[Dependence producing substances in the practice of the Insitute of Forensic Experts in Krakow].

Different pieces of evidence connected with drug addiction have been used as material for studies carried out at the institute of Forensic Research in Kraków since the end of the sixties. The number of expert's opinions concerning these questions is constantly on the increase. Work done by the institute in this field has led to the creation of a list of dependence producing substances and their substitutes used by addicts, the methods of illicit production, and the ways and usable forms in which they are introduced into the system. The author describes the most popular drugs and their substitutes used in Poland. The number of these substitutes is big. Among them are: different medicines (e.g. Parkopan, Aviomarin) and solvents (toluene), various vegetable raw materials (e.g. Folium Stramonli, Pallocybe semilanceata). At the same time the use of genuine narcotics like morphine derivatives originating from Papaver somniferum and Cannabis sativa products, obtained by unusual methods of domestic production, was observed. The number of cases involving amphetamine and its analogues increased last year. The presence of opium alkaloids (morphine, codeine, papaverine, thebaine and narcotine as well as acetyl derivatives of morphine (heroine, 3-monoacetylmorphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine) and codeine (acetylcodeine) was detected in "kompot" by means of TLC, HPLC and GC/MS methods. The author also presents, from the analyst's point of view, analytical and interpretational problems of drugs of abuse, and regulations connected with drug addiction and with road traffic offences.