THE OCCURRENCE OF COCAINE, HEROIN AND METABOLITES IN HAIR OF DRUG-ABUSERS

The analysis of hair for drugs of abuse reveals information regarding past drug exposure. We developed methods for washing, extraction and a nalysis of hair samples for cocaine, heroin and metabolites. Twenty pa ired head- and arm-hair samples, collected from known heroin/cocaine a busers, were analyzed with a new comprehensive GC/MS assay for cocaine , heroin and metabolites. Cocaine and 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) were the major analytes present in both head- and arm-hair samples. Cocaine wa s detected in all head- and 17 arm-hair samples. The concentration of cocaine found was 4-760 ng/10 mg in head hair and 0-1090 ng/10 mg in a rm hair. Less benzoylecgonine was present in a concentration range of 0-158 ng/10 mg of head hair and 0-125 ng/10 mg of arm hair. Heroin was found in only 2 head-hair samples, whereas 6-AM was present in 14 hea d and 6 arm-hair samples. The concentration of 6-AM was 0-8 ng/10 mg i n head hair and 0-31 ng/10 mg in arm hair. Morphine was present in 3 h ead-hair samples in a range of 2-9 ng/10 mg and was not detected in ar m-hair samples. When results were compared by groups (head hair versus arm hair, Caucasoid versus Africoid), only two significant difference s were found. Cocaine concentrations in both head and arm hair were si gnificantly (P < 0.05) higher in the Africoid group than in the Caucas oid group. The reasons for these differences were not readily apparent , but could have been due to differences in the level of cocaine use o r to ethnic differences in the deposition of drug in hair.