6-Monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM)
Definition
A transient diagnostic metabolite of heroin (diacetylmorphine) formed by the rapid hydrolysis of one acetyl group. Half-life is 6 to 25 minutes in blood. Identification of 6-MAM in any matrix proves heroin exposure and excludes pharmaceutical morphine or codeine as the source.
- Source compound
- Heroin (diacetylmorphine)
- How it forms
- Rapid hydrolysis of one acetyl group from heroin
- Detection meaning
- Proves heroin use, excludes pharmaceutical morphine or codeine
Common questions
Why is 6-MAM important in heroin detection?+
6-MAM is heroin-specific. When someone uses heroin, it metabolizes into 6-MAM first, then morphine. Finding 6-MAM proves heroin use, which distinguishes it from morphine or codeine use from medications or other sources.
How long does 6-MAM stay in the body?+
6-MAM has a very short half-life of 6 to 25 minutes in blood. This means it disappears quickly, so it's only detectable soon after heroin use. This short window makes it a diagnostic marker when found.
Can 6-MAM be found in impure heroin?+
Yes. 6-MAM is present in brown heroin and other impure forms. Its presence confirms heroin exposure regardless of the heroin's purity or grade.
Related terms
- Marquis Reagent
- A presumptive drug test reagent consisting of formaldehyde in concentrated sulphuric acid, first described by Edmund Marquis in 1896. It produces characteristic...
- 4-Anilinopiperidine Scaffold
- The structural core conserved across fentanyl and its analogues: a piperidine ring bearing an anilide group at the 4-position. Clandestine variation at...
- Alkaloid Ratio Profiling
- A source-attribution technique using the morphine:codeine:papaverine:noscapine ratio in heroin seizures to infer the geographic origin of the opium feedstock, reflecting the chemotype...
- Benzoylecgonine
- Major urinary metabolite of cocaine. Detected by immunoassay screen and LC-MS-MS confirmation; window of detection 2 to 4 days for occasional use.
- Benzoylecgonine (BE)
- The major hydrolysis metabolite of cocaine, formed by carboxylesterase action on the methyl ester of cocaine. Half-life is around 6 hours in...
- Carfentanil
- A fentanyl analogue with a 4-carbomethoxy substituent on the piperidine ring; approximately 10,000 times the analgesic potency of morphine. Implicated in the...
- Diacetylmorphine
- The IUPAC name for heroin; the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine, produced by acetylation with acetic anhydride. More lipophilic than morphine, crosses the...
- Dose Heterogeneity
- The variation in active ingredient content between nominally identical tablets in a counterfeit or clandestinely pressed batch. High dose heterogeneity in illicit...
- Duquenois-Levine Test
- A three-reagent presumptive test for cannabinoids: vanillin + acetaldehyde in ethanol (Reagent 1), concentrated hydrochloric acid (Reagent 2), and chloroform partition (Reagent...
- MRM (Multiple Reaction Monitoring)
- A targeted MS/MS scan mode on a triple quadrupole that monitors specific precursor-to-product ion transitions, with two transitions per analyte (quantifier and...
- Narcotic (NDPS Sense)
- In Indian law (NDPS Act 1985, Section 2(xiv)), a substance listed in the narcotic schedule. Includes natural and semi-synthetic opiates, fully synthetic...
- NDPS Commercial Quantity
- Threshold under the NDPS Act 1985 above which the offence attracts 10 to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and a Section 37 bail...
Explained in these topics
- Drug Metabolism, Distribution and Metabolite IdentificationA transient diagnostic metabolite of heroin (diacetylmorphine) formed by the rapid hydrolysis of one acetyl group. Half-life is 6 to 25 minutes in blood. Ident...
- Opioids: Heroin, Fentanyl Analogues and Prescription DiversionsA unique metabolite of heroin, formed by deacetylation of the 3-position acetyl group. Its presence in biological specimens confirms heroin (not morphine or co...
- Stimulants, Narcotics and Opiates: Forensic ToxicologyHeroin-specific urinary metabolite. Heroin (diacetylmorphine) deacetylates first to 6-MAM, then to morphine. Detection of 6-MAM proves heroin use, not codeine...