Drug Types

Honors ForensicsVon Steuben

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Why do we care?

• More than 75% of evidence evaluated in crime laboratories is drug related!

• In the U.S., 90 million people spend nearly $40 billion dollars a year on alcohol, alone!

Most drugs fit into one or more of the following categories:•Narcotics•Hallucinogens•Depressants•Stimulants

Types of Drugs

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Narcotics-induce a state of lethargy or sluggishness• Narcotics are analgesics –relieve

pain• Most come from the poppy plant• Example Narcotics

Morphine MethadoneHeroin CodeineOxyContin bsapp.combsapp.com

Hallucinogens-cause marked alterations in normal

thought process, perceptions, and moods

•Marijuana•LSD•PCP•Acid

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Depressants – depress (slow down) action in the Central Nervous System

•Alcohol•Barbiturates

(downers)• Inhalants

(huffing)

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Stimulants – stimulate (speed up) action in the Central Nervous System

•Cocaine•Crack•Crystal Meth•Amphetamines

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Dependence on drugs depends on:• Nature of the drug• The route of administration• The dose• Frequency of administration• Individual’s rate of metabolism• Social factors

Physiological vs. Psychological dependence

• On your white boards, write a description of each as they relate to drugs

Physiological dependence

• On your white board: which of the following are VERY likely to involve physiological dependence?

• Marijuana Ecstasy• Barbiturates Heroin• Alcohol Cocaine• LSD

Psychological Dependence

• On your white board: Which of the following are VERY likely to involve psychological dependence?

• Marijuana codeine• Amphetamines heroin• Alcohol cocaine

White Board Quiz

• #1 Huffing redi- whip cans (besides making one look stupid) can affect what parts of the body?

White Board Quiz

• #1 Huffers expose themselves to liver, heart, and brain damage

• Some halogenated hydrocarbons have a significant risk of death

White board Quiz

• #2 Which drug has the strongest psychological compulsion for continued use?

White Board Quiz

• #2 Cocaine/Crack

White Board Quiz

• #3 Which drug changes the way seratonin is released in a users brain?

White Board Quiz

• #3 Ecstasy

White board Quiz

• #4 What negative effects does ecstasy have on the body?

White board Quiz

• #4 causes seizures, kidney failure, cardiovascular system failure and serious damage to the parts of the brain that are responsible for thought and memory

White board quiz

• #5 what is the difference between schedule 1 and schedule 2 drugs?

White Board Quiz

• Schedule 1 are the most dangerous/ have the most potential for dependence and have no acceptable medical use

• Schedule 2 either have lower potential for dependence or have an acceptable medical use

White Board Quiz

• #6 If I say to you, “Heroin is very soluble in water”, what do I mean? What happens when you introduce Heroin to water?

White Board Quiz

• #6 soluble= dissolves

• If you introduce heroin to water, it will dissolve and create a viscous mixture with even distribution of water molecules and heroin molecules