Journal of Forensic Research

Times of Detection of Drugs of Abuse in Saliva: Study of Arrested Population

Abstract

Amparo Arroyo, Agustí Mora, Marta Sanchez, María Barbal and Mariona Palahi

Aim: Detection of drugs of abuse is interesting in legal procedures. The aims of the study were: 1: Evaluating the detection time of drugs of abuse in saliva in an arrested population, drugs consumers that are taken into judicial custody in a maximum time of 72 hours from their detention. 2- Verifying analytical results with self reported reference of the subjects. Participants: 50 oral fluid samples coming from arrested people that are taken into judicial custody in police officer's courts of the city of Barcelona. The study was carried out in the Laboratory of the Institute of Legal Medicine of Catalonia. The design study was a cross sectional study. Drug tested were: cocaine, amphetamines and related compounds, cannabis and opiates. The time of previous consumption was of 1-3 days. Measurements: The oral fluid samples were analysed by gas- chromatography-mass spectrometry. Findings: Positive results were obtained in 40% of the samples. Cocaine was detected in the 73.9% of positive results to this drug. Cannabis was detected in the 28.5%, Opiates was detected in the 23, 1%. Amphetamines were not detected. Conclusions: It is important to stand out the high rate of cocaine positive results in relation with the time passed and abstinence consumption of 1-3 days. Oral fluid may be a good sample for cocaine detection in drug consumers.