1. Drugs & Toxicology
Chapters 9 & 10

2. Drugs
Are natural or synthetic substances designed to affect the subject psychologically or physiologically

3. Narcotic Drugs
Are analgesics, meaning they relieve pain by a depressing action on the central nervous system
Effects blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing rate
Regular use can lead to physical dependence
Most common narcotic drugs are the opiates

4. Heroin
Morphine is readily extracted from opium and is used to synthesize heroin
Addicts frequently dissolve heroin in water by heating it in a spoon and then injecting in the skin
Heroin produces a “high” that is accompanied by drowsiness and a sense of well being that generally lasts 3-4 hours

5. Codeine
Also present in opium, but it is usually prepared synthetically from morphine

6. Oxycontin Is not derived from opium or morphine
It does have the same physiological effects on the body as do opium narcotics
Is prescribed to a million patients for treatment with chronic pain

7. Methadone Is a well known synthetic opiate
Is pharmacologically related to heroin
Eliminates the addict’s desire for heroin while producing minimal side effects

8. Hallucinogens Marijuana is the most well known member of the class
Cause marked changes in normal thought processes, perceptions, and moods
Marijuana is the most controversial drug in this class because its long term effects on health are still largely unknown

10. Marijuana Refers to the preparation derived from the plant Cannabis
The chemical substance largely responsible for the hallucinogenic properties of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC
THC content varies in different parts of the plant, generally decreasing in the following sequence: resin, flowers, leaves, with little THC in the stem, roots, or seeds

11. Marijuana The THC rich resin is known as hashish
Marijuana does not cause physical dependency, but the risk of harm is in heavy, long term use

12. Other Hallucinogens
Include LSD, mescaline, PCP, psilocybin, and MDMA (ecstasy)

13. LSD
Is synthesized form lysergic acid, and can cause hallucinations that can last for 12 hours

14. PCP
AKA phencyclidine
Is often synthesized in clandestine laboratories and is often smoked, ingested, or sniffed
Is often mixed with other drugs such as LSD or amphetamine and is sold as a powder (angel dust), capsule, or tablet
Oral intake of PCP first leads to feelings of strength and invulnerability, which may turn to depression, tendencies toward violence, and suicide

15. Depressants Are another class of drugs
Are substances used to depress the functions of the central nervous system
Calm irritability and anxiety and may induce sleep
Include alcohol (ethanol), barbiturates, tranquilizers, and various substances that can be sniffed, such as airplane glue, model cement, or aerosol gas propellants such as freon

16. Alcohol
Enters the body’s bloodstream and quickly travels to the brain where it acts to suppress the brain’s control of though processes and muscle coordination

17. Barbiturates AKA downers Are normally taken orally
Create a feeling of well being, relax the body, and produce sleep

18. Tranquilizers
Produce a relaxing tranquility without impairment of high thinking faculties or inducing sleep

19. Sniffing
Has immediate effects such as exhilaration, but impairs judgment and may cause liver, heart, and brain damage or even death

20. Stimulants
Are substances taken to increase alertness or activity, followed by a decrease in fatigue and a loss of appetite
Includes amphetamines, sometimes known as “uppers” or “speed”, and cocaine, which in its free base form is known as crack

21. Amphetamines
Amphetamines and methamphetamines often are injected intravenously
Cause an initial rush followed by an intense feeling of pleasure that is followed by a period of exhaustion and a prolonged period of depression

22. Cocaine Is extracted from the leaves of Erythroxylin coca
Causes increased alertness and vigor, accompanied by the suppression of hunger, fatigue, and boredom

23. Crack Is cocaine mixed with baking soda and water, then heated
Is often smoked in glass pipes, and like cocaine, stimulates the brain’s pleasure center

24. Club Drugs
Refers to synthetic drugs that are used at nightclubs, bars, and raves
Substances that are often used as club drugs include, but are not limited to, MDMA (ectasy), GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), Rohypnol (Roofies), ketamine, and methamphetamine

25. Ecstasy AKA methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Is a synthetic mind altering drug that exhibits many hallucinogenic and amphetamine-like effects
Enhances self awareness and decreases inhibitions
Seizures, muscle breakdown, stroke, kidney failure, and cardiovascular system failure often accompany chronic abuse

26. GHB & Rohypnol
Are central nervous system depressants that are often connected with drug facilitated sexual assault, rape, and robbery

27. Ketamine
Is primarily used as a veterinary animal anesthetic that in humans causes euphoria and hallucinogens
Can also cause impaired motor functions, high blood pressure, amnesia, and mild respiratory depression

28. Anabolic Steroids
Are synthetic compounds that are chemically related to the male sex hormone testosterone
Are often abused by individuals who are interested in accelerating muscle growth
Side effects include unpredictable effects on mood and personality, depression, diminished sex drive, halting bone growth, and liver cancer

29. Toxicology
Is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms

30. Toxicologists
Toxicologists are charged with the responsibility for detecting and identifying the presence of drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues, and organs
Work in crime labs and medical examiners offices, but may also reach into hospital labs and health care facilities to identify a drug overdose or monitor the intake of drugs

31. Toxicology Toxic substances may Be a cause of death Continue to death
Cause impairment
Explain behavior

32. Aspects of Toxicology Dosage
The chemical or physical form of the substance
The mode of entry into the body
Body weight and physiological conditions of the victim, including age and sex
The time period of exposure
The presence of other chemicals in the body or in the dose

33. Lethal Dose
LD50
Refers to the dose of a substance that kills half the test population, usually within 4 hours
Expressed in milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight

34. Symptoms of Poisoning Type of Poison Symptom/Evidence
Caustic poison (lye)
Burns around the lips and mouth
Carbon monoxide
Red or pink patches on chest & thighs
Sulfuric acid
Black vomit
Hydrochloric acid
Greenish-brown vomit
Nitric acid
Yellow vomit
Phosphorus
Coffee brown vomit, onion or garlic odor
Cyanide
Burnt almond odor
Arsenic, mercury
Pronounced diarrhea
Methyl (wood) or isopropyl alcohol
Nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, blindness

35. To Prove a Case Prove a crime was committed Motive Intent
Access to poison
Access to victim
Death was caused by poison
Death was homicidal

36. Forensic Autopsy Look for Order toxicological screens
Irritated tissues
Characteristic odors
Mees line
Single transverse white bands on nails
Order toxicological screens
Postmortem concentrations should be done at the scene for comparison
No realistic calculation of dose can be made from a single measurement

37. Human Specimens for Analysis
Blood
Urine
Vitreous humor of eye
Bile
Gastric contents
Liver tissue
Brain tissue
Kidney tissue
Hair
Nails

38. Toxicology of Alcohol
Alcohol, or ethyl alcohol, is a colorless liquid normally diluted with water and consumed as a beverage
It is the most abused drug
Like any depressant, alcohol principally effects the central nervous system, particularly the brain
40% of all traffic deaths are alcohol related
About 5% is excreted unchanged in breath, perspiration, and urine
90% is detoxified by the liver

39. Toxicology of Alcohol
Alcohol appears in the blood within minutes after it has been taken by mouth and slowly increases in concentration while it is being absorbed from the stomach and the small intestine into the bloodstream
It takes 30 –90 minutes for full absorption

40. Rate of Absorption Depends on Time taken to consume the drink
The alcohol content
The amount of alcohol consumed
Food present in the stomach
Physiology of the consumer

41. Blood Alcohol Content
The extent to which the individual may be under the influence of alcohol is usually determined by either measuring the quantity of alcohol present in the blood system or by measuring the alcohol content in the breath
Is expressed as percent weight per volume of blood
Legal limits in all states is 0.08%

42. Blood Alcohol Content Parameters affecting BAC Body weight
Alcoholic content
Number of beverages consumed
Time between consumption

43. Blood Alcohol Content Burn off rate of 0.015% per hour but can vary
Male
BAC Male= x (# oz) x (% alcohol)/ body weight
Female
BAC Female= x (# oz) x (% alcohol)/body weight

44. Field Tests Preliminary tests Psychophysical tests
Used to determine the degree of suspect’s physical impairment and whether or not another test is justified
Psychophysical tests
3 basic tests exist
Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN)
Nine step walk and turn (WAT)
One leg stand (OLS)

45. Field Tests Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN
Follow a pen or small flashlight, tracking left to right with one’s eyes
Wavering at 45 degrees indicates BAC of 0.10
Nine step walk and turn (WAT)
Comprehend and execute two or more simple instructions at a time
One leg stand (OLS)
Maintain balance, comprehend and execute two or more simple instructions at one time

46. The Breathalyzer More practical in the field
Collects and measures alcohol content of alveolar breath
Breath sample mixes with 3 ml of 0.025% potassium dichromate in sulfuric acid and water
Measures light absorption of potassium dichromate before and after the reaction with alcohol

47. Controlled Substances
Are drugs that are restricted by law
Law was enacted in 1970 listing illegal drugs, their category and their penalty for possession, sale or use
Called Controlled Substances Act
Was created to prevent and control drug use

48. Controlled Substances Act
Established 5 schedules of classification for controlled dangerous substances on the basis of a drug’s
Potential for abuse
Potential for physical and psychological dependence
Medical value

49. Schedule I Drugs High potential for abuse
No currently acceptable medical use in the US
A lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision
Includes marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, and LSD

50. Schedule II Drugs High potential for abuse
A currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions
Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence
Include cocaine, PCP, morphine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, ritalin

51. Schedule III Drugs 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
Include all barbiturate prescriptions not covered under II, codeine, and anabolic steroids

52. Schedule IV Drugs 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
Include darvon, phenobarbital, and some tranquilizers such as diazepam (valium) and chlordiazepoxide (librium)

53. Schedule V Drugs 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
Include opiate drug mixtures that contain nonnarcotic medicinal ingredients
Codeine found in cough medicine

54. Drug Identification
The challenge or difficulty of forensic drug identification comes in selecting analytical procedures that will ensure a specific identification of a drug
3 ways to identify drugs
PDR- Physician’s Desk Reference
Field Tests- presumptive tests
Laboratory Tests- conclusive tests

55. What Can be Tested for Drugs
Blood
Urine
Hair
Gastric contents
Bile
Liver tissue
Brain tissue
Kidney tissue
Spleen tissue
Vitreous humor of the eye

56. PDR Is used to identify manufactured pills, tablets, and capsules
Is updated each year
Can be a quick and an easy identifier of the legally made drugs that may be found at a scene
Reference book gives a picture of a drug, whether it is a prescription, over the counter, or a controlled substance, as well as more detailed information about the drug

57. Presumptive Tests Include Spot or color tests Microcrystalline test
A reagent is added that produces a crystalline precipitate which is unique for a certain drug
Chromatography

58. Spot or Color Tests 5 types Marquis Dillie-Koppanyl Duquenois-Levine
Turns purple in the presence of most opium derivatives and orange-brown with amphetamine
Dillie-Koppanyl
Turns violet-blue in the presence of barbiturates
Duquenois-Levine
Turns a purple color in the presence of marijuana
Van Urk
Turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD
Scott test
Turns blue in the presence of cocaine

59. Confirmatory Tests Include Spectrophotometry Mass spectrometry
Ultraviolet (UV)
Visible
Infrared (IR)
Mass spectrometry

60. Spectroscopy The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter
Measured using a spectrophotometer
An instrument used to measure and record the absorption spectrum of a chemical substance

61. Mass Spectrometry
In a mass spectrometer, an electron beam is directed at sample molecules in a vacuum chamber
The electrons break apart the sample molecules into many positive charged fragments
Are sorted and collected according to their mass to charge ratio by an oscillating electric or a magnetic field