Forensics Exam 3

GHB and Rohypnol

Central nervous system depressants Often connected with drug-facilitated sexual assault, rape, and robbery

Scott Test

Color test for cocaine Powder that contains cocaine turns a cobalt thiocyanate solution blue. Blue color is transformed to a clear pink color upon the addition of hydrochloric acid. Blue color reappears in the chloroform layer upon the addition of chloroform

Visible light

Colored light ranging from red to violet in the electromagnetic spectrum

pursued once the preliminary analysis is completed

Confirmational determination

Alcohol

Enters the body's bloodstream and quickly travels to the brain where it suppresses the brain's control of thought processes and muscle coordination

Electromagnetic spectrum

Entire range of radiation energy from the most energetic cosmic rays to the least energetic radio waves

Cocaine

Extracted from the leaves of the plant Erythroxylon coca Typically sniffed or "snorted" but it is sometimes injected Causes increased alertness and vigor accompanied by the suppression of hunger, fatigue, and boredom

how many traffic deaths each year are attributed to alcohol intoxication

about 17,000

Depressant effects have an impact on

blood pressure as well as pulse and breathing rate

Spectrophotometry

Analytical method for identifying a substance by its selective absorption of different wavelengths of light

Mass Spectrometry

Beam of high-energy electrons collide with a material in a mass spectrometer in order to produce positively charged ions Positive ions almost instantaneously decompose into numerous fragments which are separated according to their masses

Refraction

Bending of a light wave that is caused by a change in its velocity

Psychological Dependence

Desire to avoid withdrawal sickness or abstinence syndromes ultimately causes physical dependence or addiction

Wavelength -

Distance between two successive crests (or one trough to the next trough)

Rf value

Distance that a spot travels up a thin-layer plate

Amphetamines

Group of synthetic stimulants that share a similar chemical structure and reffered to as "uppers" or "speed" taken either orally or via intravenous injection Depression may set in once the stimulant effect wears off

what spectrum provides a far more complex pattern

IR spectrum

Spectrophotometer -

Instrument that is used to measure and record the absorption spectrum of a chemical substance

examples of club drugs

MDMA ecstasy GHB roofies ketamine methamphetamine

what is the Most widely used illicit drug in the United States

Marijuana

Five primary color-test reagents are as follows

Marquis Dillie-Koppanyi Duquenois-Levine Van Urk Scott Test

Chromatography

Means of separating and tentatively identifying the components of a mixture

Gas Chromatography (GC)

Moving phase is actually a gas (called carrier gas) that flows through a column. Stationary phase is a thin film of liquid contained within the column. Mixture that traverses the length of the column will emerge separated into its components

Drug

Natural or synthetic substance that is used in order to produce physiological or psychological effects in humans or other higher order animals

frequency

Number of crests (or troughs) that pass a given point per unit of time

Most common source for narcotic drugs

Opium, extracted from poppies

what drug is Closely related to morphine and heroin in its chemical structure

OxyContin

crack

Particularly potent form of cocaine o Produced by mixing cocaine with baking soda and water and then heating the resulting solution o Often smoked in glass pipes

"Huffing"

Practice of sniffing materials that contain volatile solvents

screening test

Preliminary tests that are used to reduce the number of possible identities of an unknown substance

Ketamine

Primarily used in veterinary medicine as an animal anesthetic Causes euphoria and feelings of unreality accompanied by visual hallucinations in humans

Antianxiety drugs

Produce a relaxing tranquility without impairment of high-thinking faculties or inducing sleep Often prescribed to deal with the everyday tensions of many healthy people (e.g., Valium or Xanax)

Van Urk

Reagent turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD Test is difficult to conduct under field conditions due to extremely small quantities of LSD in illicit preparations

Marquis

Reagent turns purple in the presence of heroin and morphine and most opium derivatives Becomes orange-brown when mixed with amphetamines and methamphetamines

ecstasy can lead to

Seizures muscle breakdown stroke kidney failure cardiovascular system failure often accompany chronic abuse

GC and Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

Separation of a mixture's components is first accomplished by the GC followed by the fragmentation of each component by high-energy electrons in the mass spectrometer

Dispersion

Separation of light into its component wavelengths

confirmation

Single test that specifically identifies a substance

OxyContin

Substance that causes the same physiological effects on the body as opium narcotics

Methadone

Substance that is pharmacologically related to heroin. Appears to eliminate the addict's desire for heroin while producing minimal side effects

Codeine

Substance that is present in opium Usually prepared synthetically from morphine Used as a cough suppressant in prescription cough syrup

Heroin

Substance that produces a "high" which is accompanied by drowsiness and a sense of well-being (generally lasts for 3-4 hours)

depressants

Substances that are used to slow down or depress the functions of the central nervous system. Calm irritability and anxiety as well as may induce sleep

Hallucinogens

Substances that cause marked alterations in normal thought processes, perceptions, and moods

Stimulants

Substances that stimulate the activity of the central nervous system

LSD

Synthesized from lysergic acid (substance derived from the fungus ergot) Physical dependence does not develop with continued use

PCP

Synthesized in clandestine laboratories by simple chemical processes

Anabolic Steroids

Synthetic compounds that are chemically related to the male sex hormone testosterone

Club Drugs

Synthetic drugs that are used at nightclubs, bars, and raves

Ecstasy

Synthetic, mind-altering drug oExhibits many hallucinogenic and amphetamine-like effects

Microcrystalline test

Test that identifies a specific substance based on the color and shape of crystals that form when the substance is mixed with specific reagents o Crystals are examined using a compound microscope

a specific test to identify a drug substance to the exclusion of all other known chemical substances

Typically infrared spectrophotometry or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to specifically identify a drug substance

Barbiturates

Typically taken orally and create a feeling of well-being, relax the body, and produce sleep Commonly referred to as "downers"

Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Uses a solid stationary phase (usually coated onto a glass plate) and a moving liquid phase to separate the components of a mixture

Duquenois-Levine

Valuable color test for marijuana Performed by adding a series of chemical solutions to the suspect vegetation. A positive result is shown by a purple color when chloroform is added

Dillie-Koppanyi

Valuable screening test for barbiturates in whose presence the reagent turns to a violet-blue color

theory of light

White light is dispersed into a continuous spectrum of colors when passed through a prism

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

a chemical that is in marijuana that produces a psychoactive effects

Analgesics that relieve pain by

a depressing action on the central nervous system

Some drugs (e.g., alcohol, heroin, and cocaine) lead to

a high degree of involvement with continued use

Controlled Substances Act

a legal drug-classification system that has been created to prevent and control drug abuse

Others (e.g., marijuana and codeine) have

a lower potential for abuse

Most forensic laboratories use UV and IR spectrophotometers to

characterize chemical compounds

Oral intake of PCP first leads to feelings of strength and invulnerability which may turn to

depression, tendencies toward violence, and suicide

Simplicity of the UV spectrum facilitates its use as a tool for

determining a material's probable identity May not provide a definitive result since other drugs or materials may have a similar UV absorption spectrum

Effects accompanying the use of GHB

dizziness sedation headache nausea

Schedule II

have a high potential for abuse and a medical use with severe restrictions (e.g., cocaine, PCP, and most amphetamine and barbiturate preparations)

Schedule I

have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, marijuana, methaqualone, and LSD)

Schedule IV

have a low potential for abuse and a current medical use (e.g., propoxyphene [Darvon], phenobarbital, and some tranquilizers such as diazepam [Valium] and chlordiazepoxide [Librium])

what drug is Synthesized from morphine which is readily extracted from opium

heroin

Side effects of Ketamine

impaired motor function high blood pressure amnesia mild respiratory depression

where is the greatest concentration of THC found

in the sticky resin that is produced by the plant known as hashish

Effects of marijuana include

increased heart rate dry mouth reddened eyes impaired motor skills and concentration frequently hunger

Schedule III

less potential for abuse and a currently accepted medical use (e.g., all barbiturate preparations not covered under Schedule II such as codeine and anabolic steroids)

"Huffing" can cause

liver, heart, and brain damage, or even death

Rohypnol causes

muscle relaxation loss of consciousness inability to remember what happened during the hours after ingesting the drug

Does marijuana cause a physical dependency?

no but they can develop a strong psychological dependence on the drug

What are examples of hallucinogens

o Marijuana o Mescaline o Psilocybin o LSD o PCP

examples of depressants

oAlcohol (ethyl alcohol) oBarbiturates oAntianxiety drugs oVarious substances that can be sniffed (e.g., airplane glue, model cement, or aerosol gas propellants such as freon)

examples of stimulants

oAmphetamines (or its chemical derivatives methamphetamines) o Cocaine

Several emotional factors play a part in drug dependence

oPersonal characteristics of the user oExpectations about the drug experience oSociety's attitudes and possible responses oSettings in which the drug is used

Nature of drug experience can be approached from two distinctly different aspects of human behavior

oPsychological dependence oPhysical dependence

how is LSD taken?

orally (e.g., pill, added to a cube of sugar, or absorbed onto a small piece of paper)

What is the active ingredient in OxyContin

oxycodone

Theory of chromatography is based on the observation that chemical substances have a tendency to

partially escape into the surrounding environment when dissolved in a liquid or when absorbed on a solid surface

Plan (or scheme of analysis) is divided into two phases

screening tests confirmation

Schedule V

show low abuse potential and a medical use (e.g., certain opiate drug mixtures that contain nonnarcotic medicinal ingredients)

The analysis of alcohol exemplifies the primary objective of forensic toxicology which is

the detection and isolation of drugs in the body for the purpose of determining their influence on human behavior

quantitative determination

the determination of the percent composition of the components of a mixture

qualitative determination

the identity of the material

A major branch of forensic toxicology deals with

the measurement of alcohol in the body for matters that pertain to violations of criminal law

Regular use of narcotics will invariably lead

to physical dependence

Side effects of anabolic steroids include

unpredictable effects on mood and personality depression diminished sex drive halting bone growth liver cancer

LSD Can cause hallucinations that can last

up to 12 hours

Absorption spectra can be measured in

visible, UV, or IR regions

Addicts frequently dissolve heroin in

water by heating it in a spoon and injects it in the skin later on

Waves can be described in terms of

wavelength frequency

five schedules of classification for controlled dangerous substances on the basis of a drug's:

ØPotential for abuse ØPotential for physical and psychological dependence ØMedical value

what are common drugs of abuse whose regular use does not lead to physical dependence

• Marijuana and cocaine

Common Classification of Drugs of Abuse

• Narcotics • Depressants • Stimulants • Hallucinogens