Drugs any substance that causes a physiological or psychological change in a higher order animal 2009©Forensic Science Today

Drugs

any substance that causes a physiological or psychological change

in a higher order animal

2009©Forensic Science Today

Drug- a word with a many different meanings

• a necessity for sustaining or prolonging life



• an escape from the pressures of life



• a means to end life


Drug Abuse

• 1960’s – many types of drugs found their way out of labs, pharmacies, and medicine cabinets into the streets

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/5131876382/

• What was the most widely abused illicit drug in the U.S. during this decade?

Marijuana


The Abuse Continues

• Name one of the most widely abused drugs, consumed regularly by 90 million Americans.

• What emerged as a national problem in the 1970’s?

• What drug is abused in epic proportions today?


75% of Evidence Evaluated in Crime Labs is Drug Related.

• Drug Abuse affects all social and ethnic classes of society.

• ~ 23 million people in the U.S. use illicit drugs (~ 7.5% based on July 2009 population census)


Factors affecting Drug Dependence

• Nature of the drug• Route of administration• The dose• The frequency of administration• Individual’s rate of metabolism


Physical vs. Psychological Dependence

• Physical dependence is the physiological need for a drug that has been brought about by its regular use.

• Psychological dependence is the conditioned use of a drug caused by underlying emotional needs such as

user’s expectations about the drug experience, society’s attitudes and responses, and the social setting


Families of drugs

• Narcotics– Drugs that come from opium or have similar effects– Reduce pain and may lead to a sleepy state

• Hallucinogens– Drugs that have a marked change in the way you perceive the world

around you • Depressants

– Slow down the central nervous system– Result in loss of motor control and reduced respiration

• Stimulants– Speed up the central nervous system– Cause agitation, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and rapid

breathing


Addiction

• Dependence- depends on the type of drug, how you are taking it and why you are taking it.

• Despite what the charts and facts tell you…..


Addiction Cont’d

• Physiological dependence- when the drug causes chemical change that requires continued use

• Psychological dependence- repeated abuse of any drug, even those with little

risk of dependence, can cause psychological dependence


Risks of Any Drug

• Identical Metabolism and Body Chemistry???We are all Unique

• What will be the result of first time use??No one can predict the answer.

could be death


Narcotics

• Also called opiates– Defined-Drugs that are related to opium or have the same

effects as those drugs (pain killers, depress pulse rate, breathing rate and blood pressure)

• Morphine- extracted from the opium poppy- native to Asia

• Heroin- illicit drug administered intravenously; p• Codeine- cough suppressant• Oxycontin- prescribed for relief of chronic pain


Examples of Narcotics

• Black tar heroin, top image

• Oxycontin, bottom image


Images compliments of the DEA, for more information see http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/

Hallucinogens• Defined- drugs that cause marked changes in

the way you perceive the world around you.• Marijuana- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

-from cannabis plant-used for at least 3000 years (see pp. 240-241 R. Saferstein, Criminalistics, 2004)

-first in US in 1920’s-most widely abused illicit drug in the U.S.


More about Marijuana

• 3 types of THC containing drugs– Your average joint or blunts, – Sinsimilla-potent form

from the unfertilizedFlowering tops of female plants

– Hashish



Effects of Marijuana Use

• Increased heart rate• Dryness of the mouth• Reddening of the eyes• Impaired motor skills and concentration• Frequently hungry• Increased desire for sweets• Severe psychological dependence• Chronic users become apathetic, unkempt, impaired

judgment, memory and concentration


Potential Medical Uses of Marijuana

• Reduction of excessive eye pressure in glaucoma patients

• Lessening of nausea caused by powerful anticancer drugs

• Possible muscle relaxant


Hallucinogens Cont’d

• LSD- lysergic acid diethylamide-ergot-higher intensity than other family members

• PCP-Phencyclidine

-mixed with LSD or amphetamine

“Angel Dust”



More About Hallucinogens• Mushrooms –Psilocybin • Mescaline

• Ketamine (developed to treat eating disorders) an animal tranquilizer used by vets in pet surgery. Users say the effects of Ketamine are similar to PCP. Ketamine is usually snorted and is frequently used in combination with other drugs like ecstasy, heroin and cocaine. The high lasts anywhere from 30-minutes to about 2-hours. Special K or powdered Ketamine, emerged as a recreational drug in the 1970s and was known as “Vitamin K’ in the underground club scene in the 1980s. It has since resurfaced as “Special K” in the 1990s rave scene.


Depressants• Alcohol- #1 used and abused drug in the world

-impairs judgment, memory and reflexes-especially dangerous when combined with marijuana (increased risk of alcohol poisoning)

• GHB- gamma hydroxybutyrol• Barbiturates-downers • Inhalants• Tranquilizers


Stimulants

• Amphetaminesmethamphetamine, top image

http://www.aginggal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/picture-of-meth-addict.jpg

Ecstacy –methylene dioxymethamphet-amine, bottom image



Stimulants Cont’d• Cocaine

-acidic form (top image)

• Crack– basic form (bottom

image)



Anabolic Steroids


-synthetic compounds related to testosterone

Anabolic Steroids

• Chemically related to testosterone• Accelerates muscle growth• Promotes the development of secondary male

characteristics• Classified by DEA as controlled substances in

1991• Side effects: liver cancer, liver malfunction,

depression


Illicit Drug

• Abused or controlled substance that is used for purposes other than originally intended or a substance with no recognized medical purpose


Control of Illicit Drugs in the U.S.- A Historical Timeline

• Prior to 20th century, drugs were sold as elixirs to cure any disease (active ingredients included marijuana, opium, heroin, and cocaine). The use was not controlled.

• Early 1900’s, Department of Agriculture controlled the interstate commerce of illicit drugs.

• Harrison Act (1914) imposed tax on the production, import, manufacture, dispensation of opium and coca leaves.

• 1920’s – Drug addiction was no longer viewed as a medical issue but as a law enforcement issue. The public felt that addiction could be cured by abstinence- supply was taken away from users. Cocaine used in elixirs was replaced by caffeine, a legal stimulant.

• 1930’s – Bureau of Narcotics was created within the Treasury Dept.• 1956-Narcotic Drug Control Act was passed as a result of the explosion of

drug use in the post- war era (50% of crimes in U.S. cities were drug-related)


Controlled Substances Act1970

Enforcement was moved from the Treasury Dept. to the Justice Dept.- Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs was renamed the Drug Enforcement AgencyTobacco and Alcohol are excluded here. (Controlled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms)

•Created 5 schedules•Determined legal production levels

Who can produce how much for research•Penalties for illegal possession

based on the schedule it is in


Determination of a Drug Schedule

1. Does the drug have a legitimate medical use in the U.S.?

Determined by the FDA2. What is its potential for abuse? Dependence, physical (leads to withdrawal) vs. psychological Availability


Regulations for Prescribing Controlled Substances

• No Rx without a legitimate medical reason• No Rx of Narcotics for “detoxification” or

“maintenance treatment”• Prescribers and pharmacists must adhere to

laws set forth by FDA, DEA, states & licensing boards.

• If discrepancies between Federal & State laws exist, follow the more stringent of the two.

Source: Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21, Part 1306


Schedule I

• No accepted medical use

• Highest potential for abuse

• Marijuana, Heroin, LSD, Quaaludes, China white


Schedule II

• Accepted medical use

• Highest potential for abuse

• Potential for severe dependence

• Cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP, barbiturates, synthetic THC


Schedule III

• Less potential for abuse than II but more than IV.

• Limited dependence

• Barbiturates not in schedule II, codeine preparations, anabolic steroids


Schedule IV

• Lower potential for abuse than III but more than V.


• Darvon, Librium, Valium, tranquilizers


Schedule V

• Lowest potential for abuse


• Examples include buprenorphine, cough syrup containing codeine, and lomotil.


Penalty for Possession

•Schedule I:– 5-40 years, max. and possible 20 million dollar fine

•Schedule II– 5-40 years, max., 2 million dollar fine

•Schedule III– 0-5 years, max. $250,000 fine


Schedules Cont’d

• Schedule IV– 0-3 years, max. $250,000 fine

• Schedule V– 0-1 year, max. $100,000 fine


Proof of Illegality

• In most states, prosecution must identify the drug as a controlled substance.

• Two steps occur to test drugs• Presumptive test, followed by • Final test


Presumptive Tests

• Also called color or spot tests• Test for presence of various families of drugs• Some examples

– Marquis test– Duquenois-Levine test– Scott test


Final Tests

• For the vast majority of drugs the GC/Mass Spec will be used for a definitive test for the presence of a drug.

• GC/Mass Spec• Some special drugs


Typical Tests involved in a Drug-Identification Scheme

• Color tests• Microcrystalline tests• Chromatography• Spectrophotometry• Mass spectrometry


Color Tests

• For screening purposes only• Indicate the presence of a drug• Used by investigators in the field• http://www.sirchie.com/Assets/Cat_10_11/presumptiveDrugAnalysis10.pdf


Microcrystalline Tests

• A drop of reagent added to a small quantity of drug to form a crystalline precipitate

• More specific than color tests• Rapid results, not necessary to separate the

diluent• See Saferstein, Criminalistics, Ch 9 p. 257, Figure 9-7


Chromatography

• Separation technique for purification• Used in conjunction with a confirmatory test • See Saferstein, Criminalistics, 2004, p. 129

Figure 5-6 for a GC spectrum of barbituates


Spectrophotometry• http://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C50362&Mask=80

• Absorption of light by certain drugs in the UV and IR regions of the electromagnetic spectrum

• See Fig. 9-8, p. 258 for a UV spectrum• UV shows functional groups only- presumptive or

screening test• IR spectrum provides a “fingerprint” which confirms

the presence of a controlled substance• See p. 142, Criminalistics, Figure 5-17


Mass Spectrometry

• Often coupled with a gas chromatograph so that the sample can be purified before analysis

• Sample is blasted with high energy electrons which cause it to fragment in a predictable way

• Fragmentation pattern serves as a “fingerprint” for a particular compound

• Confirmatory test• See Figure 5-18 & 5-19, p. 144


Marijuana Identification

• Microscopic analysis of Plant Material for the presence of cystolithic hairs (“bear claws” on the upper side of the leaf)

• Duquenois-Levine color test• Thin-layer chromatography may be necessary (See p.

133, Figure 5-9) to compare retention time to a standard sample

• http://publicsafety.utah.gov/forensicservices/docs/marijuana_brochure.pdf


Collection and Preservation of Drug Evidence

• Proper packaging to prevent loss of sample and cross-contamination

• Labeling must provide chain of custody


Reference for the Largest Cocaine Bust in History

• http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-cocaine-trail-pictures


References

• www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm• www.drug abuse.com• www.indiana.edu/druginfo/• www.nida.nih.gov• Time, “How We Get Addicted”, Nash, Madeleine,

May 5, 1997.• A Reason for Tears, H.E.L.P. Publishers, 1974.• www.intheknow.com• www.acde.org/common/Contents.htm


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Drugs any substance that causes a physiological or psychological change in a higher order animal 2009©Forensic Science Today