Identification of drug abuse

Zlouporaba droga opasna je za zdravlje i život, kako na radnome mjestu tako i u široj zajednici. U razvijenim zemljama naglašava se sve više potreba za provjerom uzimanja droga pojedinaca; uobičajena je provjera prilikom prijave za različita radna mjesta kao i periodička kontrola u određenim zanimanjima. Budući da su posljedica u slučaju svakog pozitivnog nalaza teške i dalekosežne, postoji potreba za razvojem ujednačenih i međunarodno priznatih metoda za identifikaciju zlouporabe droga. Opisan je odabir bioloških uzoraka za analizu najčešće rabljenih droga, glavne karakteristike tih droga te preporučene analitlčke tehnike za njihovo određivanje. Istaknuta je važnost osiguranja kvalitete laboratorija u kojem se analiziraju droge u biološkim uzorcima.Drug abuse poses health and safety hazards, both in the workplace and in the wider community. There is increasing pressure to use urine drug tests to determine the prevalence of drug abuse, to deter illicit use of drugs, and to identify drug abusers for rehabilitation. Drug-abuse testing programs have been implemented for employees, job applicants, policemen, firemen, enlisted personnel of the army, athletes, and workers in occupations that are considered critical to public safety and health, such as those in nuclear power plants and the transportation industry. Since the consequences ot a positive test can be quite severe, there is a need to develop uniform and internationally recognised methods for identifying drug abuse The paper discusses selection ot biological specimens for drug-abuse testing, main characteristics of drugs of abuse and recommended analytical techniques tor their determination. The impoitance of a quality assurance program for drug-testing laboratories is emphasised