Download Illegal Drugs

Illegal Drugs
What is a drug?





A chemical that causes a physiological or
psychological action in the body
Illegal drugs are abused because they
produce a euphoric effect
Euphoria – a deep sense of well-being
Why do many people take illegal drugs?
It makes them feel good!!!
Price of euphoria…


Tolerance – occurs when, over time, an
ever-increasing dose of a drug is required
Physical dependency



results when the body becomes accustomed
to the regular intake of a drug
Can happen if the drug user takes a new dose
before the effects of the previous dose have
worn off
Withdrawal sickness (cramps, nausea, chills,
vomiting, insomnia, convulsions, pain, and
hallucinations)

Psychological dependency


deep need for the continued intake of a drug
occurs in an individual
Ex. Rat, two levers, cocaine, food
Drug Threat Matrix






Illegal drugs that show up in arrests on
the street
37% identify cocaine as the major drug
threat
36% methamphetamine
13% marijuana
9% heroin
1% 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
History of Cocaine






Leaves of the coca plant, Erythroxylon coca, were given
to Inca royalty in keeping with their religious and cultural
beliefs
The SA Indians chewed on the leaves to get additional
strength and endurance
In the 1880s Sigmund Freud considered cocaine a
miracle drug that led to clarity of mind
In 1886 the Coca Cola Co. marketed its new soft drink,
made from the same coca leaves, as an alternative to
alcoholic drinks
One bottle of Coca Cola contained about 60 mg of
cocaine
In 1903 the co. was forced to remove cocaine from its
beverage, but it still uses the leaves for flavor
Methods of extracting cocaine






Leaves mashed and soaked
Cocaine extracted with help from a solvent
Extract is 70% cocaine hydrochloride
Cocaine hydrochloride is a salt and can either be
injected intravenously or inhaled through the
nose
When mixed with an aqueous solution of baking
soda and heated, the basic form of the drug is
obtained
As the mixture is heated, a cracking sound is
produced, hence the name crack cocaine
Effects






Stimulant
effects can last from 15-30 minutes to an hour,
depending upon the method of ingestion
increases alertness, feelings of well-being and
euphoria, energy and motor activity, feelings of
competence and sexuality
Athletic performance may be enhanced.
Anxiety, paranoia and restlessness are also
frequent.
With excessive dosage, tremors, convulsions and
increased body temperature are observed
Methamphetamine




Stimulant that causes a euphoric effect in the
user
Powdered – also called crystal or crank; most
common form; produced in illegal labs; can be
injected, snorted, ingested, or smoked
Ice – also known as glass, batu, or shabu;
made by recrystalizing powdered meth. In a
solvent such as water, alcohol, or acetone;
usually smoked
Tablets – normally manufactured in Burma; can
be flavored and taken by mouth or smoked;
often imprinted with an R or a WY
Manufacturing of
Methamphetamine

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Manufactured using ephedrine or
pseudophedrine as a starting ingredient
E and P with hyroiodic acid and red phosphorus
E and P with iodine, red phosphorus, and water
E and P with iodine and hypophosphorous acid
E and P with ammonia and sodium metal
Mercuric acid, methylamine, phenyl-2propanone, and aluminum
Production of 1 lb of meth yields 6 lb of toxic
waste
Effects


Physical effects can include anorexia, hyperactivity, dilated pupils,
flushing, restlessness, dry mouth, headache, tachycardia,
bradycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, hypotension, hyperthermia,
diaphoresis, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness,
twitching, insomnia, numbness, palpitations, arrhythmias, tremors,
dry and/or itchy skin, acne, pallor, and with chronic and/or high
doses, convulsions, heart attack, stroke, and death can occur
Psychological effects can include euphoria, anxiety, increased libido,
alertness, concentration, energy, self-esteem, self-confidence,
sociability, irritability, aggression, psychosomatic disorders,
psychomotor agitation, hubris, excessive feelings of power and
invincibility, repetitive and obsessive behaviors, paranoia, and with
chronic and/or high doses, amphetamine psychosis can occur
Marijuana Facts






mild hallucinogen
Most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S.
Estimated that more than 12 million Americans
above the age of 12 use marijuana at least once
a month
Estimated that about 54% of the population
between the ages of 18 and 25 have tried it
Used in Chinese medicine as early as 2737 B.C.
Entered the U.S. from 1850-1942 and
recommended for the treatment of rheumatism,
nausea, and labor pains






Greenish-brown mixture of the leaves, flowers,
stems, and seeds of the plant Cannabis
Grows in most parts of the world
Active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Marijuana and other cannabis products are
usually smoked
can be brewed into tea or mixed in baked
products (cookies or brownies).
Used to treat glaucoma and to lessen nausea
caused by anticancer drugs and AIDS treatment
Effects


Bind to specific receptor sites in the human brain which
trigger the euphoric effect for which the drug is taken
dry mouth and throat, increased heart rate, impaired
coordination and balance, delayed reaction time, and
diminished short-term memory


Moderate doses tend to induce a sense of well-being and
a dreamy state of relaxation that encourages fantasies,
renders some users highly suggestible, and distorts
perception (making it dangerous to operate machinery,
drive a car or boat, or ride a bicycle).
Stronger doses prompt more intense and often
disturbing reactions including paranoia and
hallucinations.
Heroin







Derivative of the narcotic morphine
A narcotic is a drug that reduces pain and
causes sleep
Morphine is the active ingredient of opium, the
juice of the unripe poppy plant
Famous scene in the Wizard of Oz
3400 B.C. cultivated by the Sumerians who
called it Hul Gil which means “joy plant”
A mixture of opium, alcohol, and herbs was sold
to the public as laudanum
In 1898 Bayer marketed a new wonder drug,
Bayer Heroin
Manufacturing of Heroin




Created by reacting morphine with acetic
anhydride
Normally sold on the street as a mixture of
heroin and various cutting agents, which
can include quinine, mannitol, lactose,
starch, and even arsenic
Taken as an intravenous injection
Spoon used to hold heroin, salt, and water
over candle and warmed until dissolved
Effects

used as both a painkiller and a
recreational drug and
has an extremely high
potential for abuse
MDMA a.k.a. Ecstasy



A hallucinogen that is a member of synthetic
drugs used at nightclubs and referred to as club
drugs
Produced by Merck Pharmaceutical
In 1976 Alexander Shulgin of San Francisco
taste-tested it

“I feel absolutely clean inside, and there is nothing
but pure euphoria. I have never felt so great or
believed this to be possible. The cleanliness, clarity,
and marvelous feeling of solid inner strength
continued throughout the rest of the day and
evening. I am overcome by the profundity of the
experience.”






Classified as a moderate threat by the U.S. Dept.
of Justice
Used by psychotherapists in the 1980s but has
since been banned altogether by the DEA
90% is synthesized in Belgium and the
Netherlands
Pure MDMA is a crystalline solid
Typical dose is about 125 mg
Normally taken orally as a tablet, capsule, or
powder
Effects



tendency to induce a sense of intimacy with
others and diminished feelings of fear, anxiety,
and depression.
Before it was made a controlled substance,
MDMA was used as an augmentation to
psychotherapy, often couples therapy, and to
help treat clinical depression as well as anxiety
disorders.
Clinical trials are now testing the therapeutic
potential of MDMA for post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and anxiety associated with
terminal cancer
Mouse Party
Pharmaceuticals




Abused substances that are available legally by
prescription
Obtained by improper prescribing, forging
prescriptions, theft, or going to multiple doctors
for prescriptions
New sources is Internet pharmacies
Hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Oxycotin),
hydromorphoone (Dilaudid), and codeine,
diazepam (Valium), dextroamphetamine
(Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Date Rape Drugs

GHB



Available over the counter at health food stores in the
1980s
Was used by body builders to help increase muscle
mass and reduce fat
Rohypnol



Causes a condition known as anterograde amnesia
Person may not remember any of the events that
occur when they are incapacitated
Effect is greatly increased when the drug is mixed
with alcohol

Ketamine


Legally used as an animal anesthetic and
approved for human anesthetic
Normal usage levels cause a dreamy state
and hallucinations
LSD






First synthesized by Swiss chemist in 1943
Derivative of lysergic acid which is produced by
ergot fungus
Powerful drug that can be active in as small a
dose as 25 micrograms
Hoffmann accidentally ingested some and
experienced the first “acid trip”
Some people can experience flashbacks
Available in the form of tablets, capsules, liquid,
gelatin squares, and sugar cubes
PCP






hallucinogen
Can be snorted, smoked, or eaten
Developed in the 1950s as an intravenous
anesthetic but was never approved for use in
humans
Often mixed with other drugs or used to lace
cigarettes, cigars, and marijuana joints
Can cause a feeling of invincibility
Can exhibit great feats of strength b/c they feel
no pain
Psilocybin



Active ingredient in hallucinogenic
mushrooms
Chocolates filled with ground up
mushrooms have been found
Illegal in the U.S., except for Native
Americans for use in their religious
practices
Inhalants





Solvent vapors that cause a euphoric
effect
Aerosols, gases, and nitrates
Spray paint, glue, nail polish remover, and
cleaning fluid are the most common
Abuse of these drugs can cause dizziness,
withdrawal, nausea, vomiting, and
seizures
Can cause damage to the heart, lungs,
brain, kidneys, and liver
The Controlled Substances Act


Passed in 1970
Schedule I





No accepted medical use
High potential for abuse
Cannot be prescribed by physicians
Heroin, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, marijuana
Schedule II




Have accepted medical use
High potential for abuse
Can be prescribed by physicians with strict control
Opium, morphine, codeine, cocaine, oxycodone,
methamphetamine, ritalin

Schedule III




Schedule IV




Accepted medical use
Medium potential for abuse
Amobarbital, anabolic steroids
Accepted medical use
Lower potential for abuse
Valium, Xanax, Ambien
Schedule V



Accepted medical use
Lowest potential for abuse
Logen, motofen
Analysis of Drug Evidence

Important to use gloves and sometimes
a mask when collecting drug evidence
Presumptory test







Carried out in field
Places drug in pouch
Squeezes a capsule within the pouch releasing
the chemical reagent inside
Specific color changes indicate the possible
presence of a drug
Can be used as probable cause for an arrest
Can yield false positives
Cannot be used in court
Confirmatory Test

Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer
Alcohol and Driving




Most commonly abused drug in the U.S.
Illegal when combined with the act of driving or
under legal age
Limit for DWI is BAC of 0.08%
THE FIRST DUI conviction in a person's
lifetime is a misdemeanor. Upon conviction the
defendant may be given a sentence of up to 365
days in the county or municipal jail and a fine
between $600 and $2,100. The DUI defendant
will also be ordered to attend a court approved
substance abuse program and he will have his
driver's privilege suspended for 90 days.
Rate of Absorption




Quantity of alcohol
consumed
Time over which the
alcohol was
consumed
Form of the alcohol
Contents of the
stomach
Field Sobriety Tests

Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN)




Involuntary jerking of the eye that occurs
naturally as the eyes gaze to the side
Under normal conditions, this occurs when
the eyes are rotated at high peripheral angles
Under the influence of alcohol, it is
exaggerated and may occur at lesser angles
Difficulty following a slow moving object
horizontally

Walk and Turn



Subject is directed to take nine steps, heel-totoe, along a straight line
After taking the steps, the suspect must turn
on one foot and return in the same manner in
the opposite direction
Indicators of impairment: lack of balance,
begins early, stops to regain balance, doesn’t
touch heel-to-toe, steps off line, uses arms to
balance, makes an improper turn, or takes
incorrect number of steps

One-Leg Stand



Suspect instructed to stand with one foot
approx. six inches off the ground and count
aloud by thousands until told to put the foot
down
Officer times subject for 30 seconds
Indicators of impairment: swaying while
balancing, using arms to balance, hopping,
and putting the foot down
Intoxilyzer 5000




Person give 3 chances to blow sufficient breath
into a disposable mouthpiece
If the subject fails to provide enough breath, it is
considered a refusal
Once the breath is trapped within a transparent
chamber, an infrared beam of light is passed
through it
Instrument measures the absorption of infrared
light by the alcohol in the breath and uses this
to calculate the BAC