Original scientific paper

Hair Testing for Drugs of Abuse

Višnja Karačić
Ljiljana Skender

Abstract

Hair testing for drugs of abuse is a developing technology, which offers the possibility
of longer detection times than is commonly obtained with urine analysis. It is the main
method for evaluation of an individual’s drugs of abuse history. In many countries hair
analysis is routinely used to detect drug abuse in forensic cases, occupational and traffic
medicine and clinical toxicology. Hair analysis in pregnant women, neonates and infants
is a useful tool for the detection of drug exposure in utero. In Croatia hair testing
for drugs of abuse is performed at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational
Health. Three-year experience in drugs of abuse analysis in hair is described. In 331
hair samples (270 from adolescents and 61 from adults) opiates and metabolites, cocaine,
methadone, and amphetamines were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry. Most prevalent drugs of abuse in adolescents were amphetamines, and in
adults heroin. From the examples cited and samples analyzed it is evident that hair
testing is emerging as a reliable biological marker for cumulative account of individual
exposure to drugs of abuse.

Keywords

hair testing; drug abuse

Hrčak ID:

28082

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/28082

Publication date:

16.6.2003.

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