1. Toxicology

2. Vocabulary
Controlled substance – a drug or other chemical compound whose manufacture, distribution, possession, and use is regulated by the legal system
Drug – a chemical substance that affects the processes of the mind or body; a substance used in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease; a substance used recreationally for its effects on the mind or body, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen
Narcotic – an addictive drug, such as opium, that relieves pain, alters mood and behavior, and causes sleep or feelings of mental numbness

3. Vocabulary
Poison – a naturally occurring or manufactured substance that can cause severe harm or death if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin
Toxicity – the degree to which a substance is poisonous or can cause injury
Toxin – a poisonous substance naturally produced by certain plants, animals, and bacteria that is capable of causing disease or death in humans; a subgroup of poisons

4. Toxicology
The study of poisons and identification of drugs and other substances a person may use for medicinal, recreational, or criminal purposes
Methods of exposure:
Ingestion through gastrointestinal system
Inhalation into lungs
Injection into bloodstream
Absorption through skin

5. Toxicity Depends on many factors The dose – how much taken
The duration – frequency and length of exposure
Nature of exposure – ingested, inhaled, absorbed
Whether drug or toxin interacts with other substances in the body like alcohol or prescription drugs
Many drugs indirectly toxic – substance that the drug is converted to or metabolizes to in the body is harmful

6. Forensic Toxicology
Helps determine cause-and-effect relationship between exposure to drug and the toxic or lethal effects from that exposure
Determined by chemical tests on:
Body fluids
Stomach contents
Skin
Hair
Internal organs – liver, vitreous humor fluid of eye

7. Forensic Toxicology Toxic agents other than drugs: Heavy metals
Solvents and vapors
Radiation and radioactive materials
Dioxins/furans
Pesticides
Plant and animal toxins

8. Toxins Also classified by how people are exposed to them:
Intentionally – drugs taken to treat illness or relieve pain
Accidentally – ingested or exposed, as in unintentional overdoses or harmful combinations
Deliberately – suicide or exposure intended to harm or kill others

9. Murder by Poison Less than ½ of 1% of all homicides
Commonly used poisons:
Arsenic, cyanide, strychnine
Also industrial chemicals created for other uses
Acute poisoning – caused by high dose over a short period of time which immediately produces symptoms
Cyanide ingestion or inhalation
Chronic poisoning – caused by lower doses over long periods of time, which produces symptoms gradually
Mercury or lead poisoning (mad hatter)

10. Accidental Drug Overdoses
More common than death from poisoning
Chris Farley
John Belushi
River Pheonix
Jimi Hendrix
Cory Monteith
Whitney Houston
Amy Winehouse
O.D.B
Jim Morrison

11. Drugs Illegal drugs – heroin, LSD Not accepted for medical use in U.S.
Controlled substances
Medications, narcotics, depressants, stimulants

12. Drugs: Controlled Substances
Five classes:
Hallucinogens
Narcotics
Stimulants
Anabolic steroids
Depressants

13. Hallucinogens
Affect user’s perceptions, thinking, self- awareness, and emotions
Plant derived:
Mescaline from a cactus, Marijuana, Mushrooms
Chemically manufactured:
LSD, MDMA (ecstacy), PCP

14. Narcotics
Reduce pain by suppressing the central nervous system’s ability to relay pain messages to the brain
Very habit forming
Opium and derivatives: heroin & codeine
Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab)
Methadone (Dolophine)
Morphine (MS Contin)
Oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin)
Codeine containing – Tylenol 3

15. Stimulants
Increase feeling of energy & alertness while suppressing appetite (caffeine, diet pills)
Depression often results when drug wears off
Sometimes used to boost endurance and productivity
Examples:
Amphetamines (speed), methamphetamines (stronger), and cocaine (including crack)
Highly addictive

16. Anabolic Steroids Promote cell and tissue growth and division
Produced in lab and have chemical structure similar to testosterone
Originally produced to treat hypogonadism
Now used to treat delayed puberty, impotence, muscle wasting caused by HIV
Also increase body muscle and bone mass
Negative effects:
Mild – acne, increased body hair, baldness
Severe – high BP & cholesterol, impaired fertility in males, blood clotting, kidney and liver cancers, heart attacks

17. Depressants Relieve anxiety and produce sleep
Reduce body functions, such as heart rate, by acting on CNS
Drugs like barbiturates & benzodiazepines (valium)
Side effects:
slurred speech, loss of coordination, state of intoxication
Overdose:
Slow heart rate & breathing, come and death
Mixed w/ alcohol and other drugs increases risks

18. Alcohols All are toxic to the body Accumulation in blood may produce:
Dehydration, headache, nausea, weakness
Chronic abuse – liver damage
Can also depress central nervous system
Brain: interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.  

19. Alcohols Heart: Liver: Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
Irregular heart beat
Stroke
High blood pressure  
Liver:
Steatosis, or fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis
Fibrosis
Cirrhosis

20. Alcohols Pancreas Cancer Immune system
Build up of toxic substances leading to pancreatitis
Cancer
Increase risk of certain cancers:
Mouth, Esophagus, Throat, Liver, Breast
Immune system
weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease
Pneumonia, tuberculosis, and weaken to warding off infections.

21. Other Toxins Organic Toxins – produced by living organisms
interfere with that organism’s metabolism
Absorbed through intestine or skin
Venom – secreted toxin from an animal
(i.e. bee sting, snakebite)

22. Other Toxins Bacterial:
Botulism – most poisonous biological substance known to humans
neurotoxin paralyzing muscles
Extremely deadly in small amounts, can be avoided by cooking and heating food thoroughly
Purified botulinum toxin – can treat muscle spasms, eye conditions, excessive sweating, headaches, promote wound healing, cosmetics (botox)
Tetanus – potentially deadly nervous system disease “lock jaw”

23. Other Toxins Pesticides Heavy Metals
used for controlling insects, mice, weeds, fungi, bacteria, viruses that threaten plants or food crops
Toxic and can cause severe illness and death
Examples: DDT, aldrin, dieldrin
Heavy Metals
Enter body by ingestion and inhalation, or by absorption
Stored in soft tissues of body and can damage many organs
hydrogen cyanide (gas chambers), carbon monoxide (car exhausts), potassium chloride & sodium pentothal (lethal injections), mercury (The Madhatter)

24. Other Toxins Bioterrorism Agents
Ricin – cator bean / waste of castor oil
lethal to humans in small quantities
Inhaled as a mist or powder, ingested in food or drink, injected into body
Prevents cells from making necessary proteins causing cell death
Inhalation - death after 8 hours
Ingestion - death after 6 hours

25. Other Toxins Bioterrorism cont…
Anthrax
Forms endospores
Inhalation results in death
Ingestion – percent fatal
Skin absorption – 20 percent untreated fatal
2001- spread through postal system and caused 22 cases (12 deaths)