Post mortem of 6-MAM stability in collected sample - Literature review Example

Among the samples under which study performance was done include the liver, virtuous humour, hair, muscle, femoral blood and the cerebrospinal fluid. Blood determination of heroin abuse may be difficult due to rapid conversion of 6-MAM from its form to morphine. Moreover, morphine metabolizes codeine which may cloud the toxicological picture. The study gives also the insight of how to detect the presence of 6-MAM and the factors that affects the stability of 6-MAM. These factors include the pH value as well as the temperatures.

The effect of enzymes on the 6-MAM is also discussed. In situations where there is no presence of 6-MAM, it is hard to determine if the toxicology of profile depicting codeine and morphine is due to use of heroin illegally or due to medicinal codeine. The study of post-mortem has revealed the suitability of vitreous humour, cerebrospinal fluid and urine as the best alternate specimens for testing the persistence of 6-MAM than using blood specimen. However, the vitreous humour plays the most useful role in determining the 6-MAM and establishment of the morphine derived from heroin. 1. Introduction to Heroin metabolite (6-MAM)- 1.

1 Drug description and history Heroin is one of the world’s drugs that are best known for abuse. It is an opiate drug. Heroin, like any other legal prescription narcotics, is extracted from the opium poppy. However, its historical origin is traced back to the year 1874 where it was produced for the first time from morphine in a laboratory in Britain. However, heroin attracted curiosity among scientists until when it was discovers and used as a cough medicine for children as well as a non- addictive painkiller y the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company in Germany.

The company never saw anything wrong by giving such addictive drugs to young children. Heroin was readily available by the year 1914 but its existence was short-lived following the passing of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in to facilitate control of heroin sale and distribution. The use of heroin among addicts has continued following the move by doctors to that has seen them take doctors prescribed heroin in an indiscriminate manner. Heroin was banned in the United States in 1924 with leading to prosecution of anyone found selling, manufacturing or importing the drug. 1.2 chemical structure and properties Under normal conditions, heroin is white in colour and has bitter taste which is a distinct property to it.

Though some street heroines have colours that vary from white to dark brown, it is worth noting that the colours could be as a result of addition of additives to increase flavour or reduce the taste of bitterness. Some even portray very dark properties such as heroin from Mexico that resembles tar, hence named “black tar” heroin. On entering he body, heroin is metabolized in presence of some specific enzymes in the body to form different