ForensicsForensics

ToxicologyToxicology

DrugsDrugs

DrugsDrugsDrugs are a natural or synthetic Drugs are a natural or synthetic substance used to produce substance used to produce physiological or psychological effects.physiological or psychological effects.

Drugs can be separated into four main Drugs can be separated into four main categories:categories:

NarcoticsNarcoticsHallucinogensHallucinogensDepressantsDepressantsStimulantsStimulants

NarcoticsNarcoticsNarcotics are known to bring Narcotics are known to bring relief from pain and induce relief from pain and induce sleep. sleep. They are produced from opium, They are produced from opium, which is a gummy, milky juice which is a gummy, milky juice exuded through a cut made in exuded through a cut made in the unripe pod of the poppy the unripe pod of the poppy plant.plant.

NarcoticsNarcotics Morphine-Morphine- made directly made directly from opiumfrom opium

Heroin- Heroin- (diacetyl morphine) (diacetyl morphine) comes directly from comes directly from morphinemorphine

Codeine-Codeine- present in opium but present in opium but is usually prepared syntheticallyis usually prepared synthetically from morphinefrom morphine

NarcoticsNarcotics““Opiates”-Opiates”- though not derived from though not derived from opium, these have the same opium, these have the same physiological effectsphysiological effects

Examples: methadone and Examples: methadone and propoxyphenepropoxyphene

Analgesics-Analgesics- these are pain relievers these are pain relieversaspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofenaspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen

HallucinogensHallucinogensHallucinogens are drugs that cause Hallucinogens are drugs that cause alternation in normal thought alternation in normal thought processes, perceptions, and moods.processes, perceptions, and moods.

The most commonly used The most commonly used hallucinogens are: hallucinogens are:

MarijuanaMarijuanaLSDLSDPeyotePeyotePCPPCPEcstasyEcstasy

HallucinogensHallucinogensMarijuana-Marijuana- this drug is made from the hemp this drug is made from the hemp plant Cannabis. plant Cannabis.

When the leaves, flower, When the leaves, flower, stem, stem, and seed are and seed are crushed, the plant crushed, the plant secretes a sticky substance called secretes a sticky substance called hashish. This contains the hashish. This contains the

hallucinogenic chemical hallucinogenic chemical tetrahydrocannabinol or tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC.

HallucinogensHallucinogensLSDLSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) (lysergic acid diethylamide) Derived from ergot, which is a Derived from ergot, which is a type of fungus that attacks type of fungus that attacks certain grasses and grains.certain grasses and grains.

LSD acts on part of the brain responsible LSD acts on part of the brain responsible for sensory reception and causes for sensory reception and causes hallucinations.hallucinations.

It is usually absorbed It is usually absorbed onto onto blotter paper and blotter paper and sold in sold in dosage units. dosage units.

HallucinogensHallucinogens

PeyotePeyote (Lophorphora villiamsii) (Lophorphora villiamsii) This cactus contains the most active This cactus contains the most active alkaloid, mescaline. Sections of a dried alkaloid, mescaline. Sections of a dried plant, called buttons, can be chewed plant, called buttons, can be chewed directly or the mescaline can be extracted directly or the mescaline can be extracted by brewing it in water.by brewing it in water.

PCPPCP (Phencyclidine) (Phencyclidine) This is also known as angel dust This is also known as angel dust when mixed with other drugs. It can when mixed with other drugs. It can be smoked, ingested or sniffed.be smoked, ingested or sniffed.

HallucinogensHallucinogensEcstasyEcstasyEcstasy is a hallucinogen related to Ecstasy is a hallucinogen related to amphetamines.amphetamines.It drains the brain of serotonin, allowing It drains the brain of serotonin, allowing users at raves to dance until exhaustion.users at raves to dance until exhaustion.Though ecstasy causes dehydration, Though ecstasy causes dehydration, drinking too much can cause the brain to drinking too much can cause the brain to swell.swell.Ecstasy causes permanent chemical Ecstasy causes permanent chemical changes to the brain, and damage to the changes to the brain, and damage to the liver, kidney, vision and heart.liver, kidney, vision and heart.It can induce panic attacks, memory loss, It can induce panic attacks, memory loss, mood swings and paranoia. mood swings and paranoia.

DepressantsDepressantsA depressant is a substance used to A depressant is a substance used to depress the functions of the central depress the functions of the central nervous system. These drugs are used as nervous system. These drugs are used as a sedative or sleeping pill by slowing down a sedative or sleeping pill by slowing down the mental and physical processes of the the mental and physical processes of the body.body.

AlcoholAlcohol is one of the most commonly is one of the most commonly used depressants. It is the product of the used depressants. It is the product of the fermentation of grains or sugars.fermentation of grains or sugars.

Alcohol can quickly travel to the Alcohol can quickly travel to the brain brain through the bloodstream through the bloodstream where it where it quickly suppresses the quickly suppresses the brain’s control brain’s control of thought of thought processes and muscle processes and muscle coordination.coordination.

DepressantsDepressantsBarbiturates-Barbiturates- These are known These are known as “downers” and several are used as “downers” and several are used for medicinal purposes;for medicinal purposes;Secobarbital, phenobarbital, Secobarbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital, and butabarbitalpentobarbital, and butabarbital

Methaqualone-Methaqualone- (Quaaludes) a (Quaaludes) a non-barbiturate depressant, non-barbiturate depressant,

though an extremely though an extremely powerful powerful sedative and sedative and muscle relaxer.muscle relaxer.

Chloral Hydrate-Chloral Hydrate- this is a sleep inducing this is a sleep inducing sedative also known as a Micky Finn.sedative also known as a Micky Finn.

DrugsDrugs

DepressantsDepressants

Tranquilizers-Tranquilizers- these generally produce a these generally produce a relaxing tranquility without relaxing tranquility without impairment of high-thinking impairment of high-thinking facilities or the inducement of facilities or the inducement of sleep.sleep.

These drugs can cause These drugs can cause psychological and physical psychological and physical dependencies with repeated high dependencies with repeated high levels of usage.levels of usage.

Some examples include Miltown, Some examples include Miltown, Librium and Valium.Librium and Valium.

DepressantsDepressants

Glue Sniffing-Glue Sniffing- this is also known this is also known as solvent abuse, in which everyday as solvent abuse, in which everyday household items are illegally inhaled household items are illegally inhaled to reach a ‘high’.to reach a ‘high’.

Sniffing exposes the heart, liver and Sniffing exposes the heart, liver and brain to volatile gases with a brain to volatile gases with a significant risk of death.significant risk of death.

StimulantsStimulantsA stimulant is type of drug that A stimulant is type of drug that stimulates the central nervous system. stimulates the central nervous system. Stimulants create an increase in Stimulants create an increase in pleasure, alertness, confidence and pleasure, alertness, confidence and movement by interfering with the movement by interfering with the reabsorption process of dopamine in the reabsorption process of dopamine in the brain.brain.

Amphetamines-Amphetamines- these are these are man-made compounds man-made compounds

used to used to mimic adrenaline and mimic adrenaline and stimulate stimulate the sympathetic the sympathetic nervous nervous system.system.

StimulantsStimulants Cocaine-Cocaine- This drug is This drug is extracted extracted from the leaves of from the leaves of the the Erythrozylon Erythrozylon coca, coca, a coca plant a coca plant grown in the grown in the Andes of South Andes of South America and America and tropical Asia. tropical Asia.

Cocaine powder is normally Cocaine powder is normally snorted, and then snorted, and then

absorbed absorbed through the through the mucous membrane mucous membrane of the of the nose.nose.

Cocaine functions as a Cocaine functions as a stimulant, by blocking stimulant, by blocking the normal recycling the normal recycling process of dopamine. process of dopamine. This buildup of This buildup of dopamine contributes dopamine contributes to the pleasurable to the pleasurable effects of cocaine. effects of cocaine.

StimulantsStimulants

CrackCrack is made by mixing is made by mixing cocaine with baking soda and water in a cocaine with baking soda and water in a solution that is heated in a pot, dried and solution that is heated in a pot, dried and broken into tiny chunks that dealers sell broken into tiny chunks that dealers sell as crack rocks.as crack rocks.

It’s euphoria lasts only a few minutes, It’s euphoria lasts only a few minutes, and with a quick tolerance level, crack and with a quick tolerance level, crack has a high addiction potential.has a high addiction potential.

Anabolic Steroids-Anabolic Steroids-This is a synthetic This is a synthetic compound that is compound that is chemically related chemically related to the male sex to the male sex hormone, hormone, testosterone.testosterone.Testosterone Testosterone accelerates muscle accelerates muscle growth. But has growth. But has many side effects many side effects when abused.when abused.Steroids are usually Steroids are usually injected, but can injected, but can also be taken in the also be taken in the form of a pill.form of a pill.