title: Volatilisation of diacetylmorphine: in vitro simulation of 'chasing the dragon'.
abstract: In preparation for a trial on co-prescription of heroin to chronic treatment-resistant addicts, a pharmaceutical dosage form for smokable heroin was developed. During development of this product (a mixture of diacetylmorphine and caffeine), in vitro experiments were performed simulating 'chasing the dragon': the technique used by addicts for inhalation of heroin after volatilisation. Samples were heated on aluminium foil using a heating device and the vapours were collected and analysed using a HPLC-UV method. The recovery of diacetylmorphine and caffeine in vapours was studied after volatilisation of different powder mixtures at temperatures between 200 and 350 degrees C. Furthermore, the volatilisation set-up was combined with an Andersen sampler to determine the sizes of aerosol particles. Only small differences in recovery of diacetylmorphine and caffeine were found between temperatures and between powder mixtures: 46-62% of diacetylmorphine from the sample was recovered in vapour and 65-83% of caffeine. The only degradation product detected in vapour was 6-acetylmorphine (4.1-7.1%). In the temperature range studied, temperature mainly influenced the volatilisation rate. Mass median aerodynamic diameters of aerosols from diacetylmorphine-containing samples ranged from 1.8-4.1 microm; 45-60% of each sample was recovered as aerosol particles <5 microm. Volatilising pharmaceutical smokable heroin resulted in sufficient amounts of diacetylmorphine in vapour and in particles suitable for effective deposition in the lungs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. apmlk@slz.nl
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Klous
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van den Brink
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Van Ree
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beijnen
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D001682:Biological Availability; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003932:Heroin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009294:Narcotics / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013696:Temperature; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D009294:Narcotics; D002110:Caffeine; D003932:Heroin