Abstract
BackgroundHeroin 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.MethodsSamples 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.ResultsResults 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.ConclusionThe 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.
Highlights
In Europe, cocaine and heroin are considered being among the most dangerous psychoactive drugs sold on the illegal market when considering overall harm, that is to say physical, psychological and social effects to users and to others [1]
The statistical evaluation on POL and CUS samples has been performed only on samples containing more than 1% heroin or cocaine
All samples collected in drug consumption rooms (DCR) were included in the study regardless of the heroin or cocaine concentration as they were bought by the consumers as heroin or cocaine
Summary
In Europe, cocaine and heroin are considered being among the most dangerous psychoactive drugs sold on the illegal market when considering overall harm, that is to say physical, psychological and social effects to users and to others [1]. Both products raise major concerns as cocaine is the second most frequently used illicit drug and heroin the most commonly used opioid. 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 and collected at the national supervised drug consumption facilities
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