Controlled Substances Kari Bowen Graduate Student, Forensic Science

What is a controlled substance?  Used interchangeably with “drug of abuse” but some drugs of abuse are not illegal, e.g., caffeine.  “Controlled substance” is a legal term referring specifically to substances controlled by federal or state laws.  Possession of a controlled substance for personal use is always a misdemeanor on the first offense.

Controlled Substances Act, 1970  Established legal definitions for drugs  Set up five schedules for classification of drugs and penalties for each  Schedule I drugs carry the most severe penalties; considered to have a “high potential for abuse” and have “no accepted medical use”  Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse but have an accepted medical use  Schedules III – V have an accepted medical use and decrease in potential for abuse

Types of Drugs  Naturally Occurring: Marijuana, Cocaine, Morphine, Codeine, Psilocybin/Psilocin  Synthetic: Phencyclidine (PCP), Amphetamines, Barbiturates  Semisynthetic: (prepared chemically from a naturally occurring substance) Heroin, LSD

Specific Controlled Substances  Marijuana Legal Definition all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resins; but shall not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt derivative, mixture or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom) fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination

Specific Controlled Substances  Marijuana Occurrence: Originally cultivated in the Orient for its fibers, but now grows worldwide, including in the U.S. Active Ingredients: cannabinoids, primarily THC (tetrahydrocannibinol) Legal/Scientific Issues: definition of hashish, more than one species of Cannabis

Specific Controlled Substances  Cocaine Legal Definition “Coca leaves and any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof…”

Specific Controlled Substances  Cocaine Occurrence: coca plant grows at high elevations (Andes mountains of Bolivia Columbia), rarely found in pure form on the streets in U.S. Legal/Scientific Issues: existence of numerous isomers, classification as a narcotic, high income level of abusers (better legal defense)

Specific Controlled Substances  Heroin Legal Definition Covered under “opium derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation” May also be called diacetylmorphine

Specific Controlled Substances  Heroin Occurrence: best sources are hot, dry Middle Eastern Countries Legal/Scientific Issues: Usually none, quantity for scientific analysis sometimes an issue

Specific Controlled Substances  Phencyclidine (PCP) Legal definition PCP, its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers 2 of its precursors are also controlled because synthesis of PCP from these precursors is a trivial matter PCP is Schedule II, but some of its analogs are Schedule I

Specific Controlled Substances  PCP Occurrence: Synthetic substance once used as a large-animal tranquilizer, commonly called “angel dust,” may appear as an adulterant Legal/Scientific Issues: Must know chemistry, preparation, precursors, and analogs; Must show that PCP was made or goal was to make PCP for clandestine labs

Specific Controlled Substances  LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)  Legal definition Schedule I “hallucinogenic substances” Salts, isomers, salts of isomers

Specific Controlled Substances  LSD Occurrence: chemically- derived from lysergic acid found in the ergot fungus (grows on certain rye plants); found on blotter paper, in gelatin capsules, impregnated in sugar cubes or postage stamps Legal/Scientific Issues: difficult to analyze in small amounts, presence of interfering substances (purification necessary)

Specific Controlled Substances  Amphetamines Legal definition Schedule II “stimulant” section Covers amphetamine, methamphetamine, and their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers Precursors also controlled

Specific Controlled Substances  Amphetamines Occurrence: many different forms, legal (prescription or OTC) and illegal Legal/Scientific Issues: large number of isomers and derivatives, clandestine labs

Specific Controlled Substances  Barbiturates Legal definition Many different derivatives of barbituric acid with a wide variety of effects Can be found in Schedules II – V Some in Schedule V can be obtained legally with a prescription

Specific Controlled Substances  Barbiturates Occurrence: Normally found in tablets or capsules, legally and illegally Legal/Scientific Issues: Identification of exact derivative

Specific Controlled Substances  Psilocybin and Psilocin Legal definition Schedule I “hallucinogens” The mushrooms are not controlled federally, just the substances derived from them.

Specific Controlled Substances  Psilocybin/Psilocin Occurrence: found in a number of mushrooms, usually not extracted from the mushrooms before being sold Legal/Scientific Issues: Identification and extraction from mushroom

Specific Controlled Substances  Mescaline (peyote) Legal Definition Schedule I “hallucinogen” Derived from plant Lophophora williamsii (cactus) Both mescaline and the plant it comes from are controlled

Specific Controlled Substances  Mescaline (peyote) Occurrence: Found on street as peyote buttons which are eaten, occasionally extracted as powder Legal/Scientific Issues: Identification and extraction

Summary  Identifying controlled substances is a basic function of forensic laboratories.  The responsibility usually falls to a forensic chemist.  The scope of analyses usually only falls within the categories of drugs that are controlled by laws and statutes, i.e., in the context of a crime.