Transcript Forensic Drug Analysis - Mr. Stanley's Classes

Forensic Drug
Analysis
60 % of Forensics Lab work is
drugs
85-90% of all Criminal Cases
involve drugs
Addiction
Physical vs. Psychological addiction
 Physical

– causes withdrawl symptoms
– Ex: Alcohol, Narcotics, Depressants

Psychological addiction
– Dopamine release; satisfies an
emotional need
– Ex: Cocaine, PCP
Classification of Drugs

Opiates/Narcotics
– Reduce sensation – sleep like state
– morphine, heroin, codeine, fentanyl
– Both physically and psychologically addictive

Stimulants
– Stimulates, speeds up, the central nervous
system (CNS)
– high energy, euphoria
– amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine
– Psychologically addictive
Classification of Drugs

Hallucinogens
– Alters perceptions, “gen”erates illusions
– LSD (acid), PCP(angel dust), MDMA
(Ecstasy), Mescaline (peyote cactus),
Marijuana (THC), hallucinagenic
mushrooms (psilocybin)
– Most neither physical nor psychological
dependence
Depressants
–Depress CNS, drowsiness, slowed
response
–Barbiturates(Phenobarbital), Ethanol
–Valium (diazepam), Xanax
(alprazolam)
–Physically and psychologically
addictive
Controlled Substances

Schedules
– I: No approved medical use


LSD, Heroin, Psilocyn, Psilocybin, Marijuana,
MDMA, Mescaline, Methaqualone
– II: Medical use, severely addictive





Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Codeine, Morphine
Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Methylphenidate
Meperidine, PCP, Phenmetrazine, Oxycodone,
Oxymorphone, Butyl nitrite, Amobarbital,
Secobarbital, Pentobarbital
– III: Medical use, somewhat addictive


Morphine & Codeine in mixture, Opium,
Pentobarbital (Mix)
Anabolic Steroids (1991)
Controlled Substances
II
– IV: Medical use, low addictive potential
 Xanax
& Valium
 Ephedrine
 Codeine cough syrup
 Phenobarbital
– V: OTC
 Mixtures
of analgesics and opiates
 Propylhexedrine (decongestant)
Analysis Sequence

Observations
- Rock like, powdered, wet

Screening Test
- A presumptive test used to reduce the
number of possible identities of an
unknown substance
Screening for Marijuana
– Duquenois-Levine Color test
 THC
screening….. Marijuana and Hashish
 Drops added to vegetation, turns purple color
Confirmed at the Lab

Chromatography = separation of
mixtures
– Thin Layer (TLC)
– Gas chromatography (GC)
– Liquid chromatography (LC)
– Paper chromatography
TLC of Marijuana
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Marijuana
is a mixture of compounds
Components
spread out in solvent
Components of
various sizes and
solubilities travel
further
Under the scope: Marijuana

Green Plant Material
– Must be dry, in paper
– Microscopic Examination
 Look
for “Bear Claw” cystolythic hair on top
surface of leaf
Color Screening Tests
for other drugs
 Marquis
Test – ex: Nark II
 Primary presumptive test used for ecstasy
testing. Also used to test for cocaine, opiates
(e.g. methadone, heroin), and
methamphetamine.
–
–
–
–
–
Purple
Orange to brown
Blue
Red
Pink
Opiates
Amphetamine & Meth
Ecstasy
Aspirin
cocaine
Watch the video and then answer the questions.
Video Link: http://www.aetv.com/crime360/video/index.jsp?bcpid=1459183602&bclid=1459293923&bctid=1620577030
1. What kit do investigators use to identify a type of drug?
A. Mark II
B. Nark II
C. Dark II
2. True or False?
Investigators taste a drug sample to identify what it is.
3. What color would morphine or heroin turn after the reaction?
A. Black
B. Brown
C. Purple
4. How long did the investigator have to agitate the sample?
A. 12 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 60 seconds
5. What type of drug was the test sample?
A. Morphine or Heroin
B. Ecstasy
C. Amphetamine or Meth
The answers are …
1. What kit do investigators use to identify a type of drug?
A. Mark II
B. Nark II
C. Dark II
2. True or False?
Investigators taste a drug sample to identify what it is.
3. What color would morphine or heroin turn after the reaction?
A. Black
B. Brown
C. Purple
4. How long did the investigator have to agitate the sample?
A. 12 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 60 seconds
5. What type of drug was the test sample?
A. Morphine or Heroin
B. Ecstasy
C. Amphetamine or Meth
Microcrystalline test


Chemical reagent is added which causes
crystals to form
Crystals have different shape depending
upon what drug
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Infrared (IR) Drug
“Fingerprinting”
Substance is dissolved in solution
IR waves sent thru the mixture
Reflect back a “fingerprint” of the substance(s) in the mix
Spectral comparison of Prozac with a fluoxetine hydrochloride (10
mg) lactose-formulated product – a knock-off.
Infrared (IR) Drug
“Fingerprinting” continued
Spectral comparison of Prozac with a
fluoxetine hydrochloride starch-formulated
generic product.
Drug Testing in the Body
Urine is most common
 Immunoassay

– Based on antigen-antibody binding
specificity
– Antibody produced by injecting antigen
(drug) into rabbit
– Antibodies will bind to drug in urine

Confirmation done w/TLC
False positives in
Immunoassays
Poppy seeds and Vicks 44 for opiates
 Decongestants for amphetamines
 Benadryl and numerous cough syrups
for PCP

Heroin
marijuana