1. Toxicology
Test 2/18/2016

2. Toxicology
The study of poisons and the identification of drugs and other substances a person may have used for medicinal, recreational, or criminal purposes.

3. Forensic Toxicology
Helps determine the cause-and-effect relationships between exposure to a drug or other substance and toxic or lethal effects from exposure

4. Toxic Exposure People can be exposed to toxins in three ways:
Intentionally
By treating illness or relieving pain
Accidentally
By harmful combinations or overdoses
Deliberately- Dun Dun Duuuun
By harming or killing others

5. Forensic History
“Inheritance Powder” was a term given to the widespread use of arsenic as a poison
1800’s chemical methods to detect arsenic and other toxins become available
Mathieu Orfila ( ) and Robert Christison ( ) become the first physicians to popularize these methods for forensic use.

6. Father of Toxicology Mathieu Orfila 1787-1853 French
Founded Toxicology
Earliest Promoter of chemistry in the courtroom
Wrote: Treatise of General Toxicology
Maria Lafarge case

7. Poisoning History Poison is NOT a common form of murder.
Famous Poisonings:
Famous Overdoses:

8. Poison: Murder, Overdose, and Drug Offenders
Acute vs. Chronic Poisoning
Acute
Caused by a high doses over a short period of time which immediately produces symptoms
Cyanide ingestion or inhalation
Chronic
Caused by lower doses over long periods of time which produces symptoms gradually
Mercury and Lead poisoning
Munchausen

9. Poison: Murder, Overdose, and Drug Offenders
Poison as a form of murder
Causes less than .5% of all homicides
Accidental Overdoses are more common
Drug Offenders
More than 50% of all federal detainees
Approximately 20% of state detainees

10. Controlled Substance Definition
Drugs whose sale, possession, and use are restricted because of the effect of the drugs and the potential for abuse.
Includes Illegal drugs and prescription medications

11. Controlled Substance There are five categories **DEA uses “schedules”
1. Hallucinogens
2. Narcotics
3. Stimulants
4. Anabolic Steroids
5. Depressants
**DEA uses “schedules”
Ex. Schedule 1 are defined as drugs with no accepted medical use and can result in severe dependence
Ex. Schedule 5 Drugs with lower potential for abuse in certain prescribed quantities

12. Controlled Substance: Hallucinogens
Origin:
often from plants
Affect:
Intensity varies from person to person;
Affects perception, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions
Alters level of serotonin transmission

13. Controlled Substance: Hallucinogens
Symptoms of Overdose:
Increased Heart rate or heart failure
Increased Blood Pressure
Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Psychosis, or Hallucinations

14. Controlled Substance: Hallucinogens
Examples:
MDMA or Ecstasy
Overheating causes kidney and heart failure = death
Mescaline
Main ingredient in Peyote
LSD
Visual impairments
PCP
Symptoms resemble schizophrenia

15. Controlled Substance: Narcotics
Affect:
Habit forming
Reduce pain by suppressing the central nervous system’s ability to relay pain messages to the brain

16. Controlled Substance: Narcotics
Symptoms of Overdose
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
low blood pressure
coma or loss of consciousness
Blue fingertips and lips
Clammy skin

17. Controlled Substance: Narcotics
Examples
Opium
Heroine
Codeine
Morphine
Oxycodone
Video

18. Controlled Substance: Stimulants
Affect:
Highly addictive
Suppresses appetite
Increases feeling of energy and alertness
Depression is often a result of the drug after it is metabolized out of the body

19. Controlled Substance: Stimulants
Symptoms of Overdose:
High blood pressure
Rapid heart rate
Increase in body temperature/profuse sweating
Agitation
Confusion
Seizures

20. Controlled Substance: Stimulants
Examples
Amphetamines (speed)
Cocaine or Crack
Methamphetamines
Video
Effects of Meth

21. Controlled Substance: Anabolic Steroids
Chemical structure similar to testosterone
Common in bodybuilders, weight lifters, and other athletes
Affect
Promotes cell and tissue growth
Increases bone mass and body muscle

22. Controlled Substance: Anabolic Steroids
Side effects
Mild
Acne
Increased body hair or baldness
Severe
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Impaired fertility in men
Blood clots
Kidney and liver cancer
Heart attack

23. Controlled Substance: Depressants
Affect
The Central Nervous System (CNS) by increasing the activity of GABA
GABA is a neurotransmitter that slows brain activity and causes drowsiness
Relieves Anxiety and produces sleep
Side Effects
Slurred Speech
Loss of coordination
Mixing with alcohol or other drugs increases potency and health risks

24. Controlled Substance: Depressants
Examples
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Alcohol

25. Controlled Substance: Depressants
Alcohol
All alcohols are toxic to the body
Produced by fermentation of sugars, fruits, grains, and vegetables
Depresses CNS
Temporary Side effects
Hangover
Headache, Nausea, Weakness,
Chronic Abuse
Liver Failure or Cirrhosis
Dangerous, disturbed behavior

26. Bacterial Toxins Tetanus or Lock Jaw Botulism
Origin: Clostridium tetani bacteria
Affect: Violent Muscle Spasms
Botulism
Origin: Clostridium Botulinum
Affect: Muscle Paralysis
Most poisonous biological substance
Deadly in small amounts

27. Pesticides and Heavy Metals
Lead
Chronic Poisoning
Mercury
Arsenic
Cyanide
Acute Poisoning
Strychnine

28. Bioterrorism Agents Ricin Origin: Castor Bean Dosage:
Inhaled as powder or mist
Ingested in food or drink
injected
Affect: Causes death in hours
Lethal in small amounts
Has been used in cancer treatments

29. Bioterrorism Agents Anthrax Origin: Dosage Bacillus anthracis; forms
endospores
Spreads from infected animals
Dosage
Inhalation
Breathing problems resulting in
death most of the time
Ingestion
25-60% fatal
Absorption
20% death rate in untreated cases

30. Drug Testing
Can be done by employers, law enforcement, insurance agencies**, and coroners
Procedure:
Occasionally watch sample
produced
Measure temperature of urine
Send to lab for testing

31. Live in moderation!
Any substance including water and salt can have adverse affects on your body if abused.
Video

32. 5 Most Deadliest Substances
Ricin
Botulism
Cyanide
Strychnine
Amanitin (death cap)