Transcript Drugs
A natural or synthetic substance used to produce physiological effects in humans or other animals. Exists in numerous patterns depending on: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Nature of the drug, Route and frequency of administration Dose An individuals rate of metabolism. ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Personal characteristics of the user His or her expectations Societies attitudes and possible responses Setting where drug is used. Non drug factors include: Continued use of a drug caused by underlying emotional needs. No precise way to measure the level of psychological dependence a drug will have on an individual. Intensity of dependence depends on the nature of the drug. Drugs resulting in high degree of involvement: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Alcohol Heroin Amphetamines Barbiturates Cocaine Once certain drugs are taken in sufficient doses and frequency, physiological changes can result in continued use. Once the drugs are abstained from withdrawal occurs causing the individual to become very sick. See Table 5-1 Social impact of drug dependence is directly related to the extent in which the drug has become interwoven into a person’s life. Personal health, economic relationships, and family obligations may all suffer. A drug that increases sleep and depresses vital body functions such as blood pressure, pulse rate and breathing. Opiates-derived from Papaver somniferium (the Asian poppy) ◦ Ex: Heroin relieves pain by depressing the central nervous system Synthetic Opiates- drugs that are not naturally derived from opium. ◦ Ex: Methadone can be used to reduce a persons desire for heroin. A substance that induces changes in normal thought processes, perceptions, and moods ◦ Ex: Marijuana aka Cannabis sativa contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). See “Closer Analysis” pg 159 ◦ Ex: LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and PCP (phencyclidine) Drugs that slow down the functions of the central nervous system. ◦ Ex: Alcohol is overlooked as a drug quite often. ◦ Ex: Barbiturates are often taken orally and relax the user ◦ Ex: Antianxiety Drugs create a relaxing tranquility w/o impairing high thinking faculties or inducing sleep as opposed to barbiturates. ◦ Ex: Huffing/sniffing materials containing volatile solvents Speeds up the central nervous system ◦ Ex: Amphetamines are taken orally and commonly know as uppers or speed. ◦ Ex: Cocaine is extracted from leaves of Erythroxylon coca plant which is grown in the Andes mountains and is usually sniffed or snorted Synthetic drugs that are often used at night clubs etc. ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Ex: Ex: Ex: Ex: Ex: MDMA aka “Ecstasy” gamma hydroxybutyrate aka “GHB” Rohypnol aka “Roofies” Ketamine Methamphetamine Synthetic compounds chemically related to the male sex hormone testosterone that are used to promote muscle growth. ◦ Testosterone has 2 effects: Build muscle and promote growth of male secondary sex characteristics Mainly abused by people who are interested in accelerating muscle growth. A steroid w/o harmful side effects of the androgen drug has NOT been developed. Federal law establishes schedules of classification for controlled dangerous substances on the basis of a drugs potential for abuse, potential for physical and psychological dependence and medical value. See Controlled Substances Act Pg 169 Used to determine the identity of drugs present in a sample. These tests reduce the number of possible drugs to a small and manageable number. Accomplished by subjecting the substance to color tests. Many drugs yield characteristic colors when brought into contact with specific chemical reagents. There are 5 primary color test reagents: ◦ Marquis: turns purple in presence of heroin, morphine and most opium derivatives. Becomes orange when mixed with amphetamines and methamphetamines ◦ Dillie-Koppanyi: screens for barbiturates and turns violet blue in the presence of. ◦ Duquenois-Levine: color test for marijuana and turns purple when chloroform is added. ◦ Van Urk: turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD. Difficult to do in field conditions. ◦ Scott Test: in the presence of cocaine a cobalt thiocyanate solution turns blue. Adding HCl turns the solution a clear pink, then after adding chloroform the solution turns blue again. A drop of chemical reagent is added to a small quantity of drug on a microscope slide and will produce crystals highly characteristic of a drug. 2 Types used in drug analysis: ◦ TLC (thin layer chromatography): components of a suspect mixture travel up a glass plate making a series of dark and colored spots. This is compared to a standard sample The plate is prepared by with a silica gel that is held to plate by plaster of paris. A liquid sample is added to the plate. The plate is then placed in a chamber with a selected liquid. That liquid will move up the plate and the components of the sample are separated. See pg 179 Fig 5-16 ◦ GC (gas chromatography): separates mixtures based on distribution b/w a stationary liquid phase and a moving gas phase. Widely used b/c of its ability to resolve a complex mixture in minutes. TLC and GC animations Method used to identify a substance based on the wavelength of light is will absorb. 2 Types used in forensic drug analysis: ◦ Ultraviolet/Visible (UV) Spectrophotometry: Does not provide difinitive results but used in establishing probable drug identity. ◦ Infrared (IR) Spectrophotometry: Provides more complex pattern than UV b/c different materials have distinctively different infrared spectra, each IR spectrum is equivalent to a “fingerprint” of that substance How spectrophotometry works Characterizes organic molecules by observing their fragmentation pattern after their collision with a beam of high energy electrons Note: IR and mass spectrophotometry are typically used to specifically identify a drug substance Ensure substance is properly packaged and well labeled for delivery to the lab. Background info should be included. Package must prevent loss and contamination. Usually original packaging of the drug will suffice for packaging. Volatile substances must be packaged in air tight containers