1. Collection of Drug Evidence
Lethal Agents
Collection of Drug Evidence

2. Do Now
What is the Controlled Substance Act?

3. The Controlled Substances Act
The CSA is the Federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances is regulated.
It was enacted into law by the Congress of the United States as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.

4. The Controlled Substances Act
The CSA describes different drugs according to schedules.
There are 5 different schedules of the CSA.

5. The Controlled Substances Act
Schedule I
Not accepted for medical use.
High potential for abuse.
Examples
Heroin
Marijuana
LSD
Mushrooms
MDMA
GHB

6. The Controlled Substances Act
Schedule II
Accepted for medical use, highly regulated.
High potential for abuse.
Examples
Opium
Morphine
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Other Narcotics

7. The Controlled Substances Act
Schedule III
Accepted for medical use.
Less potential for abuse than I and II.
Examples
Anabolic Steroids
Barbiturates
Ketamine

8. The Controlled Substances Act
Schedule IV
Accepted for medical use.
Less potential for abuse than I, II, and III.
Prescription refills less regulated.
Examples
Benzodiazapines
Valium, Xanax, Klonopin
Rohypnol

9. The Controlled Substances Act
Schedule V
Accepted for medical use.
Low potential for abuse.
Examples
Cough Suppressants

10. Objectives Describe proper procedures for collection of drug evidence.
Demonstrate understanding of lethal agents unit vocabulary.

11. Collection of Drug Evidence
Each sample of material recovered should be placed in a paper container, which can be sealed and marked.

12. Collection of Drug Evidence
Be sure to properly seal containers, as loose material, particularly marijuana, can leak and spill.
Some drugs, like PCP, should be packaged in heat-sealed KAPAK bags.

13. Collection of Drug Evidence
Medicinal preparations found in prescription boxes or bottles should be left in these containers which can be sealed and marked.

14. Collection of Drug Evidence
The information on the prescription label may be of assistance to the Laboratory.
By means of chemical tests, most controlled substances and common drugs can be identified.

15. Identification of Drug Evidence
Physical Observation - visual inspection.
Screening/Preliminary Tests - do not positively identify the substance but do sufficiently narrow down the many thousands of possibilities so that more specific tests can later be conducted.
Separation Tests - physically separate elements of the sample.
Confirmatory Tests - confirm the specific identity of the drug.