2009©Forensic Science Today Drugs any substance that causes a physiological or psychological change...

2009©Forensic Science Today

Drugs

any substance that causes a physiological or psychological

change in a higher order animal


Families of drugs

• Narcotics– Drugs that come from opium or have similar effects

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

perceive the world around you

• Depressants– Slow down the central nervous system

• Stimulants– Speed up the central nervous system


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)

• Morphine- short term and long term effects

• Heroin- effects….• Codiene- effects….• Oxycontin- effects….


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

-first in US in 1920’s


More about Marijuana

• 3 types of THC containing drugs– Your average joint or blunts, – Sensimilla– Hashish



Hallucinogens Cont’d

• LSD- lysergic acid diethylamide

-ergot

-higher intensity than other family members

• PCP

-Phencyclidine



More About Hallucinogens

• Mushrooms

• Mescaline

• Ketamine (developed to treat eating disorders)


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

world

-impairs judgment, memory and reflexes

-especially dangerous when….

• GHB- gamma hydroxybutyrol

• Barbiturates-downers

• Inhalants


Stimulants

• Amphetamines

amphetamines, methamphetamine, top image

Ecstacy

–methylene dioxymethamphet-amine, bottom image



Stimulants Cont’d

• Cocaine-acidic form – and basic form (crack),

top image

• Anabolic steroids-synthetic compounds related to testosterone, bottom image



Controlled Substances Act

• Created schedules

5 schedules

• Determined legal production levels

who can produce how much for research

• Penalties for illegal possession

based on the schedule it is in


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



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 prove that the drug is a drug on one of the schedules in order to prosecute.

• 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


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

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm

http://www.intheknow.com/

http://www.acde.org/common/Contents.htm

2009©Forensic Science Today Drugs any substance that causes a physiological or psychological change...

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