1. Chapter 9 Drug Identification and Toxicology By the end of this chapter you will be able to:
Identify the five types of controlled substances
Relate signs and symptoms of overdose with a specific class of drugs or toxins
Describe the role of various types of toxins in causing death
Discuss agents that may be used in bioterrorism
Define and describe the goals and practice of toxicology
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Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

2. Introduction Forensic toxicology – study of poison
Forensic toxicology helps determine cause-and-effect relationships between exposure to a drug or other toxic/lethal substances.
Controlled substance – any chemical regulated by the government.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

3. Introduction People can be exposed to toxic substances:
intentionally— by treating illness or relieving pain
accidentally— by harmful combinations or overdoses
deliberately— by harming or killing others, or by suicide
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

4. Poison—Murder, Accidental Overdoses, and Drug Offences
Poisoning causes less than 0.5% of all homicides. Drug overdoses are more common
FYI- Drug offenders
More than 50% of the federal prison population
About 20% of the population in state prisons
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

5. Controlled Substances*
Hallucinogens
Narcotics
Stimulants
Anabolic steroids
Depressants
* controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by a government. 
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

6. Controlled Substances —Hallucinogens
The effect and intensity varies from person to person.
Affects the user’s perceptions, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions
Effects of an overdose often include
Increased heart rate, blood pressure
Panic attacks, anxiety, or psychosis
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

7. Hallucinogen (con’t) Example:
LSD from fungus growing on rye. Made into a blotting paper and is injected. This is most commonly used Hallucinogen
PCP (angel dust) manufactured for anesthetic, man-made.
Marijuana leave (cannabis).
Psilocybin (“shroom”) – injected, brewed
Mescaline from cactus (peyote)
MDMA (considered both hallucinogen and stimulant) – more discussed in stimulant section.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

8. Controlled Substances —Narcotics (or can be classified as opiate)
Addictive drug acts to reduce pain by suppressing the central nervous system’s ability to relay pain messages to the brain.
Affects of an overdose often include
Difficulty breathing
Decreased blood pressure
Tiredness
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

9. Examples: - Opium (1st natural source from poppy plant)
Heroine (made from opium), Morphine (principle component of opium), Codeine (sleep inducing/analgesic or pain relieving drug made from opium)
Pain killers like Hydrocodone (vicodin, Lortab), methadone (Dolphine), oxycodone (Percocet, OxyCotin), and includes codeine containing pain reliever like Tylenol (acetaaminophen and codein).
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

10. Fentanyl – an opioid, 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine
Fentanyl – an opioid, 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. (transdermal patches,lollipops, intravenous injection)
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

11. Controlled Substances —Stimulants
Stimulants are substances which increase feelings of energy and alertness while suppressing appetite.
Affects of the Stimulants
Afterwards, depression often results
Overdose affects include high blood pressure, agitation, confusion, seizures
Stimulants tend to be highly addictive ”
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

12. Example: Amphetamines (Ritalin, Biphetamine, Dexedrine – street names “speed”, truck driver, etc) – misused by athletes, truck drivers, and for weigh loss Cocaine (powder form) – snorted or dissolve to be injected /Crack (rock form) Methamphetamines MDMA (ecstasy or “Molly”) is man-made. MDMA stands for methylenedioxymethamphetamine and is known as “club drug.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

13. Controlled Substances —Anabolic Steroids
A chemical structure similar to testosterone
Promote cell and tissue growth increasing bone mass and body muscle.
Popular with weightlifters, bodybuilders, and other athletes
What are some of the negative side effects?
Affects the central nervous system by increasing GABA activity, a neurotransmitter which causes drowsiness and slowed brain activity.
Relieves anxiety and produces sleep
Side effects include slurred speech and loss of coordination
Mixing depressants with alcohol and other drugs increases potency and health risks
FYI – GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

14. Controlled Substances —Depressant
Depressants generally depress the system (not work properly) producing relaxed state or “numb” state.
Alcohol:
In what way are alcohols toxic? When alcohol is converted in the body, it becomes toxic (methanol formaldehyde; ethanol acetic acid) leads to liver damage
How is grain alcohol produced? Fermentation of grain
What are the classic symptoms of a hangover? Headache, nausea
What is the effect of alcohol on the central nervous system?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

15. Valium (known as downers, tranks) Rohypnol (used as date rape drug)
Other examples:
Valium (known as downers, tranks)
Rohypnol (used as date rape drug)
Barbiturates (can cause mild sedation to coma) – Sleeping Pills
Propofol (marketed as Diprivan) – decreased level of consciousness. Used as anesthesia.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

16. Controlled Substances —Bacterial Toxins
Tetanus (also called Lockjaw)
Produced by the Clostridium tetani bacteria (found in soil and enters through breaks in skin – i.e. deep cuts)
Causes violent muscle spasms
Vaccination Possible
No lab test to confirm (diagnosis through symptoms – tightening of the jaw muscle)
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

17. Bacterial Toxins Botulism Produced by Clostridium botulinum.
Paralyzes muscles
Causes irreversible damage to nerve endings
Extremely deadly in very small amounts
Most poisonous biological substance
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

18. Controlled Substances —Pesticides and Heavy Metals
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

19. Controlled Substances —Pesticides and Heavy Metals
Arsenic – Found in Rat Poison, no taste (Forensic Files: Bad Medicine)
Cyanide (can smell like bitter almonds but cannot always tell) – Tylenol Murders 1982, series of poisoning death due to drug tempering in Chicago.
- Killer Iceman used cyanide to lace a drink to kill his victims.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

20. Controlled Substances (optional) —Pesticides and Heavy Metals (pg 258)
Research:
Find out what it is, how we are exposed, health effects, and overdose characteristics.
Pesticides – Activity
Heavy Metals: Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cyanide
Others:Strychnine (solid), CO (g), HCN(g)
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

21. Controlled Substances—Bioterrorism Agents
Anthrax
Bacillus anthracis, which forms endospores
Spreads to humans from infected animals
Enters the human body through:
Inhalation; causing breathing problems that usually result in death
Ingestion; becoming fatal in 25% to 60% of cases
Absorption via the skin; leading to death in about 20% of untreated cases
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9

22. Controlled Substances —Bioterrorism Agents
Ricin
A poisonous protein in the castor bean
Lethal in extremely small amounts
Enters the body in various ways:
inhaled as a mist or a powder
ingested as food or drink
injected into the body
Causes death within a few hours
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 9