Heroin preparation

Macchia, M., Manetto, G., Mori, C., Papi, C., Di Pietro, N., Salotti, V, Bortolotti, R, and Tagliaro, F. (2001). Use of beta-cyclodextrin in the capillary zone electrophoretic separation of the components of clandestine heroin preparations. /. Chromatogr. A 924, 499—506. 

P. C. White, I. Jane, A. Scott, and B. E. Connett, Use of high-performance liquid chromatography to quantitate the opiate and sugar content of illicit heroin preparations, J. Chromatogr., 265 293(1983). 

This method was successfully tested with different illicit heroin preparations, and when the results were compared with those obtained with HPLC, a good quantitative correlation was observed. Precision was slightly less in MEKC than in HPLC, but the resolution of complex samples of illicit heroin was better with MEKC. 

Coc,various opium alkaloids,caffeine,strychnine, quinine,ephedrine Procaine.ligno-caine, barbiturate, paracetamol Analysis illicit heroin preparations(Fig.7.2)... 

Nine samples of illicit heroin preparations were analyzed in duplicate by a gas chromatographic method. The samples can be assumed to have been drawn randomly from the same population. Pool the following data to establish an estimate of cr for the procedure. 

Figure 22.14. Chromatogram of heroin preparation showing internal standard. Compounds 1. Acetylcodeine or O -monoacetylmorphine 2. 

Fig. 8-13. Chromatogram of a heroin preparation dissolved in methanol. 1 = caffeine 2 = codeine-AC 3 = monoacetymorphine ...

After screening tests have been completed, instrumental techniques such as ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography (LC), and gas chromatography (GC) are used to confirm the presence of heroin. To analyze an unknown opiate by instrumental analysis, the sample is dissolved and extracted with a suitable solvent. The UV spectrum of pure heroin prepared in dilute acid is shown in Figure 3A. In dilute aqueous acid, the absorbance maximum is 279 nm. 

Emetine, papaverine, codeine, morphine and tubocurarine are used in medicine (F 2). Morphine, which is important as an analgetic, and diacetylmorphine (heroine) prepared synthetically from morphine are powerful hallucinogens (F 3). Both substances interact with the receptors of the endorphins (D 23), endogenic peptides mediating the perception of pain. 

Macchia M, Manetto G, Mori C, Papi C, Di Pietro N, Salotti V, Bortolotti F, Tagliaro F (2001) Use of P-cyclodextrin in the capillary zone electrophOTetic separation of the components of clandestine heroin preparations. J Chromatogr A 924 499-506. doi 10.1016/S0021-9673(01)00734-8... 

Holt, P. J. "Particle Size Analysis of Six Illicit Heroin Preparations Seized in the U.K." Forensic Science International, 811996,17-28. 

Heroin can be smoked ( chasing the dragon ), sniffed or prepared for injection. Opioids prescribed for medical use may be used for non-medical reasons, especially by heroin users who cannot otherwise get hold of heroin. 

The Raman spectra of heroin, morphine and codeine (Fig. 7.10) are highly characteristic because of the change in the bands due to the aromatic ring. The FT-IR spectra of these compounds are quite similar. Near-infrared Raman spectroscopy can provide a rapid method for characterising drugs with minimal sample preparation and analysis time. 

Jane had unsuccessfuily attempted detoxification with lofexidine about six months previously. At the time she had been keen to have this method and then go on naltrexone, but the main problem had been that she was unable to satisfactorily reduce her heroin use in preparation. She also had the ongoing stresses of child care, although she had had some help offered. 

The process of controlled withdrawal from a drug (Palfium) Opioid medication, frequently abused by injection Heroin - the chemical term diamorphine may be used to refer to the pharmaceutical preparation... 

Colin Brewer et al. (1988) have described the efficacy of using a pharmacological agent which renders heroin ineffective. If used at the action stage, administration of this preparation will change the user s expectation of what will happen if he or she takes heroin. This may be a particularly useful intervention for those individuals who... 

The most commonly used opiate substitute is methadone which has been available since the Second World War. It is a potent analgesic with a long half life, and thus once substituted for diamorphine can be reduced over a variable period of time. It is available in ampoules (for injection), tablets, linctus (2 mg in 5 ml), and mixture (1 mg in 1 ml). The use of ampoules and tablets is to be discouraged and many centres now are using the methadone mixture. This can be prescribed by any medical practitioner and requires no central licence. The use of ampoules and tablets has led to abuse, and these preparations have more of a black market value than the mixture. The amount of mixture used will depend on the amount of street heroin consumed and its potency, but it is usual to start at a safe dosage of between 30 and 50 mg daily for opiate dependents consuming half to one gramme... 

Opioids (opium, morphine, heroin, meperidine, methadone, etc) are common drugs of abuse (see Chapters 31 and 32), and overdose is a common result of using the poorly standardized preparations sold on the street. See Chapter 31 for a detailed discussion of opioid overdose and its treatment. 

UNODC statistics take all of this information into consideration and suggest that there are between 15 and 16 million methamphetamine users worldwide, i.e. a similar number as heroin or cocaine users at the global level. The number of amphetamine users is estimated to be lower, at around 4 million people. A further 5 million people are estimated to consume various diverted pharmaceutical preparations or other illegal stimulants, such as methcathinone. Again, it is important to recall that these are only tentative estimates based on information made available to UNODC by Member States. Furthermore, one should be aware that the actual numbers for the individual substances could be slightly higher as poly-drug use is known to be common, and could well extend to ATS consumption as well.1... 

The earliest attempts to develop a non-dependence-inducing morphine derivative resulted in the preparation of heroin (3,6-diacetylmorphine) by acetylation of morphine (Wright, 1874, Dreser, 1898). The potency of heroin was soon recognized. It underwent more investigation than any other product of the time, and was introduced into clinical medicine in 1898. Reports of its reduced respiratory depression and dependence liability were soon shown to be unfounded, but its analgesic effects in animals and man (twice morphine) were confirmed. Pharmacological examination of acyl derivatives of morphine showed that... 

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