These assays are particularly suited to basic studies on the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of drugs of abuse. Forensic toxicology, which sometimes requires the highly sensitive and specific sample analysis provided by GC/MS, is another important area of application. Even when an alternate method such as immunoassay is available for such analyses, GC/MS is often the only means of providing a confirmation assay. The sensitivity and specificity of GC/MS are especially critical to studies on the impact of drugs on traffic safety. In addition, demand for legislation relating to drugs and highway safety is increasing, and enforcement of such laws will necessitate appropriate sample assays. The unique characteristics of the GC/MS analytical method make it the only means of determining drug levels under certain circumstances. The inherent complexity of the technique, however, often dissuades investigators from embarking on studies that involve its use. At a time when basic questions underlying drug abuse call for increasingly sophisticated methods of data acquisition, this monograph should provide the information needed to make one of these procedures easier to establish and to encourage new areas of research.
 

Marvin Snyder, Ph. D. Director,
Division of Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse