the International Society of Addiction Medicine, New Professionals Exploration, Training & Education (ISAM-NExT).

Hansen M, Havnen H, Andreassen TN, Spigset O, Hegstad S. Quantitative determination of R/S-methadone in human serum using ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: A method for routine use. 2024 Apr 10. doi: 10.1002/dta.3693. 
 

Chalabianloo F, Fadnes LT, Johansson KA, Høiseth G, Vold JH, Kringen MK, Spigset O, Bramness JG. Methadone pharmacokinetics in opioid agonist treatment: Influencing factors and clinical implications. 2024 Mar;134(3):333-344. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.13975.

Skråstad RB, Aamo TO, Andreassen TN, Havnen H, Hveem K, Krokstad S, Salvesen Ø, Spigset O. Response to letter to editor for 'Quantifying alcohol consumption in the general population by analyzing phosphatidylethanol concentrations in whole blood: results from 24 574 subjects included in the HUNT4 study'. 2023 Jul 10;58(4):452. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agad038.

Skråstad RB, Aamo TO, Andreassen TN, Havnen H, Hveem K, Krokstad S, Salvesen Ø, Spigset O. Quantifying Alcohol Consumption in the General Population by Analysing Phosphatidylethanol Concentrations in Whole Blood: Results from 24,574  Subjects Included in the HUNT4 Study. 2023 May 9;58(3):258-265. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agad015.

Frost J, Gundersen POM, Brede WR, Gjerde S, Pleym H, Slørdal L. Findings of the neuromuscular blocking agent rocuronium in blood from deceased subjects several months after exposure: A report of two cases. Forensic Sci Int 2023 Jun; 347: 111680. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111680. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Gjerde H, Frost J. Prevalence of alcohol and drugs among drivers killed in road traffic crashes in Norway during 2011-2020. Traffic Inj Prev 2023 Feb 10; 1-6. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2023.2174801. Online ahead of print.

Lauvsnes ADF, Hansen TI, Ankill SØ, Bae SW, Gråwe RW, Braund TA, Larsen M. Mobile assessments of mood, cognition, smartphone-based sensor activity, and variability in craving and substance use in patients with substance use disorders in Norway: Prospective observational feasibility study. JMIR Form Res 2023;7:e45254, doi:10.2196/45254

Bhad R., Achab S., et.al. (2023). An online global survey and follow-up expert groups on the scope and needs related to training, research, and mentorship among early-career addiction medicine professionals. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 10, E44. doi:10.1017/gmh.2023.35

Melby K, Farokhnia M, et al. (2023). International perspectives on opioid use disorder and treatment: Results from an online convenience sample Heroin Addict Relat Clin Probl, 25(x): xx-xx. Published Ahead of Print August 21, 2023

Identification of unhealthy alcohol use by self-report and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) blood concentrations in an acute psychiatric department. Finanger T, Vaaler AE, Spigset O, Aamo TO, Andreassen TN, Gråwe RW, Skråstad RB. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Apr 21;22(1):286.

Frost J, Helland A, Syrstad VEG, Aamo TO. Illegalt eller medisinsk amfetamin – hva er inntatt? Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2022 Jan 10; 142(1). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.21.0743.

Melby K, Spigset O, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, Quintana DS. The effect of intranasal oxytocin on processing emotional stimuli during alcohol withdrawal: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Horm Behav. 2022 Nov;146:105268. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105268. Epub 2022 Oct 13. PMID: 36242831.

Lauvsnes ADF, Hansen TI, Håberg AK, Gråwe RW, Langaas M. Poor response inhibition and symptoms of inattentiveness are core characteristics of lifetime illicit substance use among young adults in the general Norwegian population: The HUNT study. Substance Use & Misuse: 2022, 57 (9). 

Lauvsnes ADF, Gråwe RW, Langaas M. Predicting relapse in substance use: prospective modeling based on intensive longitudinal data on mental health, cognition, and craving. Brain Sci: 2022, 12(7), 957.  

Roland PDH, Frost J. Melatonin: Økende bruk, men fortsatt manglende kunnskap om langtidseffekter og påvirkning på pubertetsutvikling. Nor Farmaceut Tidsskr 2022; 130(5): 38-9.

Finanger, T., Vaaler, A.E., Spigset, O. et al. Identification of unhealthy alcohol use by self-report and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) blood concentrations in an acute psychiatric department. BMC Psychiatry 22, 286 (2022). 

Skråstad RB, Spigset O, Aamo TO, Andreassen TN. Stability of phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 in freshly drawn, authentic samples from healthy volunteers. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45: 417-21. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkaa082.

Finanger T, Spigset O, Andreassen TN, Løkken TN, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, Tømmervik K, Langås V, Salvesen KÅ, Skråstad RB. Phosphatidylethanol in blood as marker for alcohol consumption in early pregnancy: An observational study in 4067 pregnant women. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45: 886-92. doi: 10.1111/acer.14577.

Lauvsnes ADF, Langaas M, Olsen A, Vassileva J, Spigset O, Gråwe RW. ADHD and mental health symptoms in the identification of young adult subjects with increased risk of alcohol dependency in the general population – The HUNT4 population study. Int J Environment Res Publ Health 2021; 18: doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111601

Melby, Katrine; Nygård, Mona; Brobakken, Mathias Forsberg; Gråwe, Rolf W.; Guzey, Ismail Cuneyt; Reitan, Solveig Merete Klæbo; Vedul-Kjelsås, Einar; Heggelund, Jørn; Lara Cabrera, Mariela Loreto. Test-retest reliability of the patient activation measure-13 in adults with substance use disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Int J Enviromental Res and Public Health, 2021;DOI 10.3390/ijerph18031185

Aakerøy R, Brede WR, Stølen SB, Krabseth HM, Michelsen LS, Andreassen TN, Ader T, Frost J, Slettom G, Steihaug OM, Slørdal L. Severe Neurological Sequelae after a Recreational Dose of LSD. J Anal Toxicol. 2021 Aug 14; 45(7): e1-e3. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkaa145.

Havnen H, Hansen M, Spigset O, Hegstad S. Enantiomeric separation and quantification of R/S-amphetamine in serum using semi-automated liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Drug Test Anal 2020; 12: 1344-1353. doi: 10.1002/dta.2879.

Toft A, Meisingset TW, Sæther SG. A young man with convulsive laughter. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2020 May 25. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.19.0612. PMID: 32463185.

Krabseth H-M, Strømmen M, Spigset O, Helland A. Effect of sleeve gastrectomy on buprenorphine pharmacokinetics: a planned case observation. Clin Ther 2020; 42: 2232-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.08.016.

Lauvsnes ADF, Langaas M, Toussaint P, Gråwe RW Mobile sensing in substance use research: A scoping review. Telemedicine and e-health, 2020 http://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2019.0241

Melby K, Fasmer O, Henriksen TE, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, Spigset O. Actigraphy assessment of motor activity and sleep in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome and the effects of intranasal oxytocin. PLOS ONE February 13, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228700

Ulvik M, Bratsberg NS, Nordrum IS, Frost J. Trends in forensic autopsy rates in Central Norway during the period 2007–2017: Can media attention impact autopsy practices? Forensic Sci Int: Reports Volume 2, December 2020, 100155

Frost J, Mikkelsen T. Fallgruver ved hurtigtester av rusmidler. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2020 Sep 25; 140(14). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0696.

Bech AB, Clausen T, Waal H, Vindenes V, Edvardsen HE, Frost J, Skeie I. Post-mortem toxicological analyses of blood samples from 107 patients receiving opioid agonist treatment: substances detected and pooled opioid and benzodiazepine concentrations. Addiction 2020 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/add.15211

Breivik H, Frost J, Løkken TN, Slørdal L. Post mortem tissue distribution of quetiapine in forensic autopsies. Forensic Sci Int 2020 Jul 24; 315: 110413.

Simonsen KW, Kriikku P, Thelander G, Edvardsen HE, Thordardottir S, Andersen CU, Jönsson AK, Frost J, Christoffersen DJ, Delaveris GJM, Ojanperä I. Fatal poisoning in drug addicts in the Nordic countries in 2017. Forensic Sci Int 2020 Aug; 313: 110343.

Breivik H, Løkken TN, Slørdal L, Frost J. A Validated Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Quetiapine, Clozapine and Mirtazapine in Postmortem Blood and Tissue Samples. J Anal Toxicol 2020 Apr 2; 44(5): 440-448.

Heldal AT, Aamo TO, Frost J. En kvinne i 40-årene som brukte vanedannende legemidler i svært høye doser. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2020 Jan 2; 140(1).

Melby K, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, Salvesen Ø, Spigset O. Effect of intranasal oxytocin on alcohol withdrawal syndrome: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019;197:95-101. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.01.003.

Dyrkorn R, Skråstad RB, Aamo TO. Bruk av fosfatidyletanol i førerkortsaker. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2019 Feb 11;139(3)

Frost J, Bernard JP, Dietrichs ES, Kjeldstadli K, Riedel B, Skråstad RB, Vevelstad M, Helland A. Nye anbefalinger ved serumkonsentrasjonsmålinger av sentralstimulerende legemidler. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2019 Sep 23; 139(13).

Debernard KAB, Frost J, Roland PH. Kvetiapin er ikke en sovemedisin. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2019 Sep 16; 139(13).

Valen A, Bogstrand ST, Vindenes V, Frost J, Larsson M, Holtan A, Gjerde H. Driver-related risk factors of fatal road traffic crashes associated with alcohol or drug impairment. Accid Anal Prev 2019 Oct; 131: 191-199.

Valen A, Bogstrand ST, Vindenes V, Frost J, Larsson M, Holtan A, Gjerde H. Fatally injured drivers in Norway 2005-2015-Trends in substance use and crash characteristics. Traffic Inj Prev 2019; 20(5): 460-466.

Chalabianloo F, Westin AA, Skogvoll E, Bramness JG, Spigset O. Methadone serum concentrations and influencing factors: a naturalistic observational study. Psychopharmacology 2019; 236: 3159-67.

Andreassen TN, Havnen H, Spigset O, Falch BMH, Skråstad R. Hight throughput UHPC-MSMS method for tha analysis of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) 16:0/18:1, a specific biomarker for alcohol consumption, in whole blood. J Anal Toxicol 2018; 42: 33-41.

Hegstad S, Havnen H, Helland A, Spigset O, Frost J. Enantiomeric separation and quantification of R/S-amphetamine in urine by ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatography B 2018; 1077-8: 7-12.

Kaasbøll C, Hagen R, Gråwe RW. Population based associations between cannabis use, anxiety and depression in Norwegian adolescents. J Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 27 (4), 2018.  doi.org/10.1080/1067828X.2018.1462281

Serkland TT, Nygaard IL, Kvan E, Frost J, Aronsen L, Narum S, Bjånes T. Akutt telefonisk varsling om avvikende farmakologiske prøvesvar. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2018 Nov 1; 138(18).

Hegstad S, Havnen H, Helland A, Spigset O, Frost J. Enantiomeric separation and quantification of R/S-amphetamine in urine by ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2018; 1077-1078: 7-12.

Hegstad S, Kristoffersen L, Liane VH, Spigset O. EtG and EtS in autopsy blood samples with and without putrefaction using UHPLC-MS-MS. J Anal Toxicol 2017; 41: 107-13.

Hegstad S, Helland A, Hagemann C, Spigset O. EtG/EtS in serum by UHPLC-MS-MS in suspected sexual assault cases. J Anal Toxicol, 2017; 41: 618-22.

Andersson H. W., Otterholt E., Gråwe R.W. Patient satisfaction with treatments and outcomes in residential addiction institutions. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2017, vol. 34 (5): 375-384

Edvardsen HM, Tverborgvik T, Frost J, Rogde S, Morild I, Waal H, Clausen T, Slørdal L, Vindenes V. Differences in combinations and concentrations of drugs of abuse in fatal intoxication and driving under the influence cases. Forensic Sci Int 2017; 281: 127-133.

Strømmen M, Helland A, Kulseng B, Spigset O. Increased bioavilabiliby of methadone following sleeve gastrectomy – a plassned case observation. Clin Ther 2016; 38: 1532-6.

Aakerøy R, Skråstad RB, Helland A, Hilberg H, Aamo T, Dyrkorn R, Spigset O. Nye markører for påvisning av alkoholbruk. Tidsskr Nor Legeforen 2016; 136: 1643-7.

Gråwe R W. Kunnskapsbasert behandling av personer med ROP-lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 17-34. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge. Lenke

Gråwe R W. Kartlegging og diagnostisering av personer med ROP-lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstilt ak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 35-50. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge. Lenke

Gråwe R W. Motiverende tiltak til personer med ROP-lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 51-66. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge. Lenke

Gråwe R W. Kognitiv atferdsterapi mot rusmiddelbruk og psykiske lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 67-92. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge. Lenke

Gråwe R W. familie- og pårørendetiltak til personer med rus og psykiske lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 153-166. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge 1.  Lenke

Gråwe R W. Integrerte psykososiale behandlingstiltak for personer med rusmiddellidelser og samtidig angst og depresjon. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 167-212. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge. Lenke

Gråwe R W. Sentrale tiltak i pasientforløpet hos personer med ROP-lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 213 -238. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge Lenke

Gråwe R W. Bruk av tvang og behandling i rusakutt for personer med ROP-lidelser. I Gråwe RW (red.) Kombinerte behandlingstiltak til personer med samtidig rus- og psykisk lidelse: kunnskapsbaserte behandlingstiltak innen rus- og avhengighetsmedisin, 2016, side 239-257. Fagbokforlaget, Trondheim, Norge. Lenke

Frost J, Løkken TN, Helland A, Nordrum IS, Slørdal L. Post-mortem levels and tissue distribution of codeine, codeine-6-glucuronide, norcodeine, morphine and morphine glucuronides in a series of codeine-related deaths. Forensic Sci Int 2016 262: 128-37

Karlsen Bjånes T, Mjåset Hjertø E, Lønne L, Aronsen L, Andsnes Berg J, Bergan S, Otto Berg-Hansen G, Bernard JP, Larsen Burns M, Toralf Fosen J, Frost J, Hilberg T, Krabseth HM, Kvan E, Narum S, Austgulen Westin A. Pharmacology Portal: An Open Database for Clinical Pharmacologic Laboratory Services. Clin Ther 2016; 38: 222-6.

Westin AA, Frost J, Brede WR, Gundersen PO, Einvik S, Aarset H, Slørdal L. Sudden Cardiac Death Following Use of the Synthetic Cannabinoid MDMB-CHMICA. J Anal Toxicol 2016; 40: 86-7.

Hegstad S, Westin AA, Spigset O. Prolonged detection times of carboxylic acid metabolites of the synthetic cannabinoids JHW-018 and JWH-073 in urine applying a new UPLC-MS-MS method. J Anal Toxicol 2015; 39: 280-6.

Nakken EI, Grinde F, Vaaler A, Drange OK, Brodtkorb E, Sæther SG. Epilepsy and other seizure disorders in acute psychiatric inpatients. BMC Psychiatry. 2021 Dec 15;21(1):626. doi: 10.1186/s12888-021-03619-y. PMID: 34911471; PMCID: PMC8672464.

Simonsen KW, Edvardsen HM, Thelander G, Ojanperä I, Thordardottir S, Andersen LV, Kriikku P, Vindenes V, Christoffersen D, Delaveris GJ, Frost J. Fatal poisoning in drug addicts in the Nordic countries in 2012. Forensic Sci Int 2015; 248: 172-80.

Frost J, Løkken TN, Brede WR, Hegstad S, Nordrum IS, Slørdal L. A validated method for simultaneous determination of codeine, codeine-6-glucuronide, norcodeine, morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in post-mortem blood, vitreous fluid, muscle, fat and brain tissue by LC-MS. J Anal Toxicol 2015; 39 (3): 203-12.

Karinen R, Tuv SS, Rogde S, Peres MD, Johansen U, Frost J, Vindenes V, Øiestad AM. Lethal poisonings with AH-7921 in combination with other substances. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 244: e21-4.

Frost J. Death by self-inflicted asphyxia with helium - First case reports from Norway and review of the literature. Scand J Forensic Sci 2013; 19 (2): 52–4.

Frost J, Slørdal L, Vege Å, Nordrum IS. Forensic autopsies in a naturalistic setting in Norway: autopsy rates and toxicological findings. Forensic Sci Int 2012; 223 (1-3): 353-8.

Frost J, Helland A, Nordrum IS, Slørdal L. Investigation of morphine and morphine glucuronide levels and cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2D6 genotype in codeine-related deaths. Forensic Sci Int 2012; 220 (1-3): 6-11.

Frost J, Spigset O. Opioid-indusert kløe. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2012; 132 (19):2180-1.

Frost J, Sandvik P, Spigset O. Seksuelle bivirkninger av antidepressive legemidler. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2010; 130 (19): 1930-1.

The oxytocin projects are drug trials run by the pharmacological community at St. Olav's Hospital, the addiction medicine community at the Department of Mental Health at NTNU and Blå Kors Lade Treatment Center, in close collaboration with the Clinic for Addiction Medicine, St. Olav's Hospital.
The studies consist of adjunctive treatment with oxytocin/placebo nasal spray during detoxification and withdrawal treatment, in addition to a systematic collection of clinical information, self-reporting and blood and urine samples from patients who consent to participate in the study.

Objective: To test new drug treatments to relieve acute withdrawal symptoms when drug use is stopped and to prevent relapse to drug use.

Study design: Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Place of study: Blå Kors clinic Lade

Toxicological analyses: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olavs Hospital

Project leader: Professor Olav Spigset, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Senior Consultant and Head of Research and Development (R&D) at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olavs Hospital.

Two studies have so far been initiated on oxytocin and its effect on withdrawal symptoms and dependence:

• Project 1: Oxytocin in Alcohol Dependence (Completed)
• Project 2: Oxytocin in Benzodiazepine Dependence (Ongoing)

PEth is a phospholipid that forms in the cell wall of, among others, red blood cells. The formation only occurs when alcohol is present, and PEth is therefore a very specific marker for alcohol intake. PEth has a relatively wide window of detection and can say something about the size of the intake in the last 2-4 weeks before sampling. You can read more about PEth here: Alcohol markers - St. Olav's hospital HF (stolav.no)

BRACT has several ongoing research projects where we examine the properties of the alcohol marker phosphatidylethanol (PEth) both in different clinical populations and in the Health Survey in NordTrøndelag (HUNT).

An overview of published studies:

1. Response to letter to editor for 'Quantifying alcohol consumption in the general population by analyzing phosphatidylethanol concentrations in whole blood: results from 24 574 subjects included in the HUNT4 study'. 2023 Jul 10;58(4):452. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agad038.
2. Quantifying Alcohol Consumption in the General Population by Analysing Phosphatidylethanol Concentrations in Whole Blood: Results from 24,574  Subjects Included in the HUNT4 Study. 2023 May 9;58(3):258-265. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agad015.
3. Identification of unhealthy alcohol use by self-report and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) blood concentrations in an acute psychiatric department. Finanger T, Vaaler AE, Spigset O, Aamo TO, Andreassen TN, Gråwe RW, Skråstad RB. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Apr 21;22(1):286.
4. Skråstad RB, Spigset O, Aamo TO, Andreassen TN. Stability of phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 in freshly drawn, authentic samples from healthy volunteers. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45: 417-21. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkaa082.
5. Finanger T, Spigset O, Andreassen TN, Løkken TN, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, Tømmervik K, Langås V, Salvesen KÅ, Skråstad RB. Phosphatidylethanol in blood as marker for alcohol consumption in early pregnancy: An observational study in 4067 pregnant women. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45: 886-92. doi: 10.1111/acer.14577.
6. Dyrkorn R, Skråstad RB, Aamo TO. Bruk av fosfatidyletanol i førerkortsaker. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2019 Feb 11;139(3)
7. Andreassen TN, Havnen H, Spigset O, Falch BMH, Skråstad R. Hight throughput UHPC-MSMS method for tha analysis of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) 16:0/18:1, a specific biomarker for alcohol consumption, in whole blood. J Anal Toxicol 2018; 42: 33-41.
8. Aakerøy R, Skråstad RB, Helland A, Hilberg H, Aamo T, Dyrkorn R, Spigset O. Nye markører for påvisning av alkoholbruk. Tidsskr Nor Legeforen 2016; 136: 1643-7.

The Forensic Toxicology Project (ForTox) is a research project established by the forensic pathology and pharmacology community at NTNU and St. Olavs Hospital.

Through the collection of clinical information and body fluid and tissue samples from forensic autopsies in Central Norway, the project will contribute to a better decision-making basis for forensic experts and decision-makers in the field of drugs and medicines. This will be achieved by studying:

1. Prevalence and influence of different drugs and intoxicants in forensic autopsy cases in our region

2. How and to what extent the concentration of different intoxicants and drugs changes in the body after death

3. How drugs are distributed in different body fluids and organs

4. How the concentration of the substances is affected by storage. Both clinical data and biological samples are registered and stored in Biobank1, the regional research biobank of the Central Norway Regional Health Authority. So far, biological samples have been collected from more than 1000 forensic autopsies. The toxicological analyses are performed at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Olavs Hospital.

The project leaders are Associate Professor Joachim Frost and Professor Lars Slørdal at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU.