Forensic drug analysis

forensic drug analysis/chemistry

focus on identifying drugs and controlled substances

what is a drug?

a drug can be defined as a natural or synthetic substance that is used to produce physiological or psychological effects in human or other higher-order animals

includes licit and illicit substances

types of drugs

• narcotics, hallucinogens, depressants, stimulants, inhalants, other

narcotics

• narcotic comes from the greek word Narkotikos which means sleep, this is also where we get the term narcolepsy narcoleptic

• narcotics are drugs that have an analgesic or pain killing effect

• also called opioids/opiates

• opiate is a drug that is extracted or refined from the opium poppy

opiates

• heroin

• morphine

• codeine

opioids

• vicodin

• percocet

• oxycodone

• fentanyl

• hydrocodone

• methadone

heroin

made from morphine using acetic anhydride and heat

oxycodone

• semisythetic opioid

• sold as oxycontin

• high potential for abuse of prescription medications

• prescription opioid painkillers like oxycodone have contributed greatly to the opioid epidemic in the U.S.

• the aggressive marketing of Oxycontin in the 1990s led to its abundant prescription, which then led to its abundant prescription, which then led to an increase in the availability of all opioids, which then caused an increase in their abuse

fentanyl

• synthetic opioid

• approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin

• 2 mg is lethal dose

hallucinogens

• drugs that can cause marked alterations in mood, attitude, thought processes, and perceptions

• also called psychedelics

• includes: marijuana, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, PCP, MDMA, ketamine

Marijuana

• common name for cannabis sativa

• main psychoactive ingredients is delta9-tetrahydrocannabinoid, or THC others include CBD, CBN, CBG and many others

• marijuana/cannabis also contains terpenes, which are the main flavor compounds

• not really a true psychedelic

• marijuana vs hemp: derived from same plant, according to industrial farming act of 2009 “industrial hemp” is cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC per dry weight.

synthetic cannibnoids

• drugs made to mimic effects of cannabis

• known as spice or K2

• many adverse effects including elevated heart rate, elevated vbood pressure, tremors, seizures, vomiting

• chemical structure that does not resemble cannabinoids

  • new chemicals developed regularly to avoid identification and prosecution

LSD

• lysergic acid diethylamide

• also called “acid”

• derived from ergot, a type of fungus

• causes vivid hallucinations, lasting about 12 hours

psilocybin

• naturally occurring compound found in many species of mushrooms

• causes hallucinations, euphoria, changes in perception

PCP

• phencyclidine

• simple synthesis process, found in a lot of clandestine labs

• also called angel dust

• causes hallucinations and distorts sight and sound

MDMA

• methylenedioxymethamphetamine

• also called ecstasy or molly

• both a psychedelic and a stimulant

  • synthetic related to methamphetamine

ketamine

• dissociative anesthetic that produces hallucinations

• horse tranquilizer

• special K

Stimulants

• range of drugs that stimulate or speed up the central nervous system (CNS)

• includes drugs like: amphetamines, cocaine, synthetic cathinones

• can be prescription or illicit

• also includes substances such as caffeine, nicotine

amphetamines

• also known as uppers or speed

• prescription drugs include: adderall, ritalin, vyvanse, other ADHD meds

• illicit amphetamines include, amphetamine or speed, meth, MDMA

• come in a variety of forms, pills, powders, crystal, liquid

cocaine and crack

extracted from the leaves of erythroxylon coca

cocaine is used both as a stimulant and as a local anesthetic, crack is produced when cocaine is mixed with baking soda and water, and heated, when dried it forms rocks or crystals, which can then be smoked

smoking causes faster onset effects than snortings

freebasing refers to when the base form of cocaine is extracted using ammonia

other- Caines that are also local anesthetics: procaine (novocaine), lidocaine, benzocaine

synthetic cathinones

• also called bath salts

• made to mimic effects of other stimulants like MDMA

• derived from the khat plant

• also includes drugs like bupropion (Wellbutrin)

depressants

• drugs that slow down or depress the CNS

• also called downers or sedatives

• includes categories of drugs such as alcohol, barbituates, benzodiazapenes

• also includes prescription drugs for anti-anxiety and antipsychotic

alcohol

• ethyl alcohol

• major behavioral effects stem from its activity as a CNS depressant

barbiturates

• main class of drug known as downers

• derived from barbituic acid

• most common: amobarbitol, secobarbital, phenobarbital (for seizures), pentobarbital, butabarbital

• normally come in pill form, taken orally

• mainly only used as anesthetics

• replaced largely by safer benzodiazepines

benzodiazepines

• causes relaxation and sleepiness

• includes: valium, Xanax, ativan

• used to treat insomnia, anxiety, seizures

inhalants

• not always considered a class on their own

• huffing drugs

• includes aerosol propellants, volatile solvents

• caused exhiliaration and euphoria, slurred speech, impaired judgement, dizziness

• abuse can lead to asphyxiation

other drugs

drugs that do not fit in the other categories which are used to illicitly or recreationally

includes GHB rohypnol, kratom

gamma hydroxybutyric acid GHB

is a CNS depressant that causes, euphoria drowsiness, decreased anxiety, memory impairment

rohypnol

roofies, is a CNS depressant and a benzodiazepine that causes sedative effects and amensia

kratom

is derived from the leaves of a tree grown in SE asia, at low doses it is a stimulant, and at high doses it is a depressant

drug dependence

physical vs psychological dependence:

• psychological dependence: conditional use of a drug causes by underlying emotional needs

• physical dependence: need for a drug that has been brought about by its regular use; dependence is characterized by withdrawal sickness when administration of the drug is abruptly stopped

some drugs may not cause physical dependence, but can still cause psychological dependence

forensic drug analysis testing

1. screening

   • usually performed using color tests or microcrystalline tests

2. confirmation

   • performed using analytical instruments such as spectrophotometers, gas chromatograph (GC), liquid chromatograph (HPLC), and mass spectrometers (MS)

   • also using thin-layer chromatography (TLC)

marquis reagent

turns purple in the presence of heroin and morphine and other opioids, turns organs-brown in the presence of amphetamines

Dilli-koppanyi

turns violet-blue in the presence of barbiturates

duqenois-levine

turns purple in the presence of marijuana

van urk

turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD

scott test

changes colors in the presence of cocaine from blue to pink to blue

madelin reagent

turns a variety of colors depending on the drugs present

cobalt thiocyanate

turns blue in the presence of cocaine

screening: microcrystalline tests

• drug is dissolved in solvent and put on microscope slide

• drugs have different unique crystalline structures

• used for a variety of drugs