Codine and sunlight

[Wizzardly]

Hello.

This is my first post on BL so I hope I'm not doing anything wrong.

I was wondering about the effect that sunlight can have on a codeine solution and codeine in a solid form. I know that UV light can degrade codeine. Does anybody here know how fast UV light breaks down codeine and if any harmful by-products can be produced in this process?

I have looked around the forums and haven't bean able to find anything on this. If there is a thread already discussing this topic a link would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[PsychedelicWizard]

This is a really bizarre question. Nothing harmful is going to be produced from the sun hitting some powder, but as you said, too much heat is going to likely degrade it to the point it no longer gives much effect. That being said the codeine powder is just basically a ground up plant mixed with chemicals and likely can sit in the scorching desert sun for days and be still usable, because the chemical process likely renders it pretty immune from heat damage. However, even I wouldn't leave beef jerky in the sun for days and eat it or nuts, just because it is too unusual for me to attempt, I'd say the same with this.

A simple way to test this would be get some powder, put it in direct sunlight, and after a few hours or days, test it with a testing kit and see if anything shows still. Probably the best way. The main concern would be the binders and junk they put in codeine pills which, if you've ever smelt melting plastic (sure it isn't plastic, but it is close), isn't likely going to taste very good, but I don't think it would harm you, as no toxic chemicals would knowingly be put into a pill.

 

[Wizzardly]

Ok, thanks for the info. I was under the impression that UV light from sunlight and other sources can break down codeine.

 

[PsychedelicWizard]

Ok, thanks for the info. I was under the impression that UV light from sunlight and other sources can break down codeine.

I highly doubt the UV light part is relevant. I think any heat source will cause the chemical composition to be degraded as heat invariably is going to affect each component that makes up the codeine chemical. UV or UW light itself will at best make it an off-color, that is about it, but it is the heat from the sun, this raw energy that might change it.

But again, the only way to really test it is to put some in the sunlight for awhile, then take it and see how you feel, or if you don`t want to experiment like that, get a pill testing kit and see if codeine still shows up, if it doesn`t, the heat did ruin it, otherwise, you can tell the different by measuring the substance before and after, and seeing if it shows up more or less.