Abstract: The paper compared the characteristics of the hair samples from heroin and methamphetamine-abusers based on the distribution characteristics of the two categories of drugs and their metabolists in hair. Analytes from heroin abuser′s hair were collected in methanol by ultrasonication followed by liquid extraction at desirable pH. The methanol was evaporated to dryness and the residue was derivatized and detected by GC/MS. Hair from methamphetamine users was digested under alkali condition followed directly by small volume extraction in the solution. The analytes was derivatized in the extracted solution and detected by GC/MS. Two methods were validated by spiking standards in blank hair. The results show that the detection limits are 3 μg/g hair for 3 opioids (morphine, codeine and 6-monoacetyl morphine) with RSD of 2.5%~9.6%(n=5) and 0.05 μg/g hair for 4 amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) with RSD of 5%~14%(n=5), respectively.

Key words: drug abuse, hair analysis, heroin, methamphetamine