Go ask Alice
When she is
10 feet tall!
Drugs
(toxicology)

Drug - a natural or synthetic substance that
is used to produce physiological or
psychological effects in humans or other
animals
◦ Drug abuse is epidemic in proportions
◦ Accounts for >75% of evidence currently being
evaluated in crime labs

Psychological dependence (need it mentally): “the
conditional use of drug caused by underlying
emotional needs”
◦ Intensity of dependence depends on drug used
 High dependence: alcohol, heroin, amphetamines,
barbiturates, cocaine
 Lower dependence: marijuana, codeine

Physical dependence (need it physically):
“physiological need for a drug that has been
brought about by its regular use. Characterized by withdrawal sickness when
administration of the drug is abruptly stopped.”






Narcotics - relief from pain and causes
sleep (now generally means a socially
unacceptable drug)
Hallucinogens - alter normal thoughts,
perceptions and moods
Depressants - depress functions of central
nervous system, cause calm and bring about
sleepiness
Stimulants - increase alertness and activity
Steroids - promote muscle growth
Inhalants - breathable substances that
produce mind-altering results and effects


Provides relief from pain and produces
sleep
Repeated, prolonged use will result in
physiological dependence
Source: opium from poppy plant pod
 Morphine content ranging from 14%-21%
 Heroin – morphine derivative
Narcotics
 Analgesic - relieve pain by depressing central
nervous system
 (opium, morphine, heroin, codeine, opiates).
 Cocaine (stimulant), Marijuana (hallucinogen),
etc are NOT classified as narcotics even though
they are frequently called that.
 Most narcotics are opium derived.
 Opium from Poppy plants (sap is
4- 21% opium).
Opium Poppy


Synthetically prepared
Similar effects as
opium derivatives
 Oxycontin
 Methadone – taken with
heroin or morphine, highs
CH3
N
Acetic anhydride
Morphine
HO





Water Soluble: easy IV use
Rapid onset but short term
(2-3 hrs) effects
Field test uses reagent
called marquis: purple
color indicates positive test
Chemical derivative of
morphine
Usually street drug 20-30%
pure
CH3
N
O
OH
H 3C
CH3
O
O
O
O
O
Heroin
Heroin Packages
Black Tar Heroin
Heroin Powder

Drugs that cause marked changes in
normal thought processes, perceptions
and moods (ex Marijuana, PCP, LSD, mescaline,
MDMA, ecstasy).
Marijuana
• slang terms vary from one part of the country
to another
• Older terms: pot, herb, grass, weed, Mary
Jane, and reefer
• Newer terms: Aunt Mary, skunk, boom,
gangster, kif, or ganja
• Prior to 1970, classified as a
narcotic drug
• Mind altering
• Hashish is the concentrated
preparation
• Active ingredient is
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Can tentatively be identified by the
Duquenois-Levine color test
• NOT synthesized from Canniabis
sativa



THC is readily absorbed by fatty tissues in
various organs
Generally, traces of THC can be detected by
standard urine testing methods several days
after a smoking session
In heavy, chronic users, traces can
sometimes be detected for weeks after they
have stopped using marijuana
Other Hallucinogens
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
Some common street Names:
Angel Dust, Wack, Embalming
Fluid
• Mescaline (Mesc)
• Psilocybin
Some common street Names:
Shrooms, Magic Mushrooms
• LSD
Some common street Names:
Acid, Yellow Sunshines, Trips
• Ecstacy



From lysergic acid, derived from ergot
fungus that attacks certain grasses and
grains
Very potent; little needed to cause vivid
visuals hallucinations that can last for 12
hours
Produces marked changes in mood –
anxiety and tension
PCP



Easily synthesized
Mixed with LSD or amphetamines and
sold as “angel dust”
Effects:
 Feelings of strength, vulnerability and a
dreamy sense of detachment
 Unresponsive, confused & agitated
 Irritability, isolation, hallucinations and
paranoia
Depressants
• alcohol, barbituates, tranquilizers
 Create a relaxed feeling of well-being, produces
sleep
 Usually taken orally
 Depresses central nervous system
 Major problems: chemical exposure causes
permanent liver, kidney, heart and brain damage




Continued use may lead to physical dependency
No. 1 Abused drug in U.S. with more related deaths
per year than any other
The degree to which the CNS function is impaired is
directly proportional to the concentration of alcohol
in the blood
“Hangover” Causes: effects of ethanol:
 alcohol upsets your body's water balance. Causes
“dry mouth” and thirst.
 When alcohol is metabolized, it causes your blood
to become more acidic than normal (this is called
acidosis). Causes nausea and sweating.
 Alcohol alters the normal daily rhythm of certain
body functions (lose about 6 hours).
Nothing you can do
will speed the process
of alcohol elimination
...not exercising,
vomiting, nor drinking
30 glasses of espresso
Alcohol Effects


Mild Intoxication (BAC = 0.050 %w/v) - Feeling of warmth, skin
flushed, impaired judgment, decreased inhibitions.
Obvious Intoxication in most people (BAC = 0.100 %w/v) Increased impaired judgment, inhibition, attention, slowed reflexes.

Obvious Intoxication in all "normal" people (BAC = 0.150 %w/v)
- General lack of muscle coordination, slurred speech, double
vision, memory and comprehension loss.

Extreme intoxication (BAC = 0.250 %w/v) - Reduced
responsiveness, inability to stand, vomiting, incontinence,
sleepiness.

Coma occurs around 0.350 %w/v and death is likely at 0.500
%w/v.
% w/v is g per 100 mL
Legal Aspects

Schmerber v. California (1966)
◦ Pled 5th Amendment (not to self-incriminate).
◦ Supreme court ruled against him, stating the 5th Amendment
protects testimonial evidence not physical evidence - therefore, he
had to give his blood for testing.
◦ Also ruled against Schmerber on Search and seizure stating that
blood sampling is an “emergency” procedure since by the time a
search warrant was obtained the BAC would have dropped
(destruction of evidence)
◦ Sample must be taken in a medically acceptable way without
unreasonable force and related to an accident or arrest.
◦ Federal Law - driving on road gives “implied
consent” for testing (either take test or lose
license).




“Downers”
Derivatives of barbituric acid (not natural)
Impaired motor control, dizziness, and slower breathing and
heart rate
Barbiturates are medications used for
treating headaches, insomnia, andseizures.
Slang terms:
• Usually stem from color of
capsule or tablet:
Yellow jackets
Blue devils
Reds



Considered depressants, but do not impair
higher level thinking skills
Used to reduce anxiety in patients
Mild tranquilizers are prescribed to deal
with everyday tensions





Increase alertness and activity
“uppers” or “speed”
Synthetic drugs that stimulate the CNS
Can be taken by injection, ingestion or inhalation
Once a stimulant wears off, severe depression
usually sets in, requiring more stimulant (speed
binge)
 Cocaine
 Amphetamines
 Methamhetamine





Amphetamines are not the exact same drug as
methamphetamine. They have similar effects but
amphetamines can be prescribed by a medical doctor.
Highly addictive
Used to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit disorder with
hyperactivity ADHD (ex. Adderall)
Full-time college students are twice as likely to abuse
Adderall than their peers who aren’t in college
Nearly 90% of college students who abuse Adderall also
report binge drinking, and over 50% were regular heavy
alcohol users






Primary route: injection
◦ Looking for more intense experience
Prolonged speed binges result in sleeping for a
couple of days followed by severe depression
following the high
Smokeable form known as “ice”
Produces effects similar to crack cocaine, but last
longer
Chronic users exhibit violent destructive behavior
and acute psychosis like paranoid schizophrenia
Repeated use results in
psychological dependency
Rapid Speech
Ears Ringing
Problems Voiding Body Waste
Passing Out
Heart Races Irregular
Rapid Jaw Movement
Translucent Skin
Misses Work Frequently
Equilibrium Problems
Poor Bathing Habits
Brittle Hair
Impaired Judgment
Blurred Vision
Dizziness
Euphoria / Dreamlike Stage
Nose Flesh Eaten
Menstrual Cycle Stops
Loss of Fetus
Paranoia / Phobic Disorders
Fighting
Dehydration Kidney Problems
Biting Finger Nails
Can't Sleep, Days & Weeks
Can't Eat, Days & Weeks
Can't Drink, Days & Weeks
Picking at Skin / Bloody Scabs
Rapid Weight Loss
Spending Tons of Money
Extreme Sex Drive / No Sex drive
Nightmares / Hallucinations
Pushes Away Friends & Family / Lives in
Seclusion
Slurred Speech / Rapid Speech
False Sense of Motivation
Morals & Values Diminish
Obsessive Lying
Panic Attacks / Aggression
Extreme Fatigue / Increased Alertness
Gazing / Blank Stare
Enamel on Teeth Rot
Respiratory Disorders
Dizziness
Tooth Grinding
Dry or Itchy skin
Acne / Sores
Numbness
Extreme Sweating
Chest pain
Hypertension / Elevated Blood Pressure
Accelerated Heartbeat
Damage to Blood Vessels
Extreme Nervousness, Anxiety, Irritability
Dilated Pupils
Seizures, Strokes
Nose Bleeds, Runny Nose, Sniffing
Excessively.




Derived from leaves of erythroxylon coca plantt
Originally used as a local painkiller or anesthetic
Powerful stimulate of the CNS
Sniffed or snorted and absorbed into body through mucus
membranes of the nose
• Chronic use/ high doses have toxic effects
Cause: Cardiac arrests
Seizures
Respiratory arrests
• Experiments have shown cocaine causes the
strongest psychological dependency


Cocaine processed with baking
powder (sodium bicarbonate) is
"crack", a smokable version of
cocaine with a shorter but more
intense hit
It's called 'crack' after the sound
it makes when you light it. It can
quickly induce a psychological
dependency.

In the 1990s, inhalants were the 2nd most
commonly-used illicit drug among 12- 17 year
olds (Brouette & Anton, 2001)
3 groups of Inhalants:
◦
◦
◦



Solvents
Anesthetics
Nitrites
Inhaled, either directly or by
pouring/spraying into a bag or onto a cloth
Results in temporary loss of motor control
and a "dissociative" psychological effect,
where sensations and perceptions become
disconnected
Myelin around nerve cells is broken down
and ultimately nerve cells can not transmit
messages to one another.
‣ Can cause Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome
Club Drugs/Date Rape Drugs


Synthetic drugs used at nightclubs, bars and
raves
Tablets easily hidden in Pez dispensers
Include:




MDMA (Ecstacy)
GHB (gamma hyroxybutyrate)
Rohypnol (Roofies)
Ketamine
“Club” Drugs
Flunitrazepam
(Rohypnol)
Ketamine
MDMA (Ecstacy)
GHB
◦ GHB (depressant)
 Effects: Dizziness, sedation, headache, nausea
 Recreational users feel euphoric, relaxed, a loss of inhibitions
and increased libido
 Effects can be felt within 15 minutes after ingestion.
 Mixed with alcohol, GHB can cause the central nervous system
to shut down, lead to loss of consciousness, and possibly
result in a coma or death
◦ Rohypnol (depressant)
 Effects: Muscle relaxation, loss of consciousness, and inability
to remember what happened hours after ingestion of the drug
 Effects begin within 30 minutes, peak within 2 hours, and may
persist for up to 8 hours or more, depending upon the dosage

Street Names: Roofies, Rophies, Roche, Forget-me Pill, Circles
Manufacturer recently reformulated the drug to make it more
detectable.
 When put in a light-colored drink, new Rohypnol will turn the
beverage bright blue.
 Consumers of darker-colored beverages should be tipped off
by a cloudy appearance.
Ecstacy (Molly)
(hallucinogen/stimulant)
• Most popular drug at club scenes
• Causes psychological difficulties,
including confusion, depression,
sleep problems, drug craving,
severe anxiety
• Decreases inhibitions



MDMA
(3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine)
Ecstasy comes in a tablet that is often branded, some are
shown below:
Proponents claim risks associated with Ecstasy can be
minimized by drinking lots of water.
Ketamine




Veterinarian Medicine
(an animal anesthetic)
Common street names: Cat Tranquilizer, Cat Valium, Jet K,
Kit Kat, Purple, Special K
Causes the person to feel as if their mind
is “separated” from the body
Causes feeling of unreality in humans
Ketamine Powder




Synthetic compounds chemically related to
testosterone
Accelerates muscle growth without
development of secondary sex characteristics
Most common used in athletics
Usually taken by individuals unfamiliar with
harmful side effects






Liver cancer & liver malfunctions
Masculinizing effects on females
Infertility
Diminished sex drive in males
Premature halting of bone growth
in teenagers
Unpredictable effects on mood &
personality resulting in
unprovoked acts of anger &
destructive behavior


Medical and legal classifications of drugs are not
the same
Severity of penalties may depend on:
◦ Amount (weight) of drug
◦ Concentration of drug in mixture
Controlled Substances Act (1970)
 5 schedules of classification
 Classification based on:
1) Drug’s potential for abuse
2) Physical & psychological dependence (how addictive
are they)
3) Medical value
Schedule I
• Substance has a high potential for abuse
• Substance currently has no accepted medical use
in the US
• There is a lack of accepted safety for use under
medical supervision
• Include: Heroin, LSD, Marijuana, MDMA
Schedule II
• Substance has a high potential for abuse
• Substance currently has an accepted medical use
in treatment in the U.S. with severe restrictions
• Abuse of the substance may lead to severe
psychological or physical dependence
• Include: Morphine, PCP, cocaine, methadone,
methamphetamine, adderall
Schedule III
• Substance has a potential for abuse less than those
in Schedules I and II
• Currently has an accepted medical use in treatment
in the U.S.
• Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical
dependence or high psychological dependence
• Include: Anabolic steroids, codeine, hydrocodone
with aspirin or Tylenol
Schedule IV
• The substance has a low potential for abuse
relative to those in Schedule III
• Currently has an accepted medical use in
treatment in the U.S.
• Abuse may lead to limited physical
dependence or psychological dependence
relative to those in Schedule III
• Include: Librium, Xanax, Valium (tranquilizers)
Schedule V
• The substance has low potential for abuse relative
those in Schedule IV
• Currently has an accepted medical use in treatment
in the U.S.
• Abuse may lead to limited physical or
psychological dependence relative to those
substances in Schedule IV
• Include: Over-the-counter cough medicines with
codeine
Two general categories:
1. Corrosive Poison
ex. acids or bases
2. Metabolic poisons: act on biochemical
process
ex. carbon monoxide, cyanide, heavy
metals (lead, mercury, arsenic)



Analysis must leave no room for error
A step by step procedure must be in place
for determining the identity of the drug
2 phases:
◦ Screening tests –reduce the possible identities of
the drug to a reasonable number
◦ Confirmation tests – narrow down the possible
identities to a single one

Tests include: color, microcrystalline,
chromatography, spectrophotometry and
mass spectrometry



Specific colors are seen when in contact with
specific chemical reagents
Provide an indicator of drug’s presence
Allows field examination of substances to
determine if drugs are present




Drop of chemical reagent added to small
quantity of drug.
Crystalline precipitate forms
Microscopic examination of crystals can
identify certain drugs such as heroin
Tests are rapid and do not require isolation of
the drug





Packaging must prevent loss of contents
and/or cross contamination
Original container usually a good package
Volatile substances must be packaged in
airtight containers to prevent evaporation of
the solvent
Packages marked with enough information to
“ensure identification by the officer in future
legal proceedings and to establish chain of
custody.”
Supply any background info regarding drug’s
identity