Chemical screening for codeine and tramadol in urine of anonymous students attending university sick bays

In this study, anonymous chemical screening of psychoactive substances (codeine and tramadol) was carried out on urine collected from some students in two Nigerian Universities, coded UN۱ and UN۲ for a Federal a State University, respectively. Chloroform was used as the extractant and sodium borate was used to adjust the pH of the urine samples to ۹. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and UV-Visible spectrophotometer was used as the primary separation and quantification methods, respectively. The concentrations of codeine in the urine samples collected from UN۱ sick bay ranged from ۲.۸۲۲ ppm to ۴۴.۷۵۶ ppm, while that of UN۲ ranges from ۰.۲۸۹ ppm to ۴.۴۳۴ ppm. The respective concentrations of tramadol for the institutions are within the range of ۰.۰۱۵ ppm to ۳۴.۸۳۳ ppm and ۰.۱۸۱ ppm to ۳۷.۰۳۰ ppm. There was a statistical difference (p<۰.۰۵) in the use of codeine and tramadol among students attending the selected clinics. It was suggested that the University students be subjected to continuous routine screening and counseling.