Component Analysis of Iranian Crack ; A Newly Abused Narcotic Substance in Iran

Iranian crack is a new form of narcotic substance that has found widespread prevalence inIran in the past years. crack only nominally resembles crack cocaine as it is widely different inits clinical signs. Thus the present study aims to quantify the chemical combination of this drug.The samples included 18 specimen of crack collected from different zones of Tehran, Iran.All specimens were in the form of inodorous cream solid powdery substance. TLC and HPLCmethods were used to perform semi-quantitative and quantitative analysis of the components,respectively.The TLC analysis showed no cocaine compound in the specimens while they all revealed tocontain heroin, codeine, morphine and caffeine. All but two specimens contained thebaine. Noneof the specimens contained amphetamine, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, aspirin,barbiturates, tramadol and buprenorphine. Acetaminophen was found in four specimens. HPLCrevealed heroin to be the foundation substance in all specimens and most of them containeda significant amount of acetylcodeine. The present analysis of the chemical combination ofcrack showed that this substance is a heroin-based narcotic which is basically different fromthe cocaine-based crack used in Western countries. Studies like the present one at differenttime points, especially when abnormal clinical signs are detected, can reveal the chemicalcombination of the target substance and contribute to the clinical management of its acute orchronic poisoning.