Document Detail


Concentrations of cocaine and its major metabolite benzoylecgonine in blood samples from apprehended drivers in Sweden.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18164886     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Cocaine and its major metabolite benzoylecgonine (BZE) were determined in blood samples from people arrested in Sweden for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) over a 5-year period (2000-2004). Venous blood or urine if available, was subjected to a broad toxicological screening analysis for cannabis, cocaine metabolite, amphetamines, opiates and the major benzodiazepines. Verification and quantitative analysis of cocaine and BZE in blood was done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) at limits of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.02mg/L for both substances. Over the study period 26,567 blood samples were analyzed and cocaine and/or BZE were verified in 795 cases (3%). The motorists using cocaine were predominantly men (>96%) with an average age of 28.3+/-7.1 years (+/-standard deviation, S.D.). The concentration of cocaine was below LOQ in 574 cases although BZE was determined at mean, median and highest concentrations of 0.19mg/L, 0.12mg/L and 1.3mg/L, respectively. In 221 cases, cocaine and BZE were together in the blood samples at mean and (median) concentrations of 0.076mg/L (0.05mg/L) and 0.859mg/L (0.70mg/L), respectively. The concentrations of BZE were always higher than the parent drug; mean BZE/cocaine ratio 14.2 (median 10.9) range 1-55. Cocaine and BZE were the only psychoactive substances reported in N=61 cases at mean (median) and highest concentrations of 0.095 (0.07) and 0.5mg/L for cocaine and 1.01 (0.70) and 3.1mg/L for BZE. Typical signs of drug influence noted by the arresting police officers included bloodshot and glossy eyes, agitation, difficulty in sitting still and incoherent speech.
Authors:
A W Jones; A Holmgren; F C Kugelberg
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2007-12-31
Journal Detail:
Title:  Forensic science international     Volume:  177     ISSN:  1872-6283     ISO Abbreviation:  Forensic Sci. Int.     Publication Date:  2008 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-04-14     Completed Date:  2008-05-07     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7902034     Medline TA:  Forensic Sci Int     Country:  Ireland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  133-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Artillerigatan 12, SE-581 33 Linköping, Sweden. wayne.jones@RMV.SE
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Age Distribution
Automobile Driving / legislation & jurisprudence*
Cocaine / analogs & derivatives*,  blood*
Cocaine-Related Disorders / diagnosis
Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / blood*
Female
Forensic Toxicology
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Male
Sex Distribution
Substance Abuse Detection
Sweden
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; 50-36-2/Cocaine; 519-09-5/benzoylecgonine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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