Comparative analysis of illicit heroin samples

Adulterants in illicit drugs: a review of empirical evidence

Widespread public perception is that illicit drugs contain substances that are a serious risk to health, even though adulterants are often not considered in clinical or forensic toxicology. This review attempts to present an evidence-based overview of adulterants in illicit drugs, and their associated toxicity. Adulterants are deliberately added to increase bulk, enhance or mimic a pharmacological effect, or to facilitate drug delivery. Those present unintentionally are as a result of poor manufacturing techniques. From the reports gathered, adulterants are predominantly substances which are readily available, commonly being caffeine, procaine, paracetamol, and sugars. These are likely to have minimal impact on users' health at low dosages. Other adulterants, particularly in injectable drugs, have the potential to cause serious health issues, but the quantities reported, such as strychnine in heroin, are not life-threatening. The most commonly identified bacterial contaminants identified are Bacillus and Clostridium species. When death or serious illness due to adulteration occurs, circulation of information is particularly vital, such as in the USA regarding heroin and cocaine adulterated with fentanyl, and in Scotland recently regarding anthrax contaminated heroin. The complex interactions of supply, demand, and control of illicit drugs have a tangible impact on their adulteration. Continuing vigilance and the circulation of information is, therefore, desirable as a public health issue. As part of that strategy, analyses performed for adulterants needs to be encouraged, which are considerably limited in number and scope at the moment.

Street heroin induces mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in rat cortical neurons

Cortical function has been suggested to be highly compromised by repeated heroin self-administration. We have previously shown that street heroin induces apoptosis in neuronal-like PC12 cells. Thus, we analysed the apoptotic pathways involved in street heroin neurotoxicity using primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. Our street heroin sample was shown to be mainly composed by heroin, 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine. Exposure of cortical neurons to street heroin induced a slight decrease in metabolic viability, without loss of neuronal integrity. Early activation of caspases involved in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway was observed, culminating in caspase 3 activation, Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) cleavage and DNA fragmentation. Apoptotic morphology was completely prevented by the non-selective caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, indicating an important role for caspases in neurodegeneration induced by street heroin. Ionotropic glutamate receptors, opioid receptors and oxidative stress were not involved in caspase 3 activation. Interestingly, street heroin cytotoxicity was shown to be independent of a functional mitochondrial respiratory chain, as determined using NT-2 rho(0) cells. Nonetheless, in street heroin-treated cortical neurons, cytochrome c was released, accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial potential and Bcl-2/Bax. Pure heroin hydrochloride similarly decreased metabolic viability but only slightly activated caspase 3. Altogether, our data suggest an important role for mitochondria in mediating street heroin neurotoxic effects.

A ‘cold synthesis’ of heroin and implications in heroin signature analysis

Treatment of morphine, at room temperature, with a mixture of trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) and acetic acid (20-30min) affords good yields of heroin. GC-MS and HPLC examination shows that heroin produced by this route to be extremely clean, but the product contains slightly less heroin than observed via the more traditional acetic anhydride (AA) route (76.1% versus 83.55%); and greater quantities of 3-MAM and 6-MAM (6.9% versus 0.75% and 7.13% versus 0.63%). The concentration ratios of the major alkaloid impurities were found to be both production method (TFAA and AA) as well as morphine extraction methodology dependant. Data contained herein describe the impact of this new production method on current intelligence efforts, largely by-passing existing heroin signature programs and the UNDCP's efforts to restrict access to key synthetic precursors. Given the methodology dependency we find that examination of the major alkaloid ratios is unsuitable for the development of a new heroin signature program. Further examination of the TFAA methodology allowed the identification of TFAA specific marker compounds, namely bis-trifluoroacetylmorphine (30), 3-trifluoroacetyl-6-acetylmorphine (31), 3-acetyl-6-trifluoroacetylmorphine (32) and trifluoroacetylcodeine (33). However, the hydrolytic lability of trifluroacetyl esters requires careful treatment of suspect samples, thus we propose a modification to existing HSP's in instances were the 6-MAM/WM ratio falls within the average minimum and maximum values of 6.17 and 17.32.

Analysis of Carbohydrates in Seized Heroin Using Capillary Electrophoresis

Illicitly produced heroin is commonly cut with carbohydrates to increase bulk. The analysis of these solutes is important for legal and intelligence purposes. A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the qualitative analysis of dextrose, lactose, sucrose, inositol, and mannitol in heroin exhibits. For this method, a 64 cm (55.5 cm to detector window) by 50 mum capillary was used with the Agilent Basic Anion Buffer modified to pH 12.1. This separation was performed at 25 degrees C with a voltage of 20 kV and indirect detection with 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid as the visualization reagent. The methodology is also applicable for the screening of inorganic and organic anions using indirect detection, and acidic adulterants using direct detection. For a run time of 13 min, the relative standard deviation (n = 6) of the methodology was better than 0.36% for migration times and less than 2.6% for corrected peak areas. For the analysis of carbohydrates and acidic adulterants in seized heroin, excellent agreement was obtained between CE and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Efficient application of monolithic silica column to determination of illicit heroin street sample by HPLC

In this paper, an HPLC method is proposed for a routine, rapid and simple analysis of heroin samples confiscated from the illicit market, based on a new type of packing for HPLC columns (monolithic silica). Acetonitrile and pH 3.5 phosphate buffer solution were used under both isocratic and gradient conditions. Under our analytical conditions, all the components of a typical mixture of an illicit heroin sample proved to be fully separated into well-resolved peaks in 7 min. Analytical linearity and accuracy of the method were also studied for all analytes using tetracaine hydrochloride as the internal standard.

Heroin impurity profiling: trends throughout a decade of experimenting

Heroin is still one of the most frequently abused drugs of today. All over the world, law enforcement agencies try to eradicate the illicit production and trafficking of this potent and highly addictive narcotic. To this aim, important information is provided by physical and chemical toxicological analysis of confiscated samples, with special attention for the identification and the quantification of minor components, such as the impurities related to the origin and manufacturing. By combining these data complex characterisations, i.e. impurity profiles, chemical signatures or fingerprints, can be obtained and used for comparative analysis. This review focuses on heroin impurity profiling during the 1990s, proclaimed by the United Nations as the 'Decade for Eradicating Drug Abuse'. Special attention will be given to the new trends in analytical techniques as well as in data handling strategies, so called chemometrics, to produce these profiles. The latter can be used in comparative analysis of seized heroin samples for tactical (batch-to-batch comparison) and strategic (origin determination) intelligence purposes.

A descriptive study of an epidemic of poisoning caused by heroin adulterated with scopolamine

OBJECTIVE

Adulterants, contaminants, and diluents are all examples of additives to street drugs. Some of these additives may be pharmacologically active; however, it is unusual for them to cause toxic side effects. In the spring of 1995, a new form of heroin appeared in New York City, spreading to other East Coast cities, that was adulterated with scopolamine. It caused severe anticholinergic toxicity in heroin users with patients often presenting to emergency departments in great numbers. This is a report of the demographics and clinical characteristics of the epidemic.

METHODS

A combination of prospective and retrospective data collection from the New York City, New Jersey, Delaware Valley, and Maryland Poison Centers. The primary measurements were age, sex, route of drug use, vital signs, signs and symptoms, disposition, and treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 370 cases reported to the participating poison centers, 129 were excluded from the final analysis because of insufficient data. Of the patients who used this product, 55% presented with signs and symptoms of heroin toxicity but then became severely agitated with anticholinergic symptoms when naloxone was used to reverse respiratory depression. Nasal insufflation was the route of administration in 34% of the cases. Seizures were rare (3%). Ninety percent required admission, and half were admitted to a critical care unit.

CONCLUSIONS

Adulteration of street drugs can lead to toxic epidemics. Poison centers are essential for identification of these trends and are the primary source of information on diagnosis and treatment.

Comparative analysis of heroin and cocaine seizures

In this brief review the analytical techniques mainly used for comparative analysis of both cocaine and heroin seizures are reported. The characterization of illicit samples is carried out by means of a variety of techniques including thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. By means of these technique it is possible to resolve some component in illicit drugs and their application for comparative analyses is described in this review. Owing to the complexity and the variability of the mixture related to the origin and manufacturing impurities a unique analytical approach based on the application of a single technique it is not sufficient to achieve the requested global characterization of the sample for comparative purposes. Generally a complete characterization is obtained focusing on the identification of minor and major components, origin and manufacturing impurities other than trace compounds such as solvent residues. Nevertheless the application of a single robust methods able to resolve any possible significant marker compounds, is still not described and there is a need for a standardized general procedure suitable for a complete cross-examination of analytical data related to comparative analyses that can be carried out at an international level.

Development of a predictive model for batch membership of street samples of heroin

Street samples (n = 31) of heroin were analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection to determine opiate, noscapine and papaverine content. Using this data, the chromatograms obtained could be resolved into eight groups by visual examination of the data. The concentrations of opiates were significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the exception of the pairs 6-O-monoacetylmorphine/noscapine and morphine/6-O-monoacetylmorphine. This precludes the use of simple cluster analysis for determining and predicting the relationship of different street samples. Application of Fisher's linear discriminant analysis to the data set indicated that 91.9% of the samples could be discriminated including pairs which could not be discriminated by eye. A blind trial (n = 2) resulted in the correct assignment to street sample. Application of such methods may provide, in the future, a powerful tool for the prediction of batch membership of drugs at the street level.

Headspace analysis of solvents in cocaine and heroin samples

Solid phase adsorption of headspace vapours was used to trap occluded solvent residues contained in 41 heroin and 54 cocaine samples, seized in Switzerland between 1994 and 1996, onto activated charcoal. The residues were eluted with carbon disulphide and analysed by GC-FID. Identification was confirmed by GC-MS. The detection limits between 2-15 ppm were determined empirically on a w/w basis for 250-300 mg powder samples. Twelve and 16 solvents were identified in the heroin and cocaine samples respectively. It was possible to relate cocaine samples to each other, but heroin comparisons proved more problematical. Trends and geographic variation in solvent use are considered and recommendations are made with respect to the control of certain solvents frequently encountered in heroin and cocaine samples.

Impurities, adulterants and diluents of illicit heroin. Changes during a 12-year period

Changes in the content of impurities, adulterants and diluents are described for 383 samples of illicit heroin seized in the western part of Denmark during the 12-year period 1981 through 1992. A wide range in purity was found within each year, whereas the average purity did not vary much from one year to another. The average purity of wholesale samples (45%) was only slightly higher than the purity of retail samples (36%). The SW Asian type of heroin, containing high concentrations of noscapine, predominated from the mid-eighties. Heroin base and heroin hydrochloride each accounted for approximately half of the samples during the eighties. However, in recent years the base form has become predominant. During the early eighties caffeine and procaine were the most frequent additives next to sugars. During the middle and late eighties an increasing number of heroin samples were cut with phenobarbital and methaqualone. During the early nineties the occurrence of phenobarbital and methaqualone has decreased, whereas paracetamol in combination with caffeine has become predominant. Re-analyses of samples which had been kept in storage for several years showed that most samples had not changed after being stored in the dark for a couple of years at room temperature. However, storage for more than 5 years often resulted in decomposition, particularly in samples consisting of the SW Asian type of heroin.