chapter 19 - illicit drugs

difference between licit and illicit drugs

licit drugs are LEGAL to use and process (usually for medical purposes)

illicit drugs are substance that are ILLEGAL to use and process

how are illicit drugs controlled?

comprehensive controlled substances act

how are drugs put on a schedule?

all the drugs in the same schedule generally have the same penalties for possession or distribution

determined by two questions: Does the drug have legitimate medical use in the US? What is its potential for abuse?

which schedules carry the worst penalties?

Schedule I and II

Schedule I: heroin, LSD, marijuana

Schedule II: cocaine, methamphetamine

classification of illicit drugs

naturally occurring (marijuana, cocaine)

derived from something naturally occurring (heroin, LSD)

synthetic (methamphetamine, PCP)

major properties

stimulants: “uppers”, elevates a person’s mood, increase energy levels, relieve symptoms of depression, examples: cocaine, methamphetamine

depressants: barbiturates very popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s, prescribed to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and restlessness, cycles with amphetamines, examples: phenobarbital, sodium pentothal

narcotics: powerful sleep-inducing, central nervous system depressants, examples: heroin, opium, morphine, codeine

hallucinogens: cause audio and visual hallucinations, examples: marijuana, mescaline, psilocybin *marijuana is classified here because it doesnt fit anywhere else*

how are illicit drugs analyzed?

considerations:

what is the drug?, what form is the drug?, is there a large amount in 1 package or a small amount is many packages?, is there a very small amount of the drug?, is the weight of the drug mixture a consideration?

requirements for analysis:

scientifically reliable and defendable, no reasonable alternative, at least ONE confirmatory test, protocols developed by the international Scientific working Group on Drug Analysis (SWGDRUG)

differences between a presumptive and confirmatory test

presumptive (separation) test: separate drug from its cutting agents using liquid solvents or gas chromatography

confirmatory test: mass spectrometry gives the molecular weight of the compound, used to confirm drug present

which drug does not require a confirmatory test?

marijuana because its easily recognizable

confirmatory drug test

test used to conclusively identify a pure drug substance

depressant

a drug that has been prescribed to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and restlessness

drug

a substance that is designed to have specific physical and/or emotional effects on people or, in some cases, animals

hallucinogen

drugs that cause people to see and hear things that aren’t there

narcotic

powerful sleep-inducing, central nervous system depressant

presumptive (screening) drug test

the most general tests for drugs, also sometimes called spot tests or field tests

stimulant

drugs that elevate a person’s mood and cause euphoria

withdrawal

a syndrome of symptoms that occur in a drug addict when they stop taking the drugs

LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide

MDMA

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

PCP

Phenylcyclohexylpiperidine

SWGDRUG

Scientific Working Group on the analysis of illicit drugs