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Diane Dimond · May 11, 2017, 02:51 PM

... if a lab tested 6 Tramadol pills would the test come back as positive for Morphine?

Reason: A friend of mine is in prison. This person receives Tramdol for pain. This person popped a pill of Tramadol in his/her mouth and after walking away from the medication window pocketed the pill so he/she could take it later, at bedtime when pain is at its worst. This person did that six times. After a cell search guards found six partially dissolved Tramadol pills in the cell. Now, the prison is claiming that they didn't know what the pills were but that a lab test shows it was positive for morphine.

Is this possible? We know Tramadol is a synthetic opioid and in New York Tramadol is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. We also know ingesting Tramadol does NOT result in a dirty urine test because it metabolizes in one's system.

Again, my question is about testing pure pills. Thank you in advance.

tickle · May 11, 2017, 06:17 PM

Your question is best asked from a pharmacist. Sorry, we are not equipped to determine this.

Fr_Chuck · May 11, 2017, 06:53 PM

Does not matter, the prison will not be doing criminal charges normally and just doing discipline inside, it is not like they have rights and any ability to challenge. Just having those pills, is a serious violation, morphine or just the pills they had, it would make no difference in prison punishment they were given.

joypulv · May 12, 2017, 03:53 AM

Below is morphine structure, C17H19NO3

Most synthetic opioids are similar to morphine.
They are close enough that some labs might classify them together. I imagine that prisons use the cheapest ones.
Print these out and show them to a chemistry teacher or a pharmacist, if either has the time to explain.

talaniman · May 12, 2017, 06:01 AM

Now, the prison is claiming that they didn't know what the pills were but that a lab test shows it was positive for morphine.

Is this possible?

Anything is possible in a prison lab if indeed they have a lab, and not just a rapid test kit like the cops use. That's as logical as a prisoner who needs pain med at night being able to accumulate 6 pills. That indicates no meds for almost a week.

And while a prison may exaggerate their test results, no doubt so will the inmates caught up in doing the wrong thing (hiding meds?). Tramadol shows up as Tramadol or one of it's derivatives. Could your boyfriend have something other than just tramadol among the 6 pills they found?

Of course he could! Depending on the dosages tramadol can be as strong as morphine. They can be used both separately and together.