Transcript Introduction to Forensic Science

Narcotic Drugs
Pharmacologically classified as an analgesic
Central Nervous System Depressants
Popular drugs – heroin, morphine, codeine,
methadone and propoxyphene
Hallucinogens
 Marijuana
 Derived from the plant Cannabis
Hashish – concentrated
Sinsemilla – unfertilized flowering tops of the female
Cannabis plant
 Active ingredient is THC
 Potency is normally 4-5%
 Simsemilla averages 6-12%
 Liquid hashish averages 8-22%
 Potential medical uses
Hallucinogens
 LSD – derived from ergot, a fungus
of certain grains and grasses
 Powerful drug
 Visual hallucinations, changes
in moods, anxiety, tension, etc
 Flashbacks possible
Hallucinogens
 Phencyclidine – PCP
 Human response unpredictable
 Dangerous drug – paranoia and violence possible
 Schizophrenic behavior possible days after use
 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (aka MDMA or ecstasy)
 Originally patented as appetite suppressant
 Severe adverse reactions, including fatal side effects





Depressants
Alcohol (aka ethanol, ethyl alcohol, booze, etc.)
 Central nervous system depressant
 Legalized and most widely used drug
 A common effect is impairment
 Legal blood alcohol level in Oklahoma is 0.10%, or 100 mg/dL
Barbiturates
 All are derivatives of barbituric acid
 Big 5: amobarbital, secobarbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital and butalbital
Methaqualon
. Tranquilizers
 Major players: reserpine, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam
Inhalants
 Volatile organic solvents – toluene, naphtha, gasoline among others
 Initial exhilaration and euphoria followed by impaired judgment, drowsiness and stupor
 Danger of liver, heart and brain damage
Stimulants
 Amphetamines
 Initial feeling of well-being and alertness followed by fatigue and a loss of appetite
 Amphetamine, methamphetamine and “ice” (crystal meth) are favorites
 Phenmetrazine and phendimetrazine have similar properties
 Cocaine
 First used medically by Freud in Europe
 Medical use is now limited
 Extracted from the leaves of coca plant (Erythroxylon coca)
 “Crack” cocaine is the drug of choice
 Cocaine produces the strongest psychological compulsions for continued use
Anabolic Steroids
 Synthetic chemicals related to testosterone
 Used to promote muscle growth
 Synthetic hormones have an androgenic effect
 Medical side effects include liver damage, infertility, diminished
sexual drive, and depression
Drug Control Laws Controlled Substances Act




Federal law restricting the manufacture and distribution of dangerous substances
The U.S. Attorney General has the authority to change the schedules
The criminal penalties associated with this law are greatest with schedules I and II.
Schedule I
 No medical use
 High potential for abuse
 Heroin, LSD, methaqualone and marijuana
Controlled Substances Act
 Schedule II
 High potential for abuse
 Accepted medical use
 Potential for psychological or physical dependence
 Cocaine, opiates, PCP, amphetamines, methadone and fast-acting barbiturates
 Schedule III
 Less potential for abuse than schedules I and II
 Currently accepted medical use
 Potential for low or moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence
 Anabolic steroids, some codeine preparations and some barbiturate preparations (phenobarbital
not included)
Controlled Substances Act
 Schedule IV
 Low potential for abuse relative to schedule III drugs
 Currently accepted medical use
 Relatively low limited dependence risk
 Propoxyphene, phenobarbital, meprobamate, diazepam and
chlordiazepoxide
 Schedule V
 Low abuse potential
 Medical use
 Less potential for producing dependency
 Certain opiate drug mixtures that contain non-narcotic medicinal
ingredients
Controlled Substances Act
 Designer drugs
 Can be placed under schedule I
 Fentanyl analogues
 Control of chemical precursors
 Example – precursors to amphetamine, methamphetamine and
PCP are controlled as schedule II substances
Drug Identification
 Screening tests
 Color tests
 Marquis – purple color in presence of opiates and orange-brown in presence of
amphetamines
 Dillie-Koppanyi – violet-blue color in presence of barbiturates
 Duquenois-Levine – purple color in presence of marijuana
 Van Urk – blue-purple color in presence of LSD
 Scott – blue color in presence of cocaine





Microcrystalline tests
TLC
Gas chromatography
HPLC
UV Spectroscopy
Drug Identification
 Confirmation tests
 IR spectroscopy – fingerprint of an organic compound
 GC/MS – the gold standard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine
http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/
Spectrpy/MassSpec/masspec1.htm