Drugs and Drug Abuse: Nature, Classes, and Forensic Analysis

1. Chapter 12

2. Bell Work for Friday, January 4 • Pick up the notes up front (2 sided!) • We will finish watching CSI and take notes on Drugs and Toxicology

3. Drugs and Drug Analysis and Forensic Toxicology • Nature of Drugs and Drug Abuse • Major Classes of Abused Drugs • Controlled Substance Laws • Analysis of Controlled Substances in the Forensic Laboratory • Forensic Toxicology – Antemortem and Postmortem • Alcohol and Drugs and Driving

4. I. Nature of Drugs and Drug Abuse 1. Working Definition of a Drug: • A drug is any substance that produces physiological or psychological change within a short period of time after ingestion and from a easily ingested dose 2. Nature of Drug Dependence: • Drug dependence is when an individual becomes strongly attached to a drug • Dependency is subdivided into two categories: physiological and psychological

5. I. Nature of Drugs and Drug Abuse 2a. Physiological Dependence: • With physiological dependence, there is a need by the body to have the drug present • A person experiences sickness if they stop taking the drug 2b. Psychological Dependence: • A person develops an uncontrollable “craving” (mental or emotional need) for a drug • The craving is a desperate need to continue

6. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs Drugs of abuse can be divided into six basic categories • Narcotic Drugs – taken to dull pain (analgesic) • Stimulants – taken to increase mental and physical energy • Hallucinogens – taken to change one’s mental state • Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers – taken to dull one’s senses, to reduce anxiety, or induce sleep • Club Drugs – taken to enhance one’s enjoyment of a party or other social activities • Performance Enhancing Drugs – taken to build muscles, endurance, or enhance athletic performance

7. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs 1. Opiates or Narcotic Drugs: • Narcotic drugs are painkillers (analgesics) • Morphine is a narcotic and the primary active drug in opium, the dried sap of the opium poppy plant • Opium can be smoked directly or chemically processed to isolate pure morphine • All natural and drug compounds derived from opium are known as opiates

8. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs • Opiates are psychologically addictive drugs, with withdrawal causing severe physiological symptoms • Codeine is the second most plentiful chemical component of opium, used as a strong painkiller and cough suppressant • Heroin, a derivative of morphine is at least as addictive as morphine • Synthetic painkillers include Darvon & Demerol

9. How the Drug Works • Depresses the CNS, reducing the conduction of nerve impulses to and from the brain • Pain impulses are reduced to manage pain

10. Symptoms • extreme sleepiness • Droopy eyelids • Depressed (slow) reflexes • Euphoria (intense feeling of happiness/joy) • Dry mouth • Facial, extremities itching • Low, raspy speech • Signs of needle puncture (track marks) may be present • Eyes are usually normal in movement, but pupils will be severely constricted (small)

11. Problems with use/abuse • Highly physiologically addictive • To obtain same level of “High”, users must continually increase dosage • May cause hearing loss (Rush Limbaugh) • In cases of heroin, the user never knows what it may be cut with (quinine, starch, lactose, Novocain, mannitol (sugar)) • Increased risk of HIV and or Hepatitis infection (needle use)

12. Withdrawal Symptoms • Nausea • Vomiting • Goosebumps • Sweating • Restlessness • Tremors • Lacrimation (eyes tearing) • Nasal congestion • Yawning • Changes in heart rate and blood pressure • Abdominal pain, muscle pain • Heat/Cold flashes

13. Forensic Tests • Marquis Color Test – reagent turns purple in presence of heroin and morphine and most other opiates • Microcrystalline test – reagent is placed on a slide containing small amount of the drug, a reaction occurs and crystals form, each type of drug has a specific crystalline shape. • GC/Mass Spec. – chemical compositions can be determined from analysis

14. VI. Alcohol and Drugs and Driving Driving While Impaired by Alcohol: • Alcohol is one of the easiest substances for toxicologists to find in the body fluids, due to the high dose and its chemical volatility • There is a good correlation between the amount of alcohol in the blood and the level of impairment • Laws define the level of alcohol above which a person would be considered impaired for the purpose of operating a motor vehicle • Most states have defined the limit to be 0.08% w/v (80 mg ethanol/100 ml of blood)

15. VI. Alcohol and Drugs and Driving • In the field, alcohol levels are determined by capturing a known volume of a person’s breath using the Breathalyzer or Intoxilyzer instruments • Alcohol levels in the breath can be correlated to levels in the blood • In the lab, blood samples are subjected to alcohol determinations using the GC

16. VI. Alcohol and Drugs and Driving Other Drugs and Driving: • All states have laws against driving while impaired by drugs besides alcohol • Charges are supported primarily by behavioral observations, but laboratory analysis showing a significant level of a drug is almost always required for successful prosecution • Prohibited levels for each drug have not been developed and placed into state laws as with alcohol

17. How the drug works • Depresses the CNS (central nervous system), particularly the brain • Absorbed from stomach and intestines into the bloodstream, where it travels to the brain • Depending upon a combination of factors, maximum blood-alcohol content may not be reached until 2-3 hrs after consumption

18. Effects on the brain • The forebrain reacts first (area controlling judgment) – lowers inhibitions, feeling of warmth, happiness • Later central and rear portions of brain are effected – loss of coordination, slurred speech, impaired memory, slowed reflexes • The last area effected is the medulla which regulates heart rate and respirations

19. Symptoms of effect • Uninhibited behaviors • Uncoordinated • Drowsy, sluggish • Disoriented • Thick, slurred speech • Loss of consciousness • Trouble with visual tracking (eye jerking horizontally, maybe vertically), pupil size usually normal

20. Problems with use/abuse • Psychologically and physiologically addictive • Damages brain, liver - permanently • Severe binging can lead to poor judgment • Drunk driving, unprotected sex, etc. • Memory impaired

21. Signs of withdrawal • Tremors • Sweating • Restlessness • Inability to concentrate • Nervousness • Pain

22. Forensic Tests • Breathalyzer test – subject exhales into tube and alcohol content is read • Blood test – usually used in conjunction with breathalyzer • Field sobriety test – eye tracking, balance and coordination tests determine ability to track and divide attention

23. Barbiturates • Downers • Amobarbital • Secobarbital • Phenobarbital • Pentobarbital • Butabarbital • Yellow jackets, Reds, Blue Devils

24. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers: • Alcohol, a depressant, is the most abused drug in the Western world • Barbiturates are highly physiologically active depressants, resulting in a physical & mental state similar to alcohol-induced intoxication • Valium, a benzodiazepine, is a tranquilizer drug designed to relieve anxiety • Rohypnol or “roofies” is a benzodiazepine and a major drug of abuse at raves and the club scene

25. How the drug works • Taken orally, enters the blood stream from the small intestine • Relax the body and muscles • Creates feeling of well being • Produces sleep

26. Symptoms of Effect • Sleepiness • Euphoria • Lowered heart rate and respiration • Uncoordination

27. Problems with use/abuse • Extremely physiologically addictive when taken in amounts larger than the prescribed amounts • Physical withdrawal is extremely severe and must be done under close medical supervision

28. Symptoms of Withdrawal • Insomnia • Severe muscle spasms • Delirium • Convulsions (severe) • Death

29. Forensic Tests • Dillie-Koppanyi Color test – reagent turns violet-blue in presence of barbiturates • Microcrystalline tests • Gas Chromatography

30. Tranquilizers • Drugs that produce a feeling of relaxed tranquility without the impairment of higher thinking skills or the inducement of sleep • Reserpine • Chlorpromazine • Meprobromate (Miltown) • Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) • Diazepam (Valium) • Xanax, Zoloft

31. How the drug works • Similar to barbiturates and other depressants • Relaxes without impairment of thinking or production of sleep

32. Problems with use/abuse • Very addictive (psychological and physiological) with high levels of usage • Regulates mood so that there is no up or down • Impairs sexual function (due to regulation of mood) • Changes may be long lasting after cessation

33. Withdrawal Symptoms • Similar to other depressants • Need to feel happy, normal

34. Forensic Tests • Microcrystalline Tests • Gas Chromatography

35. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs Hallucinogens: • Are taken to cause a significantly altered mental state, often including hallucinations • Marijuana is one of the oldest • The physiologically active ingredients are known as cannabinoids, found in the resinous leaf coating of Cannabis sativa • The most active cannabinoid is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

36. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs • Hashish is another form of marijuana, traditionally a more potent form, made from the flowering tops of the plant • Hash oil is made by taking the plant material and cooking it with a solvent to remove the plant resin • The solvent is then evaporated leaving a thick oily material which is almost pure resin • The concentrated hash oil can be mixed with tobacco or other vegetable material

37. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs • LSD is an extremely potent hallucinogen • The normal dose is only 30-50 micrograms • Causes visual hallucinations, brilliant colors, and the perception that one is wise • PCP or “angel dust” is another popular hallucinogen • PCP is fairly simple to make, with the vast majority made in clandestine labs

38. II. Major Classes of Abused Drugs • Naturally occurring hallucinogens include peyote, the bud of a particular cactus • The main active ingredient in peyote is “mescaline” • Magic mushrooms are mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, which contains two active components, psilocin and psilocybin

39. Hallucinogens (except Marijuana) • Drugs that cause marked changes in normal thought processes, perceptions and moods • LSD – lysergic acid diethylamide • STP – dimethoxymethylamphetamine • DMT – dimethyltryptamine • PCP – phenylcyclidine, mescaline • Psilocybin – Toxin produced by poisonous mushrooms “shrooms” • MDMA – Methylenedioxymethamphetamine “ecstacy”

40. How the drug works • Causes hallucinations • Taken orally, user experiences feelings of strength or invincibility, along with a sense of detachment (PCP) • All hallucinogens change neural pathways so that brain impulses travel through different areas of the brain than they would usually. • Many effect levels of seratonin in brain, chemical that regulates mood, causing the user to feel good or happy.

41. Symptoms of effect • Hallucinations • Dazed appearance • Body tremors • Incoordination • Sweating • Disorientation • Paranoia • Difficulty in speech • Nausea • Pupils usually noticeably dilated (Popped)

42. Problems with use/abuse • Small amounts are extremely potent • Body stores in fatty tissues (lining of nerves) can lead to flashbacks as chemical is re-released into the body • Mind can be permanently put into psychosis (mental illness) • Many times, feelings of anxiety and tension accompany the hallucinations (Bad Trips) • LSD may cause chromosomal damage in gametes (egg and sperm cells of users)

43. Other Problems • Ecstasy causes grinding of teeth (look for use of pacifiers), may cause lesions in the tongue or mouth • Many users of PCP (angel dust) will demonstrate schizophrenic behavior after drug is removed • Often triggers abnormal fears, depression, feelings of isolation, suicidal tendencies • Audio and visual hallucinations can cause severe paranoia and tendency to violence

44. Withdrawal Symptoms • Psychologically addictive – need it to feel “normal” or happy • Low seratonin levels cause severe depression

45. Forensic Tests • Van Urk Color Test – reagent turns blue-purple in presence of LSD • Gas Chromatography • Infra Red Spectrometry

46. Want to see what its like?? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVaLddnlafc

47. Inhalants • Glue Sniffing • Whip-its • Inhalation of volatile solvents • Huffing • http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/dangerous-teen-craze-whip-making-comeback/story?id=16006130

48. How the drug works • CNS Depressant • Chemicals like toluene, freon, naphtha, methyl ethyl ketone, gasoline, trichloroethylene • Slows down the brain and reflexes • Slow heart rate, breathing and brain activity

49. Symptoms • Feeling of exhilaration, euphoria • Slurred speech • Impaired judgment • Double vision • Drowsiness • Residue on hands and clothes • Stupor (Severe DUH symptoms) • Eyes have problems tracking horizontally, sometimes vertically

50. Problems with use/abuse • Physiologically and psychologically addictive • Danger of heart, lung, liver and brain damage • Can result in suffocation and death • Seizures • Can cause brain lesions from solvent use • May dissolve membranes in the nasal passage (slow loss of nasal cartilage) • Most chemicals are carcinogenic