Original Article JK-PRACTITIONER

THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY (TLC) IN DETECTION OF CURRENT

NATURE OF DRUG ABUSE IN KASHMIR.

Mushtaq.A.Margoob MD; AB Majid MBBS; Dhuha M BSC; Imtiaz Murtaza PhD; Zaffar Abbas
MD; Masood Tanveer MD;Zaid A Wani MBBS ;Arshid Husain MD;Mudasir Ahmad MBBS; Irfan
Jehangeer MBBS; Huda M BSC; Ishfaq Ahmad MSC.

ABSTRACT
Use of thin layer chromatography as a broad-spectrum screen for detection of drugs of abuse, as
a part of this recent,larg-scale,well-designed drug abuse epidemiological study supported by the
department of Science and Technology has been extremely helpful in quick diagnosis and rapid
detoxification of those 61.91%of suspected substance abusers who had denied history of any
drug use or abuse at first contact with the investigating team.

JK - Practitioner 2004; 11(4):257-260

Authors’ affiliations:
Mushtaq.A.Margoob; Abdul
Majid; Zaid.A.Wani; Arshid
Husain; Mudaser Ahmed;
Ishfaq Ahmad; Irfan
Jehangeer
Department Of Psychiatry
Govt Medical College Srg.
Zaffar Abbas.
Department of Pharmacology
GMC Srg.
Masood Tanveer.
Department of Medicine GMC
Srg.
Imtiaz Murtaza
Department of Biochemistry
SKUAST-K Srg.
Dhuha M.
Department of Biotechnology
Kashmir University.
Huda M.
Department of psychology
Kashmir University.
Accepted for publication:
September 2004
Correspondence to:
Dr. Mushtaq. A. Margoob
Associate Professor
Deptt. of Psychiatry
e-mail:mushtaqmargoob@yahoo.com
INTRODUCTION
Psychoactive substance use
and abuse is globally perceived as one
of the alarming public health problems.
No effective treatment and prevention
related policy issues can be arrived at
without adequate information regarding
the nature and distribution of drug abuse
in population and their causative factors
.Widespread data in drug abuse is lacking
and it is difficult to make generalizations
because of regional variations1.
The geographical location of
Jammu and Kashmir makes transit of
drugs possible across the state. Present
prevailing disturbed conditions have
worsened drug abuse scenario besides
phenomenal increase in other psychiatric
disorders in Kashmir 2,3 . Opiate
preparations including heroine abuse has
become the most serious problem in
Kashmir over the past few years. Last
year cases using cocaine which would
cost the addict about 2000-2500 rupees
per day were also detected 5. Media
reports about large scale cultivation of
cannabis(charas) in southern Kashmir
and seizes of large quantities of opioids
mostly heroin in northern border areas
like Handwara are alarmingly increasing6,7.
Unauthorised large scale brewing and
sale outlets of alcohol are becoming a
common sight in the city of Srinagar and
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
adjoining areas 8,9. All these indicators
characterizing the situation clearly reflect
it as deteriorating fast .In comparison to
9.5% use of opioid based preparations
during 1980 it had increased to
73.1%during 20026 and is worst now.
Despite such high incidence of
substance abuse it is often misdiagnosed
as drug abusers frequently deny or
minimize their problems .The laboratory
facilities help in making correct diagnosis
by identifying a compound directly
responsible for development of
symptoms, thus immensely helping in
proper treatment. Testing for presence or
absence of drugs of abuse in body fluids
also helps to monitor improvement of
patients in treatment. Thin layer
chromatography (TLC) has been used as
a broad spectrum screen for detection of
drug abuse. TLC results are only
qualitative and cannot be quantified.12
The aim of this study therefore was
to assess the results of use of modern
scientific procedures for the first time in
Kashmir for identifying different drugs
and drug combinations in biological
specimens of drug addicts identified
through a meticulously planned
community research endeavor.
MATERIALAND METHODS:
The detection of narcotic and
psychotropic substances in body fluids
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Key words: Drug abuse, nature, detoxification, chromatography.

257 Vol. 11, No. 4, October-December 2004


of substance abusers was carried out at the thin layer
chromatography laboratory established at the hospital for
psychiatric diseases Srinagar by the first author (MAM)as
the principal investigator of the research project titled"
community survey on substance related disorders( drug
abuse) in Kashmir" assisted by the department of science
and technology. More than 200 biological specimens have
been analyzed by means of TLC so far during the year 2003-
2004.
Methodology of TLC as a screen for detection of
drugs of abuse is most inexpensive and does not require any
sophisticated instrumentation. TLC results are qualitative and
can not be quantified; therefore it gives positive or negative
results. The major drawback of TLC is it's low sensitivity and
low specificity, thus negative results of TLC are not always
negative by other methods. TLC relies on a reproducible
migration pattern by drug of a thin layer adsorbent (eg: silica
JK-PRACTITIONER
gel coated glass plates).Characterization of a particular drug
is achieved by color reaction produced by spraying the plate
with coloring reagents. To accomplish this, the patient's sample
is spotted along with known drugs on a TLC plate, which is
put in a solvent chamber. The solvent runs up the plate, it is
dried and sprayed with various reagents. The color spots of
various known drugs are then compared with sample from
unknown patients. The spot location is located by an R f
(retention factor ) number which is the ratio of distance traveled
by the solvent from the original, where the sample was spotted.
The spots on TLC plate can be visualized by
ultraviolet or florescent light also. In our study we have been
using the ultraviolet method for detection of the spots.
Retention factor (Rf) = distance traveled by the drug/
distance traveled by the solvent
The Rf provides corroborative evidence as to
identify the compound.

Table 1
Socio-demographic variables

Age No. % Sec No. % R/U No. % Smo/N-smo No. %

16-25 60 35.71 Males 164 97.62 Urban 124 71.43 Smokers 156 92.85

26-35 84 50.0 Females 4 2.38 Rural 48 28.57 Non-smokers 12 7.15

36-45 20 11.91

46-55 4 2.38

Marital status No. % Social status No. % Occupation No. %

Unmarried 80 47.62 Upperclass 4 2.38 Students 24 14.29

Unmarried 84 50.0 Uppermiddleclass 20 11.90 Employed 72 42.56

Divorced 4 2.38 Lower middle class 124 73.82 Unemployed 28 16.66

Lower class 20 11.90 Labourers 8 4.76

businessman 36 21.43

Family status No. % Education No. % Onset age of No. %

drug use

Nuclear 60 35.72 Graduates 12 7.15 11-15 16 9.52

Joint 104 61.90 Under graduates 64 38.09 16-20 52 30.99

Single 4 2.38 Upto matric 28 16.66 21-25 40 23.89

Below matric 28 16.66 26-30 36 21.42

Illiterates 36 21.43 31-35 16 9.52

36-40 4 2.38

40-45 4 2.38

Vol. 11, No. 4, October-December 2004 258

 JK-PRACTITIONER
Table 2
Nature of substance abused

Type of drug abused Number Percentage

Opoids other than heroin 44 26.91
Opoids+bzp 32 19.05
Opoids+cannabis 12 7.15
bzd 4 2.38
opoids+bzp+cannabis 8 4.75
opoids+alcohol+cannabis 4 2.38
cannabis+alcohol 8 4.75
cannabis+heroin+alcohol 8 4.75
cannabis+alcohol+codeine 4 2.38
alcohol 12 7.15
alcohol+opoids 4 2.38
heroine 12 7.15
alcohol+heroine 8 4.73
alcohol+heroine+analgesic 4 2.38
alcohl+codeine+cannabis 1 2.38

agencies, NGO's at community and individual level need to

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Drugs that were found in drug abusers biological
fluids are shown in the table 1.The most commonly used
individual drug at present in Kashmir, by those drug abusers
who usually deny use of any psychoactive substance at first
contact, include opioids, cannabinoids, benzodiazepines
and alcohol. The findings of this study are quite alarming. As
already reported few months back in the study of patient
sample of 2002, the profile of substance abusers has changed
with fast increasing percentage of harder substance abusers,
mostly opioid6.
But what is more disturbing as revealed by the
present study is that within a short span of two years not
only has multiple drug use doubled but alcohol use which
was almost nonexistent earlier has shot up to about 30% .
Our earlier studies carried out to asses the out come of
treatment provided to the recovering drug addicts at the non-
governmental de-addiction centers with regard to the
parameters like drug free status, employment status, adequacy
of social functioning, the state of health in illegal activities,
showed that the over all treatment results and the prognosis
of drug abusers treated at NGO's de-addiction centers which
are exclusively meant for drug abusers with better staff client
ratio and much better chances of mutual understanding and
joint effort s towards the common goal of total drug free status
as compared to the drug abusers who enter a general
psychiatric disease hospital based treatment program13 ,14.
However the present research and developmental activity
through this project has proved a major mile stone in the
direction of developing and modernizing detoxification and
rehabilitative facilities in such hospital . As pointed out in an
earlier study, joint efforts by all concerned government
be mobilized at the earliest at least to contain this menace.
Preventive measures including efforts to minimize delay and
prevent people from being drug users would be helpful. Due
to different conceptual models of treatment of people,
involved in treating drug dependents , a well-planed strategy
and co-coordinated efforts is required. Treatment in OPD,
community clinic and general medical setting is cost effective
and possible as well.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Thanks are due to the Department of Science and Technology
Ministry of science and Technology Government of India for
supporting this research work
Thanks are also due to Dr Anil Malhotra Additional Professor
Drug De- addiction Centre PGI Chandigarh, Dr.Guru Raj
Prof.and Head Department of Epidemiology, NIMANS
Bangalore and Mr.Altaf Ahmed, M phil, Additional director
Department of Science and Technology Government of Jammu
and Kashmir for their readily available help from time to time
during the research.
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259 Vol. 11, No. 4, October-December 2004


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Vol. 11, No. 4, October-December 2004
JK-PRACTITIONER
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