Lecture 9- Drug and forensic toxicology

drugs

natural or synthetic substance that is used to produce physiological or psychological effects in humans or other high order animals

psychological dependence

continued the use of a drug caused by underlying emotional needs

physical dependence

need for drug that has been brought about by its regular use

what are the different types of administration of drugs? 

orally, contact, snorting, injection (intravenous and intramuscular), inhalation

Orally

20-30 minutes reaction time

contact

5-10 minute reaction time

snorting

3-5 minute reaction time

intravenous

15-30 second reaction time 

intramuscular

3-5 minute reaction time

inhalation

7-10 second reaction time

analgesics

a drug or substance that lessens or eliminates pain

heroin

derivative of opium and made by reacting morphine with acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride, highly soluble in water

fentynal

stronger and synthetic version of heroin and is used in hospitals as an anesthetic medication

hallucinogens

substances that induces changes in mood, attitude, thought processes, and perceptions

marijuana

most widely used illicit drug in the United States, most active ingrediant is THC

depressants

a substance that depresses the functions of the central nervous system, can calm irritability and anxiety and may induce sleep 

alcohol

when alcohol enters the body’s bloodstream, it travels to the brain where it suppresses the brain’s control of thought

barbiturates

usually taken orally and the drug enters the blood through the walls of the small intestine 

antipsychotics and antianxiety

produce a relaxing tranquility without impairing high-thinking faculties or inducing sleep 

huffing

sniffing materials containing volatile solvents

dextromethorphan

found in robitussin-DM and you can feel the same effects as drinking alcohol

stimulants

a substance taken to increase alterness or activity

amphetamines

sythetic drugs that stimulate the central nervous system

cocaine

extracted from the leaves of Erythroxylon coca and effects include increased alertness, suppression of hunger, fatigue, and boredom

club drugs

drugs synthesized by chemists working in clandestine drug labs for profit

anabolic steroids

synthetic compounds that are chemically related to the male sex hormone testosterone

controlled substances act

the federal law establishes five schedules of classification for controlled dangerous substances based on a drugs potential for abuse, potential for physical and psychological dependence, and medical value 

confirmation test

a single test that specifically identifies a substance

quantitative determination

the identity of the material

qualitative determination

percentage combination of the components of a mixture

Marquis 2

reagent turns purple in the presence of heroin and morphine and most opium derivatives, also becomes orange-brown when mixed with amphetamines and methamphetamines

Dillie Koppanyi

valuable screening test for barbituates, in whose presence the reagent turns violet-blue in color 

Duquenois-Levine

valuable color test for marijuana and a positive test result is shown by a purple color in the chloroform layer

van ark test

reagent turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD

scott test

color test for cocaine

microcrystalline tests

more specific than color tests, rapid, a drop of chemical reagent is added to a small quantity of the drug on a microscope slide, chemical reaction occurs, crystalline precipitate forms 

role of forensic toxicology

detect and identify drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues, and organs

pharmacokinetics

specific branch of pharmacology that studies what the body does to a drug

pharmacokinetic studies evaluate what?

the rate that a chemical is absorbed and distributed, the rate and pathways of drug metabolism and excretion, the plasma concentration of a drug over time 

absorption

describes how a chemical enters the body

passive diffusion

when a molecule moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, most common way a drug is absorbed

facilitated diffusion

when a molecule moves from an area of high concentration to one of low concentration with the help of carrier proteins 

active diffusion

an energy dependent process during which a molecule requires energy in the form of ATP to cross a membrane

endocytosis

when a larger drug is transferred through a membrane via invagination of the the membrane

distribution

once a drug has been absorbed, it moves from the absorption site to tissues around the body

metabolism

biotransformation of a drug by organs or tissues so that the drug can be excreted

excretion

the process by which the metabolized drug compound is eliminated from the body