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A Tentative Component Analysis of Norjizak: A New Abused Drug in Iran Pubmed



Sadeghi M1 ; Farhoudian A2 ; Vishteh HRK2 ; Rahimzadeh S2 ; Fekri M3 ; Movaghar AR4 ; Sefatian S1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. IRSA Center for Psychology and Addiction Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Research Center for Substance Abuse and Dependence, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Bahar Laboratory of Toxicology, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Iranian Research Center for HIV, AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Published:2015


Abstract

Norjizak is a new drug abused in the past few years in Iran with symptoms and complications distinct from other common forms of drug and characterized by higher rate of mortality. The present study aims to analyze the chemical components of this substance. Five samples were obtained from abusers referring from different areas of Tehran to a treatment clinic. All samples were 2ml vials with yellowish fluid. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was performed first to analyze the samples semi-quantitatively and the quantitative levels of components were then explored using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). TLC revealed steroid (in form of betamethasone), heroin, codeine, morphine and thebaine in all five samples. Four samples contained acetaminophen and two samples contained caffeine. None of them contained amphetamine, benzodiazepine, tricyclic antidepressant, aspirin, barbiturates, tramadol and buprenorphine. HPLC revealed that heroin, codeine, morphine and thebaine constituted the narcotic foundation in all samples. In addition, the heroin to acetylcodeine ratio was significantly lower in three samples, which indicates their higher toxicity. The results of the present study on the chemical components of Norjizak showed that this substance is an opiate one similar to heroin and the heroin-based crack prevalent in Iran which contains betamethasone.