COCAINE AND METABOLITES IN HUMAN GRAYING HAIR - PIGMENTARY RELATIONSHIP

Objective: To assess differences in the binding of cocaine, cocaethyle ne, and benzoylecgonine among pigmented and senile white hairs of the graying human cocaine abuser. Design A sheath of graying hair in the r egion around the apex of the head was gathered between the thumb and i ndex finger then cut and removed about 2 mm proximal to the scalp. The graying hair was divided into pigmented and senile white of equal wei ghts and lengths and then analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrom etry chemical ionization. Twenty-nine such pairs were analyzed. Subjec ts: Male cocaine abusers, ages 33-55 years hospitalized for substance abuse. Informed consent was obtained and confidentiality assured. Main Outcome Measures: Concentrations of cocaine, cocaethylene and benzoyl ecgonine in ng were assessed for each of 29 paired hair samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry chemical ionization. Results: There were statistically significant differences between pigmented and senil e white sections of paired samples. Cocaine (ng/mg hair, mean +/- SD) was 31.5 +/- 30.2 for pigmented hair vs 14.9 +/- 19.8 for senile white portions; (p < 0.0001). Cocaethylene (ng/mg hair, mean +/- SD) 3.22 /- 5.0 (pigmented) vs 0.52 +/- 0.88 (senile white); (p < 0.0016). Benz oylecgonine (ng/mg hair, mean +/- SD) 5.1 +/- 5.3 (pigmented) vs 3.9 /- 4.8 (senile white), (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Melaninated pigmented hair seems to bind more cocaine, cocaethylene and benzoylecgonine than white hair in the same subject.