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