1. Chapter 9 Drug Identification and Toxicology By the end of this chapter you will be able to:
Identify the five types of controlled substances
Relate signs and symptoms of overdose with a specific class of drugs or toxins
Describe the role of various types of toxins in causing death
Discuss agents that may be used in bioterrorism
Define and describe the goals and practice of toxicology

2. Introduction TOXICOLOGY
the study of poisons and the identification of drugs
Medicinal
Recreational
Criminal
*ingesting, inhaling,
Injecting, absorbing

3. Toxicology

4. Introduction TOXICITY
The degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause injury
Use (how it was taken)
Duration (frequency)
Nature of exposure (ingested, inhaled, injected, absorbed)
Interaction (mixture with other drugs)

5. Introduction
Forensic toxicology helps determine cause-and-effect relationships
between
Exposure to a drug or other substance
and
Toxic or lethal effects from that exposure

6. Introduction People can be exposed to toxic substances:
intentionally— by treating illness or relieving pain
accidentally— by harmful combinations or overdoses
deliberately— by harming or killing others, or by suicide

7. Accidental Overdose John Belushi Chris Farley Steve Clark Heath Ledger
Def Leppard
Janis Joplin
Chris Farley
Jimi Hendrix
Anna Nicole Smith
Jim Morrison
The Doors
River Phoenix
Whitney Houston
Michael Jackson

8. Brief History of Drugs 399 BC - Socrates died of hemlock poisoning
Arsenic poisoning “inheritance powder”
1797 – Orfila and Christison could identify arsenic in the tissue of bodies
1945 – cyanide capsules used to murder Nazi leaders Himmler and Goering
1978 – Jonestown cult members (cyanide punch killing 900 people)
1978 – Bulgarian dissident Markov died by ingesting ricin, a component of the waste product of the manufacture of castor oil from castor bean

9. 1978 Jonestown – intentional, accidental, deliberate ???

10. Poison Commonly used poisons Arsenic Cyanide Strychnine
Chemicals used in fertilizer
Others
Acute poisoning – high dose over a short period of time, such as cyanide ingestion or inhalation, immediately producing symptoms
Chronic poisoning – lower doses over longer periods of time, gradual symptoms

11. Poison—Murder, Accidental Overdoses, and Drug Offences
Poisoning causes less than ½ of 1% of all homicides (not common)
Accidental drug overdoses are more common
Drug offenders
More than 50% of the federal prison population
About 20% of the population in state prisons
Arrests have increased since the early 1900’s

12. Controlled Substances
Legal drugs whose sale, possession, and use are restricted
Hallucinogens
Narcotics
Stimulants
Anabolic steroids
Depressants

13. Controlled Substances —Hallucinogens
Often derived from plants
The effect and intensity of response to these drugs varies from person to person.
Affects the user’s perceptions, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions

14. Michael Jackson Story

15. Controlled Substances —Hallucinogens
Affects of an overdose often include
Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
Panic attacks, anxiety, or psychosis

16. Controlled Substances —Hallucinogens
LSD – found in 1938 in a fungus that grows on grains, most potent mood changing. Odorless, colorless and tasteless. Sold in tablets, absorbent paper divided into decorative squares.
PCP – pure, white, crystal powder, a tablet or capsule.

17. Controlled Substances —Narcotics
Used to reduce pain by suppressing the central nervous system…often causes unconsciousness

18. Controlled Substances —Stimulants
Increases feelings of energy and alertness
Suppresses appetite
Afterwards, depression often results
Overdose affects include high blood pressure, agitation, confusion, seizures
Stimulants tend to be highly addictive

19. Controlled Substances —Stimulants

20. Controlled Substances —Anabolic Steroids
A chemical structure similar to testosterone
Promote cell and tissue growth increasing bone mass and body muscle.
Popular with weightlifters, bodybuilders, and other athletes
What are some of the negative side effects?

21. Controlled Substances —Depressants
Barbiturates and benzodiazepines
Affects the central nervous system by increasing GABA activity, a neurotransmitter
Increased GABA causes drowsiness and slowed brain activity
Relieves anxiety and produces sleep
Side effects include slurred speech and loss of coordination
Mixing depressants with alcohol and other drugs increases potency and health risks

22. Controlled Substances —Alcohols
In what way are alcohols toxic?
How is grain alcohol produced?
What are the classic symptoms of a hangover?
What is the effect of alcohol on the central nervous system?
What can chronic alcohol abuse cause?

23. Controlled Substances —Bacterial Toxins
Tetanus (also called Lockjaw)
Produced by the Clostridium tetani bacteria
Causes violent muscle spasms
Botulism
Produced by Clostridium botulinum—botulism
Paralyzes muscles
Causes irreversible damage to nerve endings
Extremely deadly in very small amounts
Most poisonous biological substance

24. Toxins
Organic - poisonous substances produced by living organisms. (bee sting, snake bite, plants)
Alcohols – ethanol (beverages)
Bacterial – EX. Botulism is the most poisonous
- (Clostridium botulinum)
- contaminated foods
EX. Tetanus – deadly
- (Clostridium tetani)

25. Controlled Substances —Pesticides and Heavy Metals

26. Controlled Substances —Pesticides and Heavy Metals

27. Controlled Substances —Bioterrorism Agents
Ricin
A poisonous protein in the castor bean
Lethal in extremely small amounts
Enters the body in various ways:
inhaled as a mist or a powder
ingested as food or drink
injected into the body
Causes death within a few hours

28. Controlled Substances—Bioterrorism Agents
Anthrax
Bacillus anthracis, which forms endospores
Spreads to humans from infected animals
Enters the human body through:
Inhalation; causing breathing problems that usually result in death
Ingestion; becoming fatal in 25% to 60% of cases
Absorption via the skin; leading to death in about 20% of untreated cases

29. Summary
Forensic toxicology seeks to identify poisons or drugs in criminals and victims.
Toxicology is important in studying cases of drug overdose and sporting violations.

30. Summary
Controlled substances fall into five main groups:
Hallucinogens
Narcotic
Stimulants
Steroids
Depressants

31. Summary
Poisons can be produced by living organisms.
Pesticides and heavy metals are common poisons.
Bioterrorism agents include ricin and anthrax.