TWCP forensic toxicology

Schedule I

no medical use, high potential for abuse

heroin, LSD, Peyote, MDMA "ecstasy", bath salts

Schedule I drugs

Schedule II

severely restricted for medical use, high potential for abuse leading to severe psychological or physical dependence

(cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, oxycodone)

Schedule II drugs

Schedule III

accepted medical use, lower risk for abuse/addiction

(Barbiturates, steroids, ketamine)

Schedule III drugs

Schedule IV (4)

accepted for medical use, lower risk risk of addiction

(xanax, valium, sleeping pills, tranquilizers)

Schedule IV (4) drugs

Schedule V (5)

medical purpose, very little risk of addiction

(robitussin, Tylenol with codeine)

Schedule V(5) drugs

Drug Dependence

Two types: physical and psychological

Psychological Dependence

underlies all drug use - produce such a good feeling that you want to continue to get that feeling - fear of withdrawal symptoms of anxiety stop the user from not using them

Physical Dependence

There are physical factors involved - stop using the drug can cause nausea, body chills, cramps, etc - fear of these cause continued use or relapse

Classes of Drugs

Narcotics, Hallucinogens, Depressants, Stimulants, Anabolic Steroids,

Opiates definition

Pain-killer - comes from the gummy white substance of a poppy plant that exist in Asia or South America - that is what is used to create morphine or heroin

Heroin definition

Most common opiate - created by reacting morphine with acetyl chloride - analgelsic

Marijuana definition

Canabis Sative plant - contains the chemical THC which produces effects - highest concentration of it is found in the hashish which is a resin on the plant

Effects of Depressants

Slows the central nervous system

Alcohol

Most widely used drug in the western world, Travels to the brain and supresses control of thoughts and muscles

Liver

Organ where drugs and toxins are metabolized into less harmful substances which can then be eliminated from the body

Addiction

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences, biochemical tolerance will lead to withdrawal

Dependance

is a psychological, not physical, dependence on drugs

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

Field tests

presumptive tests

Lab tests

conclusive tests, performed on substances and body tissues of deceased victims

controlled substances act

enacted in 1970, lists illegal drugs, their categories and penalties for possession, sale, or use

marquis test

presumptive color test, purple=opiates, orange/brown= amphetamines

Dillie-Koppanyi

presumptive test, turns violet-blue in the presence of barbiturates

Duquenois-levine test

turns a purple color in the presence of marijuana

Van-Urk test

presumptive test, turns a blue-purple color in the presence of LSD

Scott test

presumptive color test for cocaine, turns blue

Paper chromatography

stationary phase- a paper, mobile phase- a liquid solvent. Capillary action moves the mobile phase through the stationary phase

Thin layer chromatography

stationary phase- a thin layer of coating on a sheet of plastic or glass, mobile phase- a liquid solvent

gas chromatography

stationary phase- a solid gas or very syrupy liquid lines a tube or column, mobile phase- an inert gas like nitrogen or helium