Application of gas chromatography coupled with isotope mass spectrometry for nitrogen analysis in drug samples

Despite the high complexity of seized heroin samples, isotope ratio mass spectrometric determinations of C-13/C-12 and N-15/M-14 ratios provide relevant informations for the determination of their origin. This paper shows how isotopic determination of carbon and nitrogen from heroin itself and the impurities contained in the selzed samples as well as the measurement of isotope effects occurring during acetylation of morphine and desacetylation of heroin are used as markers of the geographical origin of these drugs of abuse.