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Drugs
Drug Abuse
Two types of dependence
Psychological- the conditioned use of
a drug caused by underlying
emotional needs.
Physical- physiological need for a
drug that has been brought on by
regular use. Withdrawal sickness
when drug is stopped
Classifications of Drugs
Narcotics
Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens
Anabolic steroids
Narcotics
Analgesics- relieve pain by exerting a
depressing action on the central
nervous system.
The source of most is from opium
Will most likely cause physical
dependence
Morphine, heroin, methadone,
codeine, oxycontin
Depressants
Relax the CNS, create a sense of well
being, produce sleep and stupor.
Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)
Barbituates-downers, quaaludes
Tranquilizers- relaxing effect without
sleep. Valium and librium
Glue sniffing or huffing
Stimulants
*amphetamines-group of drugs that
stimulate the CNS, provide feeling of
increased alertness followed by
decreased fatigue and loss of
appetite.
Methamphetamines, ice, uppers,
speed
Stimulants cont.
Cocaine- powerful stimulant to CNS.
Increased alertness, vigor,
suppression of hunger, fatigue and
boredom. Provides a sense of
euphoria by stimulating pleasure
center in the brain that controls
emotions
Crack- smoked
Coke-powder that is snorted
Hallucinogens
Can cause marked alterations in
normal thought processed,
perceptions and moods.
Marijuana-most widely used illicit
drug . Most potent form is liquid
hashish made by soaking in solvent,
looks like tar.
LSD, PCP, MDMA are other
hallucinogens
Anabolic steroids
Synthetic compounds that are
chemically related to testosterone.
Produce muscle mass and male
characteristics.
Causes liver cancer, infertility,
diminished sex drive, halting bone
growth, unprovoked anger, and
unpredictable moods.
Oxyconone, LSD, ICE,Ecstasy
Opium
Controlled Substance Act
Classification system for dangerous
substances based on the drug’s
potential for abuse, physical and
psychological dependence, and
medical value.
Five schedules I is the most
dangerous.
Control act schedules
I – high potential for abuse, no medical
value. Heroin, marijuana, LSD
II- high potential for abuse, medical use
limited. Cocaine, PCP, other opiums
III- small potential for abuse, medical
uses. Codeine, barbituates
IV-low potential for abuse, valium
V- very low potential for abuse, most nonnarcotics.
Federal Penalties
Schedule I
15 years/$125,000
Schedule II
15 years/$125,000
Schedule III
5 years/$50,000
Schedule IV
$25,000
Schedule V
1 year/$10,000
Drug Identification
Presented with many different pills,
powders, tablets, capsules,
vegetable matter, liquids, pipes,
cigarettes and syringes.
Chemist must make 100% ID no
room for error.
ID cont.
Screening tests are done first to reduce
the number of possibilities.
Color tests
– Marquis- purple for heroin, morphine, opiums
orange-brown for amphetamines, meth
– Dillie-Koppanyi- violet blue for barbituates
– Duquenois-Loevine- purple for marijuana
– VanUrk- blue purple for LSD
– Scott test- blue for cocaine
Screening test cont.
Microcrystalline tests- when a drop of
chemical reagent is added to a drop
of drug on microscope slide, the a
crystalline precipitate will form.
These crystals are specific for each
drug. Most of the common drugs of
abuse are cataloged for comparison.
Chromatography
Used to separate drugs from the
diluents to help in the identification
process.
Based on the fact that chemical
substances will escape into the
surrounding environment when
dissolved in a liquid or absorbed on
to a solid.
Measured in retention time Rt
Chromatography cont.
Gas chromatography- separates mixtures
based on distribution between stationary
liquid phase and moving gas phase.
High performance liquid chromatography
(HPLC) stationary phase is a thin film
moving phase is gas. Room temp good for
LSD
Thin layer chromatography (TLC)stationary phase is gel, moving is liquid.
Used for tentative ID by running known
next to unknown.
Chromatographs
TLC & paper chrom.
Spectrophotometry
Based on the absorption of light in the UV
and IR regions of the light spectrum.
The UV spectrum only gives a probable ID.
The IR spectrophotometry is one of the
few ways to specifically ID a substance.
Can produce a “fingerprint” of a drug but
only in the purest form.
Spectrophotometer
Mass Spectrometry
Under carefully controlled conditions,
no two substances produce the same
fragmentation patterns.
Often paired with a gas
chromatograph (GC) to purify before
running and getting optimal results.
Test is called GC/MS
Can run very small amounts
GC/MS
Sequence of testing
Screening
– Color test
– Microcrystalline test
– Chromatography
• Use GC paired with Mass spectrometry
for positive ID
• Use IR spectrophotometry for positive
ID
Collection and Preservation
Usually best to keep in the original
packaging.
If volatile substance, put in air tight
container.
Mark all packages with enough
information so the officer can ID it
during trial.
Investigator needs to supply any info
that could lead to positive ID