Lecture:Forensic Toxicology : Drugs

Narcotic Drugs  Pharmacologically classified as an analgesic  Central Nervous System Depressants  Popular drugs – heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone and propoxyphene  Pharmacologically classified as an analgesic  Central Nervous System Depressants  Popular drugs – heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone and propoxyphene

Hallucinogens  Marijuana  Derived from the plant Cannabis  Hashish – concentrated  Sinsemilla – unfertilized flowering tops of the female Cannabis plant  Active ingredient is THC  Potency is normally 4-5%  Simsemilla averages 6-12%  Liquid hashish averages 8-22%  Potential medical uses  Marijuana  Derived from the plant Cannabis  Hashish – concentrated  Sinsemilla – unfertilized flowering tops of the female Cannabis plant  Active ingredient is THC  Potency is normally 4-5%  Simsemilla averages 6-12%  Liquid hashish averages 8-22%  Potential medical uses

Hallucinogens  LSD – derived from ergot, a fungus of certain grains and grasses  Powerful drug  Visual hallucinations, changes in moods, anxiety, tension, etc  Flashbacks possible  LSD – derived from ergot, a fungus of certain grains and grasses  Powerful drug  Visual hallucinations, changes in moods, anxiety, tension, etc  Flashbacks possible

Hallucinogens  Phencyclidine – PCP  Human response unpredictable  Dangerous drug – paranoia and violence possible  Schizophrenic behavior possible days after use  Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (aka MDMA or ecstasy)  Originally patented as appetite suppressant  Severe adverse reactions, including fatal side effects  Phencyclidine – PCP  Human response unpredictable  Dangerous drug – paranoia and violence possible  Schizophrenic behavior possible days after use  Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (aka MDMA or ecstasy)  Originally patented as appetite suppressant  Severe adverse reactions, including fatal side effects

Depressants  Alcohol (aka ethanol, ethyl alcohol, booze, etc.)  Central nervous system depressant  Legalized and most widely used drug  A common effect is impairment  Legal blood alcohol level in Oklahoma is 0.10%, or 100 mg/dL  Barbiturates  All are derivatives of barbituric acid  Big 5: amobarbital, secobarbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital and butalbital  Methaqualon . Tranquilizers  Major players: reserpine, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam  Inhalants  Volatile organic solvents – toluene, naphtha, gasoline among others  Initial exhilaration and euphoria followed by impaired judgment, drowsiness and stupor  Danger of liver, heart and brain damage  Alcohol (aka ethanol, ethyl alcohol, booze, etc.)  Central nervous system depressant  Legalized and most widely used drug  A common effect is impairment  Legal blood alcohol level in Oklahoma is 0.10%, or 100 mg/dL  Barbiturates  All are derivatives of barbituric acid  Big 5: amobarbital, secobarbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital and butalbital  Methaqualon . Tranquilizers  Major players: reserpine, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam  Inhalants  Volatile organic solvents – toluene, naphtha, gasoline among others  Initial exhilaration and euphoria followed by impaired judgment, drowsiness and stupor  Danger of liver, heart and brain damage

Stimulants  Amphetamines  Initial feeling of well-being and alertness followed by fatigue and a loss of appetite  Amphetamine, methamphetamine and “ice” (crystal meth) are favorites  Phenmetrazine and phendimetrazine have similar properties  Cocaine  First used medically by Freud in Europe  Medical use is now limited  Extracted from the leaves of coca plant (Erythroxylon coca)  “Crack” cocaine is the drug of choice  Cocaine produces the strongest psychological compulsions for continued use  Amphetamines  Initial feeling of well-being and alertness followed by fatigue and a loss of appetite  Amphetamine, methamphetamine and “ice” (crystal meth) are favorites  Phenmetrazine and phendimetrazine have similar properties  Cocaine  First used medically by Freud in Europe  Medical use is now limited  Extracted from the leaves of coca plant (Erythroxylon coca)  “Crack” cocaine is the drug of choice  Cocaine produces the strongest psychological compulsions for continued use

Anabolic Steroids  Synthetic chemicals related to testosterone  Used to promote muscle growth  Synthetic hormones have an androgenic effect  Medical side effects include liver damage, infertility, diminished sexual drive, and depression  Synthetic chemicals related to testosterone  Used to promote muscle growth  Synthetic hormones have an androgenic effect  Medical side effects include liver damage, infertility, diminished sexual drive, and depression

Drug Control Laws Controlled Substances Act  Federal law restricting the manufacture and distribution of dangerous substances  The U.S. Attorney General has the authority to change the schedules  The criminal penalties associated with this law are greatest with schedules I and II.  Schedule I  No medical use  High potential for abuse  Heroin, LSD, methaqualone and marijuana  Federal law restricting the manufacture and distribution of dangerous substances  The U.S. Attorney General has the authority to change the schedules  The criminal penalties associated with this law are greatest with schedules I and II.  Schedule I  No medical use  High potential for abuse  Heroin, LSD, methaqualone and marijuana

Controlled Substances Act  Schedule II  High potential for abuse  Accepted medical use  Potential for psychological or physical dependence  Cocaine, opiates, PCP, amphetamines, methadone and fast- acting barbiturates  Schedule III  Less potential for abuse than schedules I and II  Currently accepted medical use  Potential for low or moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence  Anabolic steroids, some codeine preparations and some barbiturate preparations (phenobarbital not included)  Schedule II  High potential for abuse  Accepted medical use  Potential for psychological or physical dependence  Cocaine, opiates, PCP, amphetamines, methadone and fast- acting barbiturates  Schedule III  Less potential for abuse than schedules I and II  Currently accepted medical use  Potential for low or moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence  Anabolic steroids, some codeine preparations and some barbiturate preparations (phenobarbital not included)

Controlled Substances Act  Schedule IV  Low potential for abuse relative to schedule III drugs  Currently accepted medical use  Relatively low limited dependence risk  Propoxyphene, phenobarbital, meprobamate, diazepam and chlordiazepoxide  Schedule V  Low abuse potential  Medical use  Less potential for producing dependency  Certain opiate drug mixtures that contain non- narcotic medicinal ingredients  Schedule IV  Low potential for abuse relative to schedule III drugs  Currently accepted medical use  Relatively low limited dependence risk  Propoxyphene, phenobarbital, meprobamate, diazepam and chlordiazepoxide  Schedule V  Low abuse potential  Medical use  Less potential for producing dependency  Certain opiate drug mixtures that contain non- narcotic medicinal ingredients

Controlled Substances Act  Designer drugs  Can be placed under schedule I  Fentanyl analogues  Control of chemical precursors  Example – precursors to amphetamine, methamphetamine and PCP are controlled as schedule II substances  Designer drugs  Can be placed under schedule I  Fentanyl analogues  Control of chemical precursors  Example – precursors to amphetamine, methamphetamine and PCP are controlled as schedule II substances

Drug Identification  Screening tests  Color tests  Marquis – purple color in presence of opiates and orange- brown in presence of amphetamines  Dillie-Koppanyi – violet-blue color in presence of barbiturates  Duquenois-Levine – purple color in presence of marijuana  Van Urk – blue-purple color in presence of LSD  Scott – blue color in presence of cocaine  Microcrystalline tests  TLC  Gas chromatography  HPLC  UV Spectroscopy  Screening tests  Color tests  Marquis – purple color in presence of opiates and orange- brown in presence of amphetamines  Dillie-Koppanyi – violet-blue color in presence of barbiturates  Duquenois-Levine – purple color in presence of marijuana  Van Urk – blue-purple color in presence of LSD  Scott – blue color in presence of cocaine  Microcrystalline tests  TLC  Gas chromatography  HPLC  UV Spectroscopy

Drug Identification  Confirmation tests  IR spectroscopy – fingerprint of an organic compound  GC/MS – the gold standard  Confirmation tests  IR spectroscopy – fingerprint of an organic compound  GC/MS – the gold standard

Spectrpy/MassSpec/masspec1.htm