A simple and robust capillary electrophoresis chemiluminescence detection system for the determination of morphine, oripavine and pseudomorphine is described, based upon the reaction of these analytes with acidic potassium permanganate in the presence of sodium polyphosphate. The reagent solution was contained in a quartz detection cell which also held both the capillary and the anode. The resultant chemiluminescence was monitored directly using a photomultiplier tube mounted flush against the base of the detection cell. To ensure that no migration of the permanganate anion occurred, the anode was placed at the detector end whilst the electroosmotic flow was reversed by the addition of hexadimethrine bromide (0.001% m/v) to the electrolyte. The three analytes were separated counter to the electroosmotic flow via their interaction with alpha-cyclodextrin. The methodology realised detection limits (3 x S/N) of 2.5 x 10(-7) M for both morphine and oripavine and 5 x 10(-7) M for pseudomorphine. The relative standard deviations of the migration times and the peak heights for the three analytes ranged from 0.6 up to 0.8% and from 1.5 up to 2.1%, respectively.