Chapter 7 Drug Evidence

Chapter 7 1 Drugs and Crime  A drug is a natural or synthetic substance designed to affect the subject psychologically or physiologically.  “Controlled substances” are drugs that are restricted by law  Controlled Substances Act is a law that was enacted in 1970; it lists illegal drugs, their category and their penalty for possession, sale or use.

Chapter 7 2 Controlled Substances Act  Schedule I—high potential for abuse; no currently acceptable medical use in the US; a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision  Schedule II—high potential for abuse; a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence  Schedule III—lower potential for abuse than the drugs in I or II; a currently accepted medical use in the US; abuse may lead to moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence  Schedule IV—low potential for abuse relative to drugs in III; a currently accepted medical use in the US; abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to drugs in III  Schedule V—low potential for abuse relative to drugs in IV; currently accepted medical use in the US; abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to drugs in IV

Chapter 7 3 Examples of Controlled Substances and Their Schedule Placement  Schedule I—heroin (diacetylmorphine), LSD, marijuana, ecstasy (MDMA)  Schedule II—cocaine, morphine, amphetamines (including methamphetamines), PCP, Ritalin  Schedule III—intermediate acting barbiturates, anabolic steroids, ketamine  Schedule IV—other stimulants and depressants including Valium, Xanan, Librium, phenobarbital, Darvon  Schedule V—codeine found in low doses in cough medicines

Chapter 7 4 Identification of Drugs  PDR—Physicians’ Desk Reference  Field Tests—presumptive tests  Laboratory Tests—conclusive tests

Chapter 7 5 Human Components Used for Drug Analysis  Blood*  Urine*  Hair*  Gastric Contents  Bile *Living subjects  Liver tissue  Brain tissue  Kidney tissue  Spleen tissue  Vitreous Humor of the Eye

Chapter 7 6 Physicians ’ Desk Reference PDR—a physicians’ desk reference is used to identify manufactured pills, tablets and capsules. It is updated each year. This can sometimes be a quick and easy identifier of the legally made drugs that may be found at a scene. The reference book gives a picture of the drug, whether it is a prescription, over the counter, or a controlled substance; as well as more detailed information about the drug.

Chapter 7 7 Drug Identification Presumptive tests  Spot or color tests  Microcrystalline test— a reagent is added that produces a crystalline precipitate which is unique for a certain drug.  Chromatography Confirmatory tests  Spectrophotometry  Ultraviolet (UV)  Visible  Infrared (IR)  Mass spectrometry

Chapter 7 8 Presumptive Color Tests  Marquis—turns purple in the presence of most opium derivatives and orange-brown with amphetamines  Dillie-Koppanyi—turns violet- blue in the presence of barbiturates  Duquenois-Levine—turns a purple color in the presence of marijuana  Van Urk—turns a blue-purple in the presence of LSD  Scott test—color test for cocaine, blue

Chapter 7 Spot Testing: OTC Drug ID  Indicators – chemicals that react with substances in a specific way, based on the properties of the substances, giving a characteristic color change result  Solubility in water  Universal indicator  Hydrochloric acid  Ferric nitrate 9

Chapter 7 Solubility in Water  Some substances are water soluble and will dissolve into water  Alka-seltzer, sodium bicarbonate  Other substances are not water soluble and will clump when mixed with water  Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Excedrin 10

Chapter 7 Universal Indicator  Universal indicator will tell you the pH of a solution, by the color it turns  Aspirin & Excedrin are acidic  Tylenol is neutral  Alka-seltzer & sodium bicarb are basic 11 red orange yellow green blue violet

Chapter 7 Hydrochloric Acid  Some substances will react with HCl to generate a gas, producing bubbles  Alka-seltzer and sodium bicarb will bubble  Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Excedrin won’t 12

Chapter 7 Ferric Nitrate  Ferric nitrate has an orange color, but it will react with Aspirin to turn purple  Drugs that contain Aspirin: Excedrin & Alka-seltzer  No Aspirin in Tylenol or sodium bicarbonate 13