Abio 175 Exam 3

Curtis Wright

(FDA officer)

• approved OxyContin using unproven claims of reduced abuse liability

Richard Sackler

(Purdue Pharma president)

• who drove OxyContin’s launch and minimized addiction risks.

OxyContin Label claim

“Delayed absorption… is believed to reduce abuse liability,” despite no supporting data. 

Sackler Withdrawls

Family took ~$11B from Purdue between 2008–2017.

Opioid Death toll

Over 800,000 U.S. deaths since 1999 linked to opioid epidemic.

Nazi Method

• A meth‑making process using household chemicals, created and shared by Bob Paillet

Precursor

 A chemical or product used to synthesize a drug (ex: Sudafed, lithium batteries, drain opener

Shake‑n‑Bake Lab

A small, portable meth‑cooking method using single‑use ingredients that don’t raise red flags.

Schedule I

• Drugs with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use (ex: LSD, heroin, MDMA).

Schedule II

High abuse potential but accepted medical use (ex: cocaine, methamphetamine

Schedule V

• Lowest abuse potential; accepted medical use (ex: atropine, opium).

Narcotics

• Sleep‑inducing, pain‑relieving drugs derived from opium (heroin, morphine, fentanyl).

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception, mood, and thought (LSD, psilocybin).

Depressants

Slow the central nervous system (alcohol, benzodiazepines).

Stimulants

Speed up the central nervous system (cocaine, meth, MDMA).

Marquis Test

A color test using sulfuric acid + formaldehyde to identify drugs by color change.

Thin‑Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Separates mixtures; requires a reference sample.

Gas Chromatography (GC)

Separates compounds and identifies them by retention time. Requires standards.

Retention Time

How long a compound takes to pass through the GC column.

GC‑MS

Identifies compounds by mass fragments; compared to a database, no reference sample needed.

Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)

Identifies compounds by the wavelengths they absorb; uses a database.

Controlled Substance Analog

A chemical substantially similar in structure and effect to a Schedule I or II drug.

Intent Requirement

Person must intend to use the analog for its drug‑like effects.

United States v. Forbes

Court ruled the Analog Act was too vague.

United States v. Washam

Court ruled the Analog Act was clear because 1,4‑butanediol becomes GHB in the body.

McFadden v. Virginia

Person must know the substance is an analog of a controlled drug.

Active Preparation

Evidence the drug is currently being made.

Remnants

Leftover materials like pill dough, coffee filters, battery casings.