Is Vicodin and Heroin both in the same category if tested?

Answer 1

Both Heroin and Vicodin (hydrocodone) metabolize into very similar proportions of the chemicals that are actually tested for in drug tests. The chemical assay that is performed in quick test kits does not actually test the sample for the drug, nor do the more advanced methods laboratories may use. Instead, these methods all test for the metabolite of the drug, which is what your body metabolizes the drug into for elimination from your system via urine or other route. Advanced lab tests can determine the exact amount and ratio of what metabolites are present in your urine. The ratio of metabolites from hydrocodone and Heroin are so close that most people performing the tests either cannot tell the difference, or will chalk it up to acceptable differences in the range of results and ignore it. I used this knowledge to fool my parole officer into believing that I was not using heroin because I had a doctors prescription for Vicodin. This worked well for me for years.

Answer 2

No. First of all, metabolites (internal chemicals the body converts the ingested drug into) are the substances most often tested for in a urine analysis since they stay in the body longer & allow for a longer detection period (I am assuming you are referring to a urine test since this is the least expensive, most commonly used drug test). Heroin, morphine, codeine, & opium are tested for separately, because they all have a common metabolite- morphine. These drugs are included on all drug tests since it is included on the standardized SAMHSA-5 test.

Hydrocodone (the active drug in Vicdon) is converted into a different metabolite--and thus can be distinguished from heroin on drug tests. Although hydrocodone is not tested for on the basic, standard 5-panel drug screen- it is very commonly included on expanded drug tests; along with other opiates/opioids commonly abused such as: oxycodone (Percocet/Oxycontin), methadone, and propoxyphene (Darvocet)--all of which produce unique metabolites to one another (and unique to heroin as well).

Answer 3

Yes, heroin and hydrocodone (Vicodin) are sufficiently different that they can be easily distinguished with appropriate techniques. Even simply immunoassay drug tests can distinguish between these compounds.

For determining whether a drug sample (i.e. powder) contains either of these compounds, a reagent test (which can be purchased online) can give a tentative identification. However, these simple tests are prone to error. Consequently, positive identification is best made by a laboratory using advanced techniques, namely gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.