Concentrations of Heroin, 06-Monoacetylmorphine, and Morphine in a Lethal Case Following an Oral Heroin Overdose

• Published in: Journal of analytical toxicology Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 232 - 235
• Main Authors: Rop, Pok P., Fornaris, Monique, Salmon, Thierry, Burle, Joelle, Bresson, Mireille
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Niles, IL Oxford University Press 01.05.1997; Preston
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug addictions; Drug Overdose; Fatal Outcome; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Gastrointestinal Contents - chemistry; Heroin - analysis; Heroin - blood; Heroin - poisoning; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Morphine - analysis; Morphine - blood; Morphine - urine; Morphine Derivatives - analysis; Morphine Derivatives - blood; Narcotics - adverse effects; Narcotics - blood; Narcotics - poisoning; Reference Standards; Substance-Related Disorders; Toxicology; Human; Urine; Biological fluid; Chemical analysis; Morphine derivatives; Coupled method; Toxicity; Overdosing; HPLC chromatography; Forensic aspect; Autopsy material; Blood; Ingestion; Gas chromatography; Tissue; Death; Qualitative analysis; Poisoning; Drug of abuse; Mass spectrometry; Heroin; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0146-4760; 1945-2403
• DOI: 10.1093/jat/21.3.232

A case of lethal overdose by heroin ingestion is presented. The concentrations of drugs were measured several hours after death. Heroin, 06-monoacetylmorphine, and morphine were identified and quantitated in blood, urine, and gastrointestinal contents by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations of heroin, 06-monoacetylmorphine, and morphine were 109, 168, and 1140 ng/mL, respectively, in blood and 17, 12, and 425 ng/g, respectively, in gastrointestinal content. In urine, however, only morphine was detected at 3650 ng/mL.