Simonsen K.W.^*, Kaa E.^**, Nielsen E.^***

University Institute of Forensic Medicine, DK-5000 Odense^*, DK-8240 Aarhus^**, DK-2100 Copenhagen^***, Denmark

In light of insufficient knowledge of street drugs in Denmark, the Danish National Health Service introduced a pilot investigation of drugs for illicit sale on the street. The investigation started on January 1, 1995 and is continuing in 1997. The investigation is performed as a collaboration of the three Institutes of Forensic Medicine (Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense) and Police in six selected districts.
The aim of the examination is to gain insight into the supply of illicit drugs in different parts of Denmark with a special view to type, purity and price.
In 1995 the Police seized 203 samples, namely heroin base: 108, heroin hydrochloride: 43, amphetamine sulphates: 32, cocaine hydrochloride: 18 and cocaine base (crack): 1. One sample did not contain a euphoriant but was a drug prescribed for headaches (Koffipyrin^®). The mean purities were: heroin base: 36%; heroin hydrochloride: 75%; amphetamine sulphate: 39%; cocaine hydrochloride: 73% and cocaine base: 65%. The prices were only available for 36 samples. The mean price per gram were $ 392 for heroin base (n=18), $ 388 for heroin hydrochloride (n=4) and $ 54 for amphetamine sulphate (n=7).
Compared with an earlier investigation in 1988, the occurence of heroin base was increased as 75% of the heroin samples in 1995 were heroin base compared to 50% in 1988. There was a small increase in mean heroin base purity from 29% in 1988 to 36% in 1995. A sharp increase in the mean heroin hydrochloride purity from 45% in 1988 to 75% in 1995 was observed. The purity of the amphetamine samples were unchanged.