{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T07:14:58Z","timestamp":1773040498979,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":69,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,18]],"date-time":"2018-10-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1539820800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Drug Testing and Analysis"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2019,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>The abuse of heroin (diamorphine) and heroin\u2010related deaths are increasing around the world. The interpretation of the toxicological results from suspected heroin\u2010related deaths is notoriously difficult, especially in cases where there may be limited samples. To help forensic practitioners with heroin interpretation, we determined the concentration of morphine (M), morphine\u20103\u2010glucuronide (M3G), and morphine\u20106\u2010glucuronide (M6G) in blood (femoral and cardiac), brain (thalamus), liver (deep right lobe), bone marrow (sternum), skeletal muscle (psoas), and vitreous humor in 44 heroin\u2010related deaths. The presence of 6\u2010monoacetylmorphine (6\u2010MAM) in any of the postmortem samples was used as confirmation of heroin use. Quantitation was carried out using a validated liquid chromatography\u2013tandem mass spectrometry (LC\u2013MS\/MS) method with solid\u2010phase extraction. We also determined the presence of papaverine, noscapine and codeine in the samples, substances often found in illicit heroin and that may help determine illicit heroin use. The results of this study show that vitreous is the best sample to detect 6\u2010MAM (100% of cases), and thus heroin use. The results of the M, M3G, and M6G quantitation in this study allow a degree of interpretation when samples are limited. However in some cases it may not be possible to determine heroin\/morphine use as in four cases in muscle (three cases in bone marrow) no morphine, M3G, or M6G were detected, even though they were detected in other case samples. As always, postmortem cases of suspected morphine\/heroin intoxication should be interpreted with care and with as much case knowledge as possible.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/dta.2492","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,8,30]],"date-time":"2018-08-30T03:54:25Z","timestamp":1535601265000},"page":"292-304","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":26,"title":["Postmortem tissue distribution of morphine and its metabolites in a series of heroin\u2010related deaths"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3801-9658","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Peter D.","family":"Maskell","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science, Engineering and Technology Abertay University  Dundee DD11HG UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nathan E.","family":"Wilson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Dundee  Dundee DD1 4HN UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"L. Nitin","family":"Seetohul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science and Technology Nottingham Trent University  Nottingham UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Megan L.","family":"Crichton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Dundee  Dundee DD1 4HN UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lewis J.","family":"Beer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Dundee  Dundee DD1 4HN UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gail","family":"Drummond","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Dundee  Dundee DD1 4HN UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9715-8626","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giorgia","family":"De Paoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NHS Tayside Ninewells Hospital  Dundee UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_6_2_1","unstructured":"UNODC.World drug report;2017."},{"key":"e_1_2_6_3_1","unstructured":"EMCDDA.European drug report: Trends and developments;2017."},{"key":"e_1_2_6_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jurban\/jtg022"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3109\/03602537508993748"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_6_1","volume-title":"Disposition of toxic drugs and chemicals in man","author":"Baselt RC","year":"2011"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2011.01.043"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_8_1","first-page":"163","article-title":"The nightmare of postmortem drug changes","author":"Pounder DJ","year":"1993","journal-title":"Leg Med"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jms.921"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/33.7.345"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2009.02.011"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0379-0738(02)00414-0"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2006.05.021"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/ac020361s"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jsfa.6044"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1556-4029.2010.01385.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/bky002"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jchromb.2005.05.048"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/28.4.260"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01369670"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1520\/JFS14195J"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0300-9432(74)90010-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/8.5.213"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0379-0738(01)00529-1"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/23.3.168"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1124\/dmd.30.5.488"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/31.8.469"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2011.11.002"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2004.12.017"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/25.6.431"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_31_1","volume-title":"Analytical studies on illicit heroin. Doctoral thesis","author":"Huizer H.","year":"1988"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3109\/14659891.2011.592898"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2042-7158.1992.tb14352.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/bks099"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.329.7467.636"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2165\/00139709-200524010-00004"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.306.6876.473"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3959(92)90065-J"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0024-3205(90)90619-3"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0014-2999(93)90441-J"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0006-2952(97)00086-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1067\/mcp.2000.111934"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2165\/00003088-200140070-00001"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/med.20035"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0024-3205(91)90453-I"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pbb.2006.08.010"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pbb.2008.01.012"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3959(91)90170-3"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/bjc.1992.23"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_6_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3565(25)20832-1","article-title":"Pharmacological characterization of morphine\u20106\u2010beta\u2010glucuronide, a very potent morphine metabolite","volume":"251","author":"Paul D","year":"1989","journal-title":"J Pharmacol Exp Ther"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0379-0738(95)01833-6"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/18.6.317"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/21.5.346"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01369670"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1520\/JFS16084J"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_6_56_1","first-page":"38","article-title":"Distribution of morphine and morphine glucuronides in body tissue and fluids\u2010\u2010postmortem findings in brief survival","volume":"206","author":"Klingmann A","year":"2000","journal-title":"Arch Kriminol"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_57_1","volume-title":"Forensic pathology","author":"DiMaio D","year":"2001"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00000433-199709000-00004"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_59_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1360-0443.1999.9479612.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_60_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2007.03.032"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_61_1","first-page":"A73","article-title":"Use of vitreous humor to predict post\u2010mortem blood morphine concentration","volume":"52","author":"Stephen DW","year":"2006","journal-title":"Clin Chem"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_62_1","unstructured":"GerostamoulosJ DrummerOH Distribution of morphine species in post\u2010mortem tissues. Proceedings of the 1997 international meeting of tiaft padova italy august 24\u201328 1997."},{"key":"e_1_2_6_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2013.01.002"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_64_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11419-015-0294-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_65_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11419-016-0315-z"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_66_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1520\/JFS15417J"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_67_1","volume-title":"Postmortem redistribution: Practical considerations in death investigations","author":"Helper BR","year":"2004"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_68_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/00085030.1995.10757474"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_69_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1520\/JFS14781J"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_70_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/anatox\/35.6.381"}],"container-title":["Drug Testing and Analysis"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.wiley.com\/onlinelibrary\/tdm\/v1\/articles\/10.1002%2Fdta.2492","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/dta.2492","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,13]],"date-time":"2025-10-13T08:39:20Z","timestamp":1760344760000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/dta.2492"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,18]]},"references-count":69,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2019,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/dta.2492"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/dta.2492","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1942-7603","1942-7611"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1942-7603","type":"print"},{"value":"1942-7611","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,10,18]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2018-06-18","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2018-08-20","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2018-10-18","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}