ANALYSIS OF THE DRUG CRYSTALS DISCOVERED BY IN ARAK

ABSTRACT Drug abuse is an important social, medical and legal issue which needs special attention by practioner and policy makers. Recently, an illicit drug called "SHISHEH" has been distributed among drug abusers in Marakazi province with some dreamlike after-use effects. In the present study, it is tried to shed some light on active ingredient of this illicit drug. Our study is an observational descriptive cross sectional study. All cases of illicit drug detection by police under the street name of "SHISHE" referred laboratory of Arak legal medicine center. In sum, 54 samples were sent to the laboratory since 23 Sep 2008 to 20 Mar 2009. Samples were analyzed by TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and HPLC (High Performance Gas Chromatography). These methods resulted in detection of relatively high percentage of amphetamine and methamphetamine in all 54 analyzed samples (> 97%). The amount of methamphetamine was also more than Amphetamine in samples but the difference was not statistically important. So, more training and awareness about its effects and dangers for teens and community population are critical