For many years following the Second World War trafficking in cocaine, heroin and methylamphetamine was on a comparatively small scale. However, by the 1970s heroin usage increased to a point where it had became a serious worldwide problem creating concern at high levels in many governments. In 1977 the United Nations International Drug Control Program convened a special meeting of experts to explore ways of ‘profiling’ or geo-locating heroin to aid in determining trafficking routes used to move the drug around the world. The Panel was tasked with developing a concerted research program into the chemical profiling of heroin with the express aim of using chemistry for geo-location. Eventually the scope of the program was expanded to include cocaine because it was a major problem in the United States and was being increasingly seen in European cities. The amphetamine type stimulants, methylamphetamine, amphetamine and 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), were also included and research into profiling techniques for these five major drugs became common. Today many countries have dedicated drug profiling programs employing large staff numbers and using sophisticated analytical technology. Drug profiling, especially the chemistry that underpins it, is an interesting field and will continue to be valuable as long as it remain relevant to the law enforcement community and its attempts to disrupt drug manufacture and trafficking.

中文翻译：

---

非法药物分析：历史视角

在第二次世界大战后的许多年里，可卡因、海洛因和甲基苯丙胺的贩运规模相对较小。然而，到了 1970 年代，海洛因的使用量增加，已成为一个严重的世界性问题，引起了许多政府高层的关注。1977 年，联合国国际药物管制规划署召开了一次专家特别会议，探讨对海洛因进行“剖析”或地理定位的方法，以帮助确定用于在世界各地运输毒品的贩运路线。该小组的任务是制定一项针对海洛因化学分析的协调研究计划，其明确目标是使用化学进行地理定位。最终，该计划的范围扩大到包括可卡因，因为它在美国是一个主要问题，并且在欧洲城市越来越多地出现。苯丙胺类兴奋剂甲基苯丙胺、苯丙胺和 3, 4-亚甲二氧基甲基苯丙胺 (MDMA) 也包括在内，对这五种主要药物的分析技术的研究变得普遍。今天，许多国家都有专门的药物分析计划，雇用大量人员并使用复杂的分析技术。药物分析，尤其是支撑它的化学，是一个有趣的领域，只要它与执法界及其破坏药物制造和贩运的尝试保持相关，它将继续具有价值。今天，许多国家都有专门的药物分析计划，雇用大量人员并使用复杂的分析技术。药物分析，尤其是支撑它的化学，是一个有趣的领域，只要它与执法界及其破坏药物制造和贩运的尝试保持相关，它将继续具有价值。今天，许多国家都有专门的药物分析计划，雇用大量人员并使用复杂的分析技术。药物分析，尤其是支撑它的化学，是一个有趣的领域，只要它与执法界及其破坏药物制造和贩运的尝试保持相关，它将继续具有价值。