The increasing abuse of illicit drugs such as narcotics and stimulants has become a widespread social problem internationally. To stamp out such drug abuse, the supply of illicit drugs must be eradicated, and inspecting for drugs plays a key role in attaining this eradication goal. Responding to these social demands, Hitachi, Ltd. has developed a drugtrace detection system that provides convenient inspection with high reliability and high sensitivity. As a detection device, it applies a unique mass-spectroscopy technology that offers high reliability and sensitivity. Utilizing a method called APCI (atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization) — which applies corona discharge to ionize chemical substances in air — it eliminates the use of radioactive or poisonous substances often needed in conventional chemical-detection methods; it therefore provides safer and easier detection. It has been confirmed that the system can be applied to detection of many kinds of drugs; thus, it is expected to be a powerful weapon for interrupting the drug supply.
drug, narcotics, stimulant, detector, mass spectroscopy, ion trap mass spectrometer, law enforcement
