1. Toxicology
Drugs and Poisons

2. What is a drug?
A drug is a natural or synthetic substance used to produce physiological or psychological effects.

3. Drug Abuse
Drug Abuse has grown from a problem associated with lower social-economical statist to one that affects all social and ethnic classes of society.
75% of all evidence in crime labs is drug related

4. Why do people use drugs? Desire to create sense of well being
Escape from reality
Seeking relief from personal problems and stress
Maintain a physical or emotional state that improves their level of performance

5. Drug Dependence
Psychological Dependence- conditioned use of a drug caused by underlying emotional needs
Physical Dependence- physiological need for a drug that has been brought about by regular use
Dependence- characterized by withdraw sickness when drug use is abruptly stopped
Drug Abuse is a creation of a psychological dependence

6. Potential for Psychological Dependence
HIGH POTENTIAL-
Alcohol, heroin, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, Phenocyclodine (PCP)
LOW POTENTIAL-
Marijuana, codeine, caffeine, LSD

7. Potential for Physical Dependence
Physical dependence only occurs when the user adheres to a regular schedule of drug use. Intervals between doses is short enough for the effects to never wear off.
Physical dependence is not present in all drugs

8. Potential for Physical Dependence
High Potential-
Narcotics – morphine, heroine, codeine,
Depressants- barbiturates, alcohol, quaalude, valium
Nicotine (stimulant)
Low Potential-
Stimulants- Amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine
Hallucinogens- Marijuana, LSD, Phencyclidine (PCP)

9. Drug Distribution
Society must weigh the individual, social, cultural, legal and medical factors to decide to prohibit or impose restrictions on drug distribution
Weigh the benefits vs. harm to individuals and society
Early laws were designed to control ‘habit-forming’ drugs (mostly opium and marijuana)

10. Types of Drugs Narcotics - drugs that relieve pain and produce sleep
Most narcotics are derived from opium; EX. Heroin & morphine
Some are synthetic; Methadone & codeine

11. Types of Drugs
Hallucinogens - cause marked alterations in normal thought processes, perceptions and moods
Include marijuana, LSD, PCP, ecstasy (MDMA)
Some fungi also have hallucinogens in them 

12. Types of Drugs
Depressants - Substance that depresses the function of the Central Nervous System. They calm irritability, anxiety, and may induce sleep
Include alcohol (ethyl), barbiturates (downers), tranquilizers and glue sniffing 

13. Types of Drugs
Stimulants - substance taken to increase alertness or activity
Include amphetamines (speed, uppers), cocaine, caffeine and nicotine

14. Anabolic Steroids - synthetic form of testosterone
In 1991 they were classified as a controlled, dangerous substance

15. Drug Control Laws
Severity of penalty depends on the weight or concentration of drug. This leads to the person being charged with manufacturing, distributing or possessing the drug.
US Federal Law- Controlled Substance Act
5 levels (schedules)of classification based on the drug’s potential for abuse, physical and psychological dependency, and medical value.

16. Drug Control Laws: 5-Levels
Schedule I - Punishable by 0-20 years prison and $1 million in fines
High potential for abuse, no accepted medical use in US
Heroin, marijuana, Quaaludes, LSD
Schedule II - Punishable by 0-20 years prison and $1 million in fines
High potential for abuse but some accepted medical use
Opium, cocaine, PCP, Amphetamines, Barbiturates
Schedule III - Punishable by 0-5 years prison and $250,000 in fines
Potential for abuse and currently accepted medical uses
Steroids and codeine
Schedule IV - Punishable by 0-3 years prison and $250,00 in fines
Low potential for abuse, lots of medical uses, limited dependency
Valium, tranquilizers, Phenobarbital
Schedule V - Punishable by 0-1 year in prison and $100,000 in fines
Low potential for abuse, lots of medical uses and very little potential for dependency
Opiate drug mixtures and non-narcotic medicines
New designer drugs are added as they become known

17. Drug Identification Start with a screening test - usually color test
Once class is determined then more specific testing maybe performed
Routine analysis involves color tests, microcrystalline tests, chromatography, spectrophotometry and mass spectrometry

18. Drug Identification 5 primary color test reagents
1. Marquis - Turns purple in the presence of heroin, morphine and most opium derivatives.
Turns orange-brown when mixed with amphetamines and methamphetamines.
2. Dillie-Koppanyi - 2 solution test that turns violet-blue in the presence of barbiturates
3. Duquenois-Levine - 3 solution test that turns purple in the presence of marijuana
4. Van Urk - Turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD
5. Scott Test - 3 solution test. Turns blue after the last solution if cocaine is present

19. Drug Identification
Microcrystalline Tests - A drop of chemical reagent is added a small quantity of the drug. A chemical reaction insures and causes a crystalline precipitate. The size and shape of these crystals can identify the type of drug.
Chromatography - Thin-layer (TLC) and gas chromatography(GC) are also used. These techniques need a comparison between the unknown and known drug so these are used in compliment with the color and crystal tests.
Spectrophotometry - UV and IR light are used to produce a spectrum that should be unique between different drugs. The difficulty occurs when the drug is mixed with another substance. The other substance can interfere with the spectrum of the drug component.
Mass Spectrometry - An improvement upon the spectrophotometry. This uses electron to bombard the particles until they fragment. No two particles fragment in the same pattern. Used in conjunction with the GC - (GC/MS)