1. Forensic Drug Analysis
60 % of Forensics Lab work is drugs
85-90% of all Criminal Cases involve drugs

2. Addiction Physical vs. Psychological addiction Physical
causes withdrawl symptoms
Ex: Alcohol, Narcotics, Depressants
Psychological addiction
Dopamine release; satisfies an emotional need
Ex: Cocaine, PCP

3. Classification of Drugs
Opiates/Narcotics
Reduce sensation – sleep like state
morphine, heroin, codeine, fentanyl
Both physically and psychologically addictive
Stimulants
Stimulates, speeds up, the central nervous system (CNS)
high energy, euphoria
amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine
Psychologically addictive

4. Classification of Drugs
Hallucinogens
Alters perceptions, “gen”erates illusions
LSD (acid), PCP(angel dust), MDMA (Ecstasy), Mescaline (peyote cactus), Marijuana (THC), hallucinagenic mushrooms (psilocybin)
Most neither physical nor psychological dependence

5. Depressants
Depress CNS, drowsiness, slowed response
Barbiturates(Phenobarbital), Ethanol
Valium (diazepam), Xanax (alprazolam)
Physically and psychologically addictive

6. Controlled Substances
Schedules
I: No approved medical use
LSD, Heroin, Psilocyn, Psilocybin, Marijuana,
MDMA, Mescaline, Methaqualone
II: Medical use, severely addictive
Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Codeine, Morphine
Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Methylphenidate
Meperidine, PCP, Phenmetrazine, Oxycodone,
Oxymorphone, Butyl nitrite, Amobarbital,
Secobarbital, Pentobarbital
III: Medical use, somewhat addictive
Morphine & Codeine in mixture, Opium, Pentobarbital (Mix)
Anabolic Steroids (1991)

7. Controlled Substances II
IV: Medical use, low addictive potential
Xanax & Valium
Ephedrine
Codeine cough syrup
Phenobarbital
V: OTC
Mixtures of analgesics and opiates
Propylhexedrine (decongestant)

8. Analysis Sequence Observations Screening Test Rock like, powdered, wet
A presumptive test used to reduce the number of possible identities of an unknown substance

9. Screening for Marijuana
Duquenois-Levine Color test
THC screening….. Marijuana and Hashish
Drops added to vegetation, turns purple color

10. Confirmed at the Lab Chromatography = separation of mixtures
Thin Layer (TLC)
Gas chromatography (GC)
Liquid chromatography (LC)
Paper chromatography

11. TLC of Marijuana Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Marijuana is a mixture of compounds
Components spread out in solvent
Components of various sizes and solubilities travel further

12. Under the scope: Marijuana
Green Plant Material
Must be dry, in paper
Microscopic Examination
Look for “Bear Claw” cystolythic hair on top surface of leaf

13. Color Screening Tests for other drugs
Marquis Test – ex: Nark II
Primary presumptive test used for ecstasy testing. Also used to test for cocaine, opiates (e.g. methadone, heroin), and methamphetamine.
Purple Opiates
Orange to brown Amphetamine & Meth
Blue Ecstasy
Red Aspirin
Pink cocaine

14. Watch the video and then answer the questions.
Video Link:
1. What kit do investigators use to identify a type of drug? A. Mark II B. Nark II C. Dark II
2. True or False? Investigators taste a drug sample to identify what it is.
3. What color would morphine or heroin turn after the reaction? A. Black B. Brown C. Purple
4. How long did the investigator have to agitate the sample? A. 12 seconds B. 20 seconds C. 60 seconds
5. What type of drug was the test sample? A. Morphine or Heroin B. Ecstasy C. Amphetamine or Meth

15. The answers are …
1. What kit do investigators use to identify a type of drug? A. Mark II B. Nark II C. Dark II
2. True or False? Investigators taste a drug sample to identify what it is.
3. What color would morphine or heroin turn after the reaction? A. Black B. Brown C. Purple
4. How long did the investigator have to agitate the sample? A. 12 seconds B. 20 seconds C. 60 seconds
5. What type of drug was the test sample? A. Morphine or Heroin B. Ecstasy C. Amphetamine or Meth

16. Microcrystalline test
Chemical reagent is added which causes crystals to form
Crystals have different shape depending upon what drug
Cocaine
Methamphetamine

17. Infrared (IR) Drug “Fingerprinting”
Substance is dissolved in solution
IR waves sent thru the mixture
Reflect back a “fingerprint” of the substance(s) in the mix
Spectral comparison of Prozac with a fluoxetine hydrochloride (10 mg) lactose-formulated product – a knock-off.

18. Infrared (IR) Drug “Fingerprinting” continued
Spectral comparison of Prozac with a fluoxetine hydrochloride starch-formulated generic product.

19. Drug Testing in the Body
Urine is most common
Immunoassay
Based on antigen-antibody binding specificity
Antibody produced by injecting antigen (drug) into rabbit
Antibodies will bind to drug in urine
Confirmation done w/TLC

20. False positives in Immunoassays
Poppy seeds and Vicks 44 for opiates
Decongestants for amphetamines
Benadryl and numerous cough syrups for PCP

21. Heroin

22. marijuana