Studies on effective atomic numbers for photon energy absorption and electron density of some narcotic drugs in the energy range 1 keV-20 MeV

Effective atomic numbers for photon energy absorption Z_PEA,eff, photon interaction Z_PI,eff and for electron density N_el, have been calculated by a direct method in the photon-energy region from 1 keV to 20 MeV for narcotic drugs, such as Heroin (H), Cocaine (CO), Caffeine (CA), Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabinol (CBD), Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). The Z_PEA,eff, Z_PI,eff and N_el values have been found to change with energy and composition of the narcotic drugs. The energy dependence Z_PEA,eff, Z_PI,eff and N_el is shown graphically. The maximum difference between the values of Z_PEA,eff, and Z_PI,eff occurs at 30 keV and the significant difference of 2 to 33% for the energy region 5-100 keV for all drugs. The reason for these differences is discussed.