Investigation on heroin and cocaine quality in Luxembourg.
Cocaine
Drug consumption facilities
Heroin
Quality
Seizure
Journal
Harm reduction journal
ISSN: 1477-7517
Titre abrégé: Harm Reduct J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101153624
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
16 09 2021
16 09 2021
Historique:
received:
21
05
2021
accepted:
02
09
2021
entrez:
17
9
2021
pubmed:
18
9
2021
medline:
26
11
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Heroin and cocaine are among the most dangerous illicit drugs available and their presence on the market is increasing. These facts have led to the investigation of the quality of heroin and cocaine samples seized in Luxembourg by police and customs but also collected at the national supervised drug consumption facilities. Samples obtained from 2019 to 2020 were analyzed to determine their composition and content using GC-MS, HPLC-UV and LC-Q-ToF. The statistical evaluation of concentration changes depending on the source of collection is based on an ANOVA single factor test and a two-tailed t test. Results showed important differences between seizure and collection sources. For both drugs, customs samples had significantly higher concentrations than police samples and the latter had significantly higher concentrations than samples from drug consumption facilities, whereas for heroin two cutting steps were identified, for cocaine samples only one appears to occur on the local market. Indeed, cocaine samples seized by police consisted of a mixture of low and high concentration samples. The results show that extensive adulteration with pharmacological active and inactive compounds takes place at local levels, which, however, are different for heroin and cocaine. This knowledge on variability of quality of drugs should be considered in the elaboration of drug and harm prevention strategies.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Heroin and cocaine are among the most dangerous illicit drugs available and their presence on the market is increasing. These facts have led to the investigation of the quality of heroin and cocaine samples seized in Luxembourg by police and customs but also collected at the national supervised drug consumption facilities.
METHODS
Samples obtained from 2019 to 2020 were analyzed to determine their composition and content using GC-MS, HPLC-UV and LC-Q-ToF. The statistical evaluation of concentration changes depending on the source of collection is based on an ANOVA single factor test and a two-tailed t test.
RESULTS
Results showed important differences between seizure and collection sources. For both drugs, customs samples had significantly higher concentrations than police samples and the latter had significantly higher concentrations than samples from drug consumption facilities, whereas for heroin two cutting steps were identified, for cocaine samples only one appears to occur on the local market. Indeed, cocaine samples seized by police consisted of a mixture of low and high concentration samples.
CONCLUSION
The results show that extensive adulteration with pharmacological active and inactive compounds takes place at local levels, which, however, are different for heroin and cocaine. This knowledge on variability of quality of drugs should be considered in the elaboration of drug and harm prevention strategies.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34530816
doi: 10.1186/s12954-021-00544-x
pii: 10.1186/s12954-021-00544-x
pmc: PMC8444575
doi:
Substances chimiques
Illicit Drugs
0
Heroin
70D95007SX
Cocaine
I5Y540LHVR
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
97Informations de copyright
© 2021. The Author(s).
Références
J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Jun;29(6):655-60
pubmed: 25922421
Int J Drug Policy. 2019 Nov;73:7-15
pubmed: 31330276
Harm Reduct J. 2021 Jan 7;18(1):8
pubmed: 33413397