DRUGS_FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

Gross and Microscopic

In asmuch as marijuana is smoked as leaf fragments, its identification may be used on the botanical features, grossly and microscopically by trained experts. A complete leaf may be identified by the characteristic irregular shape.

• Microscopically, identification depends largely on observation of short hair on the upper side of the leaf known as cystolith and the presence of longer nonglandular hair on the opposite side.

Micro-crystalline Test

A drop of chemical reagent is added to a small quantity of the drug on a microscopic slide. After a short time, a chemical reaction ensues producing a crystalline precipitate. It is the size and shape of the crystal under the microscopic examination that is characteristic of the drug.

Color test

Opium and its derivative together with amphetamine: (1) Marquis test - (2% formaldehyde in sulfuric acid) - Turns purple in the presence of heroin and morphine as well as most opium derivatives. The test will also produce an orange-brown color when mixed with amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Barbiturates

Dillie Koppanyi test - (1% cobalt acetate in methanol is first added to the suspected material followed by 5% isoprophylamine in methanol). A violet-blue color is produced. This is a valuable screening test for barbiturates.

c.Marijuana

(1)Duquenois-Levine test - Solution A is a mixture of 2% vanillin and 1% acetaldehyde in ethyl alcohol; solution B is concentrated hydrochloric acid; and solutions A,B and C are added respectively to the suspected material. A positive result is shown by purple color in the chloroform layer.

d.LSD

(1) Van Urk test (1% p- dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and 10% concentrated hydrochloric acid in ethyl alcohol). This reagent turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD. However, owing to the extremely small quantities of LSD in illicit preparations, this test is difficult to conduct under field conditions.

e.Cocaine

(1) Cobalt Thiocynate test - (2% cobalt thiocyanate in water). This reagent produces a blue flaky precipitate in the presence of cocaine. The test is not reliable as many other drugs and diluents respond in the same manner.

Ethyl alcohol (C 2 H 5 OH, Ethanol, grain alcohol)

is a colorless transparent, volatile liquid with aromatic odor and with boiling point at 78°C. Like any other types of alcohol, it is formed out of the fermentation of various carbohydrates in grains, fruits or flowers, and from other materials subjected to and isolated by distillation.

drunkard i

is a person who habitually takes or uses any intoxicating alcoholic liquor and while under the influence of such, or in consequence of the effect thereof, is either dangerous to himself and to others, or is a cause of harm or serious annoyance to his family or his affair, or ordinary proper conduct.

habitual drunkard

is one who excessively uses intoxicating drink. Habit should be actual and confirmed but it is not nacessary that it be continuous ur of daily occurrence. It lessens individual resistance to evil thought and undermines will power, making its victim a potential evil doer.

wine

A product of natural alcoholic fermentation with wide variety of sugary materials including fruit juices and contains not less than 7% but not more than 17% of alcohol by volume. In fermented beverages the alcohol content is expressed in volume percent.

Distilled Liquor

Distilled liquors are alcoholic beverages produced from distillate of wines, distilled from grains or starch solution or distillate from aromatic substances. In distilled beverages the alcohol contents are expressed in proofs. "Proof" is approximately twice the percentage of alcohol by volume.

Malt Liquors

Alcoholic beverages brewed from malt or from a mixture of malt and malt substitute, like rye, and may contain other cereal grains and starchy saccharine matters. A characteristic bitter flavor is imparted by the addition of hops. The amount of alcohol need not be stated in the label.

1. Stage of Excitement

2. Stage of Incoordination or Confusion

3. Stage of Narcosis or Coma

Symptomatic Changes Following Ingestion of Alcoholic Beverages:

Stage of Excitement

This develops a few minutes after the initial dose of alcoholic drink has been absorbed and has reached the central nervous system. It is characterized by a feeling of wellbeing and slight excitation. The actions, speech and emotion are less strained. Self-confidence develops, as well as blunting of self-criticism, self-consciousness and self-control.

Stage of Incoordination or Confusion

As the effects of alcohol become more pronounced, the nervous control of the body gradually diminishes. There is blunting of all perceptive mechanism. Muscular coordination is lost. The irritating effects of alcohol, like nausea and vomiting, confusion, cardiac and respiratory symptoms appear.

Stage of Narcosis or Coma

The person passes into a deep sleep and may only respond to strong stimuli. Pupils are dilated, breathing is slow and stertorous, pupils are dilated and reflexes, abolished. Death may ensue from paralysis of the cardiac or respiratory center.

1. Slight Inebriation

2. Moderate Inebriation

3. Drunk

4, Very Drunk, "Dead drunk"

5. Coma

Degree of Intoxication

Slight Inebriation

There is flushing of the face, with exaggerated mood, but a person is able to control his behavior. He shows no signs of mental impairment, incoordination of movement and difficulty of speech.

Moderate Inebriation

Person is talkative, argumentative and over-confident. There is slight impairment of mental faculties, difficulty of articulation, and loss of coordination to finer movements. The face is flushed with eyeballs congested. He is reckless and shows motor incoordination. He may be certified as being "under the influence of alcohol".

Drunk

The mind is confused, behavior is irregular and movement is uncontrolled. The speech is thick and uncoordinated. Behavior is uncontrollable.

Very Drunk, "Dead drunk"

The mind is confused and disoriented. There is difficulty in speech and marked motor incoordination and often walking is impossible.

Coma

The subject is stuporous or comatose. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate this condition with others having coma.

1. Alcoholic smell of the breath or of the vomitus.

2. Dry furred tongue or with excessive salivation.

3. Irregular behavior.

4. Congestion of the conjunctivae.

5. Hesitancy or thickness of speech with impaired articulation.

6. Tremor or error of coordination and orientation.

7. Examination of the blood and the urine shows the presence of alcohol.

8. History of having taken alcoholic beverages

Diagnostic Points of Drunkenness:

1. Let the subject stand straight with heels together and with closed eyes for at least one minute. If he is not drunk, he will not sway to the front or to the sides, but if he is drunk the body will not be stable in the absence of any existing disease.

2. Let the subject stand straight with one foot ahead of the other so that the toes of one foot touch the heel of the other. This will remove the brace to prevent side sway. If drunk, there is more likelihood that the subject will sway sidewise and fall. The test is repeated after the subject is free from the effect of alcohol and make a comparison of stability.

3. Let the subject sit comfortably in a desk and get samples of his handwriting. Compare these writings, with those taken when he is free from the effects of alcohol.

4. Let the subject bend down and pick up a small object from the floor. If he stumbles, then his nervous system is not stable and that he may be drunk.

5. Let the subject walk straight forward to a comer of a room and rapidly turn around without stopping. Tell him to walk back. You will notice that the subject may have uncertainty of steps, side steps, or he staggers while making the turn and in walking.

Physical Tests to Determine Drunkenness

Analysis of Blood

is probably the most widely accepted way to determine the concentration of alcohol in the body. It is a direct method of estimation although the subject may refuse blood extraction for such analysis.

Analysis of the Breath

The concentration of alcohol in the blood can be determined indirectly by making a quantitative determination of alcohol in the respired air. The basis of the analysis is that there is a constant ratio between the concentration of alcohol in the blood stream and in the alveolar air.

Analysis of the Urine

Urine as a specimen for alcohol determination has not gained widespread use because of variability in the different periods of alcohol intake.

Analysis of Body Tissue

This method is applicable in death cases. Examination of the brain for its alcohol content is a reliable diagnostic procedure. Other bloody organs like the liver, spleen, kidney may also be examined for alcohol contents.

Analysis of Saliva, Perspiration and Spinal Fluid

Although it may be done, examination of these fluids is seldom done