1. Forensic toxicology
Part I – Drugs of Abuse

2. Drug vs. Poison
A drug is a natural or synthetic substance designed to affect humans (or other animals) psychologically and/or physically.
A drug taken in excess, showing its toxic effects, causing illness or death is considered a poison.
Dramamine Overdose:
Drowsiness, Seizures, Convulsions, Difficulty Breathing, DEATH

3. Controlled and Illicit Substances
Controlled Substances are drugs or chemicals whose manufacture, possession and use are regulated by the government.
Illegal Drugs (Drug Enforcement Agency)
Prescription Drugs (Federal Drug Administration)
Over the Counter Drugs (OTC)
Illicit Substances (aka drugs of abuse) are drugs taken strictly for pleasure whether produced legally or illegally.
Designer Drugs – drugs produced solely for abuse and evasion of specific drug laws.

4. Drug Classification According to Pharmacology (4 Types)
Pharmacology - The science of drugs, including their composition, uses, and effects
1. Hallucinogens (psychedellic drugs)
Changes normal thought processes, perceptions and moods
Desired Effects Include:
Hallucinations (visual or auditory)
Super strength in some cases
Undesirable Side Effects
Amnesia
Depression
Anxiety
Psychosis
Examples: Marijuana, LSD, PCP, Ecstasy (MDMA), Ketamine

5. Drug Classification (continued)
2. Stimulants (Uppers)
Act on the central nervous system to increase energy and/or alertness while suppressing appetite and fatigue.
Desired Effects Include:
Mental alertness
Increased energy
Undesirable Side Effects
Restlessness
Anxiety
Sudden Death
Examples: Caffeine, amphetamine, methamphetamines, cocaine, nicotine

6. Drug Classification (continued)
3. Narcotics (analgesics)
Act on pain centers in the central nervous system
Synthetic narcotics are known as opiates
Desired Effects Include:
Pain relief
Anxiety relief
Undesirable Side Effects
Death
Serum hepatitis
Examples: aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, opium, heroin, codeine, methadone, propoxyphene, oxycodon, fentanyl

7. Drug Classification (continued)
4. Depressants (Downers)
sometimes referred to as sedatives and tranquilizers, are substances that can slow brain activity.
Desired Effects Include:
Anxiety relief
Relaxation
Undesirable Side Effects
Depression
Chronic Fatigue
Anxiety
Examples: alcohol, barbiturates, quaaludes, valium

8. DEA Schedules of Controlled Substances
Schedule I Controlled Substances
Substances in this schedule have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.
Some examples of substances listed in Schedule I are: heroin, LSD, marijuana, methaqualone, and ecstasy.

9. DEA Schedules of Controlled Substances
Schedule II Controlled Substances
Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Examples of Schedule II narcotics include: methadone, oxycodone, Percocet, morphine, and opium.
Example of Schedule II stimulants include: methamphetamine

10. DEA Schedules of Controlled Substances
Schedule III Controlled Substances
Substances in this schedule have a potential for abuse less than substances in Schedules I or II and abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
Examples of Schedule III narcotics include: Vicodin and Codeine
Examples of Schedule III non-narcotics include: ketamine, and anabolic steroids.

11. DEA Schedules of Controlled Substances
Schedule IV Controlled Substances
Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule III. Examples: Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ambian
Schedule V Controlled Substances
Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse relative to substances listed in Schedule IV and consist primarily of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes
Example: some OTC cough medicines

12. Basic Laboratory Science
Standard/reference samples allow the laboratory to establish the known properties of a material so that the identity of crime scene evidence can be determined.
Positive test – A test result that indicates the substance being tested for is present in the sample.
False positive test – A test result that indicates that the substance being tested for is present when it is not.
Negative test – A test result that indicates that the substance being tested for in a sample is absent or in too small a quantity to be detected.

13. Basic Laboratory Science
Qualitative test – A test that determines that a substance is present.
Quantitative test – A test that determines how much of a substance is present
Doe, Jane ID# DOB 1/1/82
Normal range
Serum HCG
1520 mg/dL
O mg/dL

14. Screening tests vs. Confirmatory Tests
Screening test- a test that is nonspecific and preliminary in nature.
May test for a class of substances
Example: Class: Opiates Drugs: heroin, morphine, codeine
Often can be performed in the field – field test
Confirmatory test- a single test that specifically identifies a substance

15. Principles of Drug Analysis
Criminal penalties depend on the actual substance present in a sample and the amount of substance present.
Drug analysis process
Step 1: Chemist performs screening tests
Visual/microscopic
Microcrystalline
Spot test – In the field
Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) – in the lab
Step 2: Chemist performs a quantitative analysis to confirm the sample’s identity and determine its mass
Infrared spectroscopy (IR)
Gas Chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC/Mass Spec)

16. The Spot Test
Samples are mixed with chemicals to determine if drugs are present
A positive test results in a color change.
Standards are always tested along with samples

17. Thin-layer Chromatography (TLC)
A Separation technique that takes advantage of the solubility and physical properties of the controlled substance to separate and distinguish compounds in a mixture
Has solid stationary phase (silica gel plate) and liquid moving phase (solvent).
If the sample to be analyzed is solid, it must first be dissolved in a suitable solvent.

18. Identifying Drugs by TLC
Procedure:
A small amount of drug sample is applied to a TLC plate.
Standards are always tested with samples.
The plate is placed in a solvent.
After a period of time, the plate is removed and visualized.
Plates can either be placed under ultraviolet light revealing those materials that fluoresce as bright spots on dark background.
Or, the plate can be sprayed with a chemical reagent that reacts with the separated substances and causes them to form colored spots.

19. Identifying Drugs by TLC
Analysis of a TLC plate
Rf is a calculated ratio of the distance moved by a drug relative to the distance moved by the solvent used in developing the plate.

20. Drugs Crimes and Use Statistics
Direct drug crimes consist of the possession, manufacturing, and distribution of illicit substances.
Indirect drug crimes are those that are committed to support a person’s drug addiction or are crimes that are committed while someone is under the influence of drugs.
2012 Statistics for Illicit Drug Use in the US
12-17 yr %
18-25 yr %
>25 yr %