title: Drug distribution in the head, axillary and pubic hair of chronic addicts.
abstract: This study investigates the distribution of some drugs in hair samples taken from different parts of the body (head, pubis and axillae). Samples drawn from 15 subjects who died from drug overdose were analysed. The concentrations of the drugs detected in the biological fluids did not appear to be correlated with those present in hair. The highest drug levels were observed in pubic hair. The concentration differences observed in the various types of hair can hypothetically be ascribed to a likely incorporation of the drugs from the outside.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Offidani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strano Rossi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiarotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003042:Cocaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005835:Genitalia; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D009020:Morphine; D003042:Cocaine