The detection and estimation of (A) arsenic in opium, and (B) strychnine in opium and heroin, as a means of identification of their respective sources

Abstract

Samples of opium with arsenic as an adulterant, and both opium and heroin with strychnine as an adulterant are not infrequently encountered in the local drug scene. The paper describes a method for the possible identification of the sources of opium and heroin in the local market on the basis of an accurate quantitation of the adulterant arsenic and strychnine contents of the respective samples. A possible extension of this concept, would be the possibility of a similar identification of sources outside the country with a view to establishing channels of entry from abroad. Arsenic is determined by the Gutzeit method while strychnine is estimated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).