A case is made for the acceptance of circular dichroism spectropolarimetry as a method for the direct and quantitative analysis of controlled substances in solid dosage forms of drugs. The method is critically described and results are included for the analysis of codeine, heroin, l-cocaine, and d-lysergic acid diethylamide.

A method of analysis for heroin Is described In which separation of the drug Is not a prerequisite to Its quantitative determination. The normally encountered diluents and adulterants present In confiscated samples do not exhibit the phenomenon of circular dichroism and are noninterfering. Analysis Is uncomplicated, quick, and easily reproducible. Correspondence with determinations which used gas chromatography Is better than 1 %.