Forensic Toxicology
CHE 113 SUPA Chem
Revenson
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Life Science
Anatomy – fingerprints,
hairs, bones, blood, teeth, saliva,
semen
Botany - plant ID
Entomology - insects
Serology - blood, DNA
Zoology - animal hair and blood
Technology
Chromatography
Computers
Electrophoresis
Microscopy
Photography
Spectroscopy
Math
Algebra
Graphing
Measurements
Ratios
Word Problems
Statistics
Trigonometry
Language Arts
Biographies
Communication – oral, writing
Fiction and nonfiction
Research skills
Technical reading skills
Chemistry
Density
Fiber analysis
Fire and explosives
Inorganic analysis
Organic analysis
Mixtures and
separations
Paints
Toxicology - drugs
SUPA
Forensics
Earth Sciences
Casts and molds
Soil Studies
Miscellaneous
Cosmetics Toolmarks Forgery
Typewriting Handwriting
Paper and ink analysis
Physics
Process Skills
Ballistics
Comparative analysis
Blood spatter and patterns
Critical thinking
Fracture patterns – bones and
Deductive reasoning
glass
Interviewing
Light
Observation skills
Refractive index
Organizational skills
Sound – voice patterns
Problem solving
SUPA Forensics
CHE 113 Trajectories
Intuitive-hunch
Revenson
Social Studies
Careers
Constitutional rights
Criminal justice
Forensics history
Law
Psychology – Criminal mind
Current events
Toxicology
• Students usually have a pretty good
handle on this and can sometimes teach
you a thing or two.
• Just before prom time is when I try to get
this one going.
• Example – Methamphetamine to
follow…But first SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
What does someone under the
influence look like?
• A news reporter getting a bit too close to
the story he’s covering. 2
• Canadian Wildlife service in Ottawa.
Spiders on drugs 2
• Even the cops can get in trouble
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Types of Abused Drugs
• Narcotics - relief from pain and bring sleep. (now
generally means a socially unacceptable drug).
– Narcotics are analgesic - relieve pain by depressing
nervous system (opium, morphine, heroin, codeine,
opiates - oxycontin, methadone).
– 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).
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Opium Poppy
Hallucinogens
• Hallucinogens - alter normal thoughts,
perceptions and moods (PCP, LSD,
mescaline, MDMA, ecstasy).
• Marijuana most common (derived from
Cannabis or “hemp” plant). (THC content)
– Derive resin from plant secretions that is extracted
with organic solvents.
– In use for 1000’s of years.
– Brought to the US ca. 1920.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Types of Abused Drugs
• Depressants - depress functions of central
nervous system, cause calm and bring
about sleep (alcohol, barbituates).
Tranquilizers are depressants.
• Stimulants - increase alertness and activity
(cocaine, amphetamines).
• Steroids - promote muscle growth
(androgen, testosterone, anabolic
steroids).
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Stimulants and Depressants
1. Caffeine
2. Amphetamine
3. Cocaine
1.
2.
3.
4.
Labrium
Valium (mother’s little helper)
Methaqualone
Ethyl Alcohol
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Types of Abused Drugs
• Opium and Poppies
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Opium Poppy
Opium Family
Codeine,
morphine,
heroin, etc all
present in
opium, BUT
morphine is by
far the most
abundant.
Most Heroin,
Codeine made
synthetically
from
Morphine.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
• Water Soluble easy IV use.
• Rapid onset but
short term (2-3 hrs)
effects.
• Field test uses
reagent called
marquis; purple
color indicative of
positive test
• Most common
diluent (diluting
agent) is quinine
• Chemical derivative
of morphine
• Usually street drug
20-30% pure (w/
starch, quinine,
novocain, lactose,
etc..)
Heroin
Morphine
CH3
N
Acetic anhydride
Heroin
HO
O
CH3
N
OH
H 3C
CH3
O
O
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
O
O
O
Heroin Forms
Black Tar Heroin
Heroin Packages
Heroin Powder
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Heroin Paraphenalia
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Hallucinogens
• Hallucinogens - alter normal thoughts,
perceptions and moods (PCP, LSD,
mescaline, MDMA, ecstasy).
• Marijuana most common (derived from
Cannabis or “hemp” plant).
– Derive resin from plant secretions that is
extracted with organic solvents.
– In use for 1000’s of years.
– Brought to the US ca. 1920.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Marijuana
• Hallucinogen
• Continued use results in low
degree of psychological
dependence
• Prior to 1970, it was
classified as a narcotic drug
• Hashish is a concentrated
preparation
• Active ingredient is
tetrahydrocannabinol
• Can tentatively be identified
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 by Revenson
the Duquenois-Levine
Marijuana
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
LSD
•Derived from Ergot Fungus (on grasses/grains)
•First described in 1943 after “accidental” lab
ingestion (potent - 25mg for long lsating effects!)
QuickTime™ and a
Animation decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
lysergic acid
diethylamide
LSD
Street Form
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Other Hallucinogens
• Phencyclidine (PCP)(phencyclidine)
Street Names: Angel
Dust, Crystal, Hog,
Supergrass, Killer
Joints, Ozone, Wack,
Embalming Fluid,
and Rocket Fuel.
Easily Synthesized.
• Mescaline
• Psilocybin- Street
Name: Shrooms,
Mushies, and
Mexican Magic
Mushrooms
• STP
• LSD- Street Names:
Acid, Boomers,
Yellow Sunshines,
Cid, Doses, and Trips
• Forensics
Ecstacy
SUPA
- CHE 113 Revenson
Drug Labs
• Often Inexperienced Chemists!
Don’t try this at home!
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Steroids
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Rock Cocaine
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Crack Cocaine
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Cocaine Paraphenalia
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Club Drugs/Date Rape Drugs
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
What we consider in forensics
• How can we test the drug itself?
• How can we test for the drug in a body?
– Immunoassays
– GCMS
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date Rape Drugs
Flunitrazepam
(Rohypnol)
Ketamine
MDMA (Ecstacy)
GHB
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date Rape Drugs
• Rohypnot, Ketamine, GHB, Ecstacy.
• GHB (depressant) 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 begin within 30 minutes, peak within
2 hours, and may persist for up to 8 hours or more, depending
upon the dosage.
• Ketamine (hallucinogen) causes the person to feel as if their mind is
“separated” from the body. The drug causes a combination of
amnesia and hallucinations. Also, it stops the feeling of pain and
lowers the heart rate leading to oxygen starvation to the brain and
muscles. Vet Medicnine.
• Ecstatsy (hallucinogen)causes psychological difficulties, including
confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, severe
anxiety, and paranoia-during and sometimes weeks after taking
Ecstatsy.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date Rape Drugs
• Ketamine
Ketamine Powder
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
• Street Names: Roofies, Rophies, Roche,
Forget-me Pill, Circles, Mexican Valium, Rib,
Roach-2, Roopies, Rope, Ropies, Ruffies, and
Roaches
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
• The "date rape" drug is the common name for Rohypnol,
generically called flunitrazepam.
• Rohypnol is manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche and prescribed
as a sleeping pill in countries outside of the US.
• It is used as a short-term treatment for insomnia, as a sedative
hypnotic and a pre-anesthetic.
• It has physiological effects similar to Valium (diazepam), but is
approximately ten times more potent.
• Rohypnol is a low-cost drug, less than $5.00 per tablet.
• Misconceptions may explain the drug's popularity :
– many erroneously believe that the drug is unadulterated
because it comes in pre-sealed bubble packs -- and therefore
tamper-proof and safe
– many mistakenly think its use cannot be detected by
urinalysis testing.
– Rohypnol IS addictive (true)
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
• Rohypnol (a benzodiazepine), a very potent tranquilizer similar in nature
to valium (diazepam), but many times stronger.
• The drug produces a sedative effect, amnesia, muscle relaxation, and a
slowing of psychomotor responses.
• Sedation occurs 20-30 minutes after administration and lasts for hours.
• The drug is not commonly used by physicians in the US.
• The drug has been added to drinks at parties, where it is reportedly
given to female party participants in hopes of lowered inhibitions. Police
report that after ingestion of "Roofies" that women have reported
waking up in frat houses with no clothes on.
• Rohypnol, particularly when mixed with alcohol or other drugs may lead
to respiratory depression, aspiration, and even death. An amnesia
producing effect of "Roofies" prevents users from remembering how or
why they took the drug or even that they were given it by others. This
makes investigation of sexually related or other offenses very difficult
and may account for repeated reports of "date rapes" involving the use
of the drug.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)
– Rohypnol manufacturer recently
reformulated the drug to make it more
detectable.
• When put in a light-colored drink, new
Rohypnol will now turn the beverage
bright blue.
• Consumers of darker-colored beverages
should be tipped off by a cloudy
appearance.
• Proponents claim risks associated with
Ecstasy can be minimized by drinking
lots of water.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Ecstacy
• Also known as MDMA and is called
“Adam,” “XTC,” “Bean,” “E,” “M,” and
“Roll” on the street
• Ecstasy comes in a tablet that is often
branded, just a few are shown below:
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date Rape Drugs
• Instant Testing Market
DrinkSafe Date Rape Test Pack
Date Rape Coaster
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date Rape Drugs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself?
Don't accept drinks that you did not open yourself.
Don't exchange or share drinks with anyone.
Don't drink anything out of a punch bowl.
Monitor the behavior of friends who seem more
intoxicated than the amount of alcohol would warrant.
Never consume a drink that you have not mixed
yourself, or have not watched someone else prepare.
Never accept a drink from someone you don't know and
trust.
At parties or clubs with friends never leave your drink unattended.
Be aware of your surroundings - Listen for the street names of the
drugs - Trust you instincts
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date
Rape
Drugs
Spring Breakers Beware!
– The heaviest concentrations of GHB have
been found in California, Texas, Georgia, and
Florida.
– Rohypnol has been encountered by U.S. law
enforcement agencies in Southern States
from California to Florida.
– In the United States, Rohypnol is used widely
in Texas.
– Roypnol is reported to be readily available in
the Miami area, and epidemiologists from
that area have stated that it is South Florida’s
fastest growing drug problem.
– Two thirds of patients for GHB ingestion are
SUPA Forensics
- CHE 113 - abuse as
aged 18-25 years
· Ecstasy
Revenson
increased 500 percent
over a five-year period.
Date Rape Drugs
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Date Rape Drugs
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
•Acting intoxicated.
•Bloodshot or red eyes, droopy eyelids.
•Imprecise eye movement.
•Wearing sunglasses at inappropriate times.
•Abnormally pale complexion.
•Change in speech patterns and vocabulary
patterns.
•Repressed physical development.
•Sudden appetite, especially for sweets.
•Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite.
•Neglect of personal appearance, grooming.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Drug Identification
• Chromatography- used for separating and
tentative identification
• Spectrometry- IR, MS, NMR, etc…
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Forensic Analysis - GC
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Methamphetamine
Meth mouth - Rots your teeth and gums
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Faces of meth – over time
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
10 years of meth use
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
• Have the students take an on-line meth quiz
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/sarasquest/meth1.asp
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Hieronymus Bosch
1450-1516
an eccentric Dutch
painter of religious
visions who dealt in
particular with the
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
St. John
on
Patmos,
approx.
1485
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Hieronymus Bosch
1450-1516
an eccentric Dutch
painter of religious
visions who dealt in
particular with the
torments of hell.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
St. Christopher Carrying
the Christ Child through a Sinful World,
c1520
SUPABosch,
Forensics - CHE
113 Revenson
Temptation
of
St Anthony
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Temptation
of
St Anthony
(Detail)
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Historians Know:
What can be going on at that time?
• St. Anthony's Fire was rampant.
• fiery pain, hallucinations, disorientation,
muscle cramps, convulsions, miscarriages,
*gangrene
• Today we know that St. Anthony's Fire was
caused by a form of Rye/grain fungus called
ergot.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
St. Anthony’s Fire: Ergot
*Ergot of rye is produced by a lower
fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that grows
parasitically on rye, other grains and wild
grasses.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Structural Analysis
O
ergotamine
OH
Lysergic Acid
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Serotonin Blocker?
Serotonin (on the left) and Lysergic Acid ( on the right)
SUPA Forensics
- CHE 113
*Serotonin is known
to control
mood,
emotion, sleep
Revenson
and appetite
Structural Analysis
O
OH
Lysergic Acid
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
(LSD)
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
(LSD)
• LSD is one of the most powerful
hallucinogenic drugs known.
• It was invented in 1938, derived
from mushrooms
• SO WHO CARES?
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Hieronymus Bosch
Madman or Medical Analyst
• Bosch's Paintings actually documented beliefs
and medical procedures used to assist with St.
Anthony’s Fire.
• Amputation is a gangrenous prevention
• odd vegetable creatures= mandrake root
• The distillery used to reduce medicinal herbs.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Ergot in history
• Furthermore, since ergot baked in
bread dough forms LSD, the disease
also led to terrifying hallucinations
• Indeed there is the belief that the
Salem witch-hangings that went on in
Salem, Massachusetts (1692)
occurred during an outbreak of rye
ergot.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Salem Witch trials (June -September of 1692)
• 19 men and women were convicted of witchcraft
and hung
• 100s of others faced accusations of witchcraft.
• Dozens languished in jails.
• 1 man was pressed to death under heavy stones
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson
Salem witch trials (1692)
According to historian Mary Matossian in her book
Poisons of the Past, she noted symptoms of the
people to be sensations of:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Prickling or ants crawling on the skin
Distortions of the face
Paralysis
Hallucinations
Convulsive violent seizures
Dementia
• All these symptoms were consistent with those
suffering from ergotism.
SUPA Forensics - CHE 113 Revenson