Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
Abstract
This article gives a brief account of a two–year experience with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry methods developed for the analysis of opiates (morphine, codeine, heroin and 6–acetylmorphine), cocaine, methadone, and amphetamines (amphetamine; methamphetamine; 3,4–methylenedioxyamphetamine – MDA, and 3,4–methylenedioxymethamphetamine – MDMA, Ecstasy) in hair . The methods developed were reproducible (RSD=5.0–16.1%), accurate (85.1–100.6%) and sensitive (LD=0.05–0.30 ng/mg). They were applied in the analysis of 221 hair samples obtained from young subjects aged 15–25 years, who were suspected of drug abuse. Seventy–seven hair samples were found positive for drugs of abuse. Forty–two subjects were found to have consumed amphetamine, of whom 40 were found MDMA (Ecstasy). Heroin consumption, based on positive 6–acetylmorphine, was found in 26 subjects. Cocaine alone was present in three subjects, two were found cocaine and heroin, two cocaine and methadone, and one cocaine and MDMA. These results could indicate the trend in drug abuse among young people in Croatia.Razvijene su GC/MS metode za analizu opijata (morfin, kodein, heroin i 6–acetilmorfin), kokaina, metadona i amfetamina (amfetamin; metamfetamin; 3,4–metilendioksiamfetamin –MDA i 3,4–metilendioksimetamfetamin – MDMA) u kosi. Osjetljivost, preciznost i točnost metode određene su za sve analite. Opisane metode primijenjene su pri identifikaciji zloporabe droga u kosi 221 mlade osobe (15–25 god.) za koje se sumnjalo da uzimaju drogu. U 77 osoba dokazano je uzimanje droga, dok su u uzorcima kose 144–ju ispitanika rezultati negativni. U 54,5% (N=42) osoba za koje je utvrđeno da uzimaju droge nađeni su amfetamini, pretežno MDMA (N=40), što upućuje na uzimanje tableta “Ecstasy”. Konzumiranje heroina dokazano je u 33,8% (N=26) osoba na temelju prisutnosti 6–acetilmorfina, jedinog specifičnog metabolita heroina. Uzimanje kokaina dokazano je u osam ispitanika. Razrađenim metodama moguće je procijeniti učestalost i vrstu droga koju uzima mlada populacija u Hrvatskoj
