Distribution characteristics of methamphetamine and amphetamine in urine and hair specimens collected from alleged methamphetamine users in northern Taiwan.

This study was conducted to better understand the distribution characteristics of methamphetamine and amphetamine in urine and hair specimens collected from alleged methamphetamine users in the local population. It is anticipated that the data hereby obtained will be helpful to the interpretation of the time and pattern of drug use. Eight alleged methamphetamine-using arrestees from Keelung Police Department (north of Taipei, Taiwan) consented to contribute both urine and hair specimens.

Artifacts in the GC-MS profiling of underivatized methamphetamine hydrochloride.

When underivatized methamphetamine hydrochloride (MA.HCl) in methanol is subjected to the instant gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) profiling with old inlet liners at temperatures above 200 degrees C, appreciable amounts of N,N-dimethylamphetamine (DMA) and amphetamine (AP) are produced. The presence of these two artifacts is attributed to the N-demethylation and N-methylation reactions of MA as well as methyl group exchange with methanol.

Enantiomeric determination of ephedrines and norephedrines by chiral derivatization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches.

Concerned with variations in abuse potential and control status among various isomers of ephedrines and norephedrines, this study was conducted to develop an effective method for the simultaneous analysis of eight ephedrine-related compounds along with structurally similar cathinones. Among various approaches studied, a 60-m HP-5MS (0.25 mm i.