Citation

Bogusz MJ, Fruchtnicht WAB, Maier RD. Blutalkohol 1999; 36(5): 276-283.

Affiliation

Institut fur Rechtsmedizin, D-52057 Aachen, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) is an active metabolite of morphine and indirectly of heroin. The purpose of this study was to check, whether the determination of (M6G) simultaneously with morphine may bring some additional information, enabling better correlation between the analytical and clinical data among opiate-positive road traffic offenders. In the files of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Aachen in the period of 1997/1998, morphine-positive blood samples from 62 persons were found. In each of these samples full toxicological analysis (including M6G determination) was performed. This material was divided into two groups: - 22 car drivers, who committed various road traffic offenses - 40 persons, who committed other offenses (mainly theft or burglary). In 10 blood samples taken from traffic offenders and in 11 blood samples from other offenders the concentration of free morphine exceeded the value of 20 ng/ml. This value is recommended in Germany as a threshold value indicating morphine intake and impairment. In each blood sample M6G was found in blood, in addition to morphine. A 'total active morphine' equivalent (the sum of morphine and molar equivalent of morphine from M6G) was calculated and in 6 additional blood samples from road traffic offenders and in 15 samples from other offenders the 'total active morphine' exceeded the value of 20 ng/ml. No correlation was found between the documented clinical symptoms of impairment and concentrations of morphine and M6G. Beside morphine, in the majority of blood samples (77 % of drivers and 90 % of other offenders) other psychoactive drugs were found (other opiates, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, ethyl alcohol). Also, the time elapsing between the event and blood sampling or between the reported drug intake and the event showed very large variability. Therefore, the lack of correlation between the clinical symptoms of impairment and analytical results for one isolated drug is fully understandable. The results of the study support the request for the 'zero-tolerance law', as in section 24 a of the Road Traffic Act in Germany.