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Drugs
Harrison
Forensics
DRUGS
Drug
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Defined as a natural or synthetic substance that is
used to produce physiological or psychological
effects in humans or other animals.
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Criminalists are concerned with a small number of
drugs, mostly illicit- that are commonly used for
their intoxication effects.
Some common problem drugs
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Marijuana (most widely used illicit drug)
Alcohol- (legal to consume, but not to drive under influence of)
Ecstasy
Cocaine
Heroin
Crack
GHB
Drug Use Has Grown in US
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It used to be considered a problem of
members of the lower socioeconomic
ladder.
We now know it cuts across all social and
ethnic classes of society.
As of 2008 it was estimated that 23 million
people in the US use illicit drugs.
Terms to know
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Illicit- Breaking social norms; Unlawful
Depressant- is a chemical agent that diminishes
the function or activity of a specific part of the
body. The term is used in particular with regard to
the central nervous system.
Stimulant- A class of drugs that enhance brain
activity. Prescription stimulants were used
historically to treat asthma, obesity, neurological
disorders, & a variety of other ailments, before
their potential for abuse and addiction became
apparent.
Crime Evidence
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75% of evidence evaluated in crime labs in
the US is drug related.
New crime labs have been built and old
ones expanded to deal with the case loads
Drug Dependence
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Long recognized by society is generally
looked at in two ways:
Psychological dependence
Physical dependence.
Psychological Dependence
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Many reasons behind drug use
Addicts are often functioning human beings, not
just social dropouts.
Whatever the reason for a persons use,
underlying psychological needs & a desire to
fulfill them create a conditioned pattern of drug
abuse.
Take drugs for perceived emotional “wellbeing” they believe they need them to feel
happy, cope, relax, etc.
Impact varies by type of drug and
individuals who use them.
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Alcohol, heroin, amphetamines,
barbiturates, & cocaine generally result in a
high involvement of psychological
dependence.
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(there is social use of alcohol, but an addict
is dependent on it to deal with life’s
stresses & anxieties.)
Physical Dependence
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A physiological change that produces the
need for continued use.
Abstaining from the drug will cause severe
physical illness called withdrawal sickness
or abstinence syndrome in addicts.
Taking more drugs to avoid the symptoms
of withdrawal sickness proves physical
dependence.
Withdrawal Sickness Symptoms
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Body chills
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Convulsions
Insomnia
Pain
hallucinations
Strong physical addictions
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Alcohol, heroin, & barbiturates show strong
levels of physical dependence.
Societal Aspects of Drug Use
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More pre-occupied an individual is with the
drug (addicted) the more they will allow
personal health, economic relationships, &
family obligations to suffer.
This leads to serious implications for the
public’s safety, health & welfare.
Good or Bad Drug
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Laws governing drugs are determined by
weighing the beneficial aspects of the drug
against the ultimate harm its abuse will do
to the individual & society as a whole.
Tobacco & coffee are addictive, but do not
cause dangerous societal effects in a high
enough degree to require laws prohibiting
them.
Types of Drugs
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Narcotics- substances that relieve pain or produce
sleep.
Opiates- painkiller derived from opium, a gummy,
milky juice exuded through a small cut made in
the unripe pod of an Asian Poppy. (examples:
heroin, morphine)
Synthetic Opiates- not from plant, but man made
to have similar effects as opiates. (example:
methadone)
Hallucinogens
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Are drugs that cause marked alterations in
normal thought processes, perceptions,
and moods. (Marijuana, LSD)
Depressants
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are psychoactive drugs that temporarily reduce the function
or activity of a specific part of the body or brain. Examples
of these kinds of effects may include sedation and
hypotension. Due to their effects typically having a "down"
quality to them, depressants are also occasionally referred
to as "downers".
effects may include: cognitive/memory impairment,
dissociation, muscle relaxation, lowered blood
pressure/heart rate, respiratory depression, anesthesia,
and anticonvulsant effects. Some are also capable of
inducing feelings of euphoria.
Common Drugs
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Cannabis- commonly referred to as
Marijuana. The narcotic is also known as; Pot,
Reefer, Grass, Weed, Herb, Joint, Doobie, Blunt,
Chronic, Skunk Weed, etc…It can have a
depressant effect in low doses, but can have a
hallucinatory effect in moderate to high dosage.
Ecstasy- Commonly referred to as; "X, XTC, Zen,
M, Beans, Rolls.." It is a powerful stimulant
psychedelic drug related to methamphetamine.
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G.H.B.- Commonly referred to as "Grievous Bodily Harm",
the drug Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. It depresses the
central nervous system, & it is often abused for euphoric,
sedative & anabolic effects. GHB is odorless & nearly
tasteless. GHB has reportedly been used in cases of date
rape. Coma & seizures can occur following abuse of GHB.
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COCAINE- Commonly referred to as; "Coke, nose candy,
powder, blow, snow…" Cocaine is a naturally occurring
stimulant found in the coca bush plant; it is processed into
cocaine by hydrochloride; generally in a white or off-white
color. Users can overdose due to the constriction of blood
vessels & increased heart rate, often causes heart failure.
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L.S.D.-is the most common hallucinogen. It is manufactured
from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that
grows on rye and other grains. It’s commonly referred to as
"acid," is sold on the street in tablets, capsules, or
occasionally in liquid form. It is odorless and colorless, with a
slightly bitter taste, & is usually taken by mouth. LSD is
usually sold as "blotter acid", where the drug is imprinted on
small, colorful sheets of paper.
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CRACK COCAINE- is commonly referred to as; "Rock,
Parley, Slab, Cookie, Piece…." The cocaine is boiled down
in water using a combination of baking soda to remove the
impurities. This produces rock like pieces that are smoked
with homemade glass pipes, base pipes, or bent aluminum
cans. Crack cocaine is even more addicting than cocaine.
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HEROIN- Commonly referred to as; "Smack, Junk, Powder,
Scag, Brownstone, China…" It was once thought to be the
answer for a non addictive solution to morphine addiction, but
turned out to be the one of the most highly addictive drugs of
all. Ranging in color from white, brown, & black, heroin has
traditionally been injected. Heroin is much more potent today
that in previous years & just as dangerous & addictive.
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SPECIAL K- is ketamine hydrochloride, a drug widely used
as an animal tranquilizer by vets in pet surgery. Normally
found in injectable form, it is converted into a powder & repackaged in small zip lock bags or capsules. It is a powerful
hallucinogen. Ketamine is generally snorted but is
sometimes sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana &
smoked. Special K is frequently used in combination with
other drugs, such as Ecstasy, heroin & cocaine.