COMPONENT AND PURITY OF RETAIL HEROIN AND THE CONCENTRATION RATIOS OF MORPHINE TO CODEINE IN URINE OF HEROIN ABUSERS

Objective:To analyze the component and purity of retail heroin and determine the concentration ratios of morphine to codeine in the urine of herion abusers. Methods:Four hundred and forty one pieces of retai heroin and 105 urine samples were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography(GC), and the result was statistically analyzed. Results:In 105 urine samples, 9 pieces contained heroin(including three pieces with 6-monoacetylmorphine simultaneously); 30 samples only had morphine and codeine, and among them, there were 13 samples whose morphine/codeine ratio was lower than 1. The composition of the 441 pieces of retail heroin varied from 95.2% to 0%; The composition of acetyl codeine varied from 89.3% to 1.6%; 25 pieces (accounting for 5.7%) contained more acetyl codeine than heroin. Conclusion:The composition and quantity of retail heroin are quite different. With acetyl codeine more than heroin in one piece of heroin, the concentration ratios of morphine to codeine in urine may be lower than 1. But it dose not mean the sample’s owner has not used heroin.