drug analysis forensic science/csi foster. how would you figure out which type of drug each of these...
TRANSCRIPT
TestsDrug Identification
Screening or presumptive tests
Spot or color tests
Microcrystalline test—
a reagent is added, producing a crystalline precipitate that is unique for a certain drug
Chromatography
Confirmatory tests
Spectrophotometry
• Ultraviolet (UV)
• Visible
• Infrared (IR)
Mass spectrometry
Forensics Unit 3 Notes
Drug- a natural or synthetic substance designed to affect the subject psychologically or physiologically
Controlled Drugs- material whose possession is controlled by law (Controlled Substances Act)illegal- drug that is against the law to have, use, or distribute.illicit- is a legal drug used in an inappropriate or illegal way.
Controlled Substances ActSchedule I—high potential for abuse; no currently accepted medical
use in the U.S.; a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision
Examples: heroin (diacetylmorphine), LSD, marijuana, ecstasy (MDMA)
Schedule II—high potential for abuse; a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions; abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence
Examples: cocaine, morphine, amphetamines (including methamphetamines), PCP, Ritalin
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Controlled Substances Act, continuedSchedule III—lower potential for abuse than the drugs in I or II; a
currently accepted medical use in the U.S.; abuse may lead to moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence
Examples: intermediate-acting barbiturates, anabolic steroids, ketamine
Schedule IV—low potential for abuse relative to drugs in III; a currently accepted medical use in the U.S.; abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to drugs in IIIExamples: stimulants and depressants including Valium, Xanax, Librium, phenobarbital, Darvon
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Controlled Substances Act, continuedSchedule V—low potential for abuse relative to drugs in IV; currently
accepted medical use in the U.S.; abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to drugs in IV
Examples: codeine found in low doses in cough medicines
Don’t write
Write This“The higher on the schedule the lower the risk for addiction/danger”
1. Hallucinogens- naturally occurring substances that change thought processes, perceptions and moods
a. Ex: Marijuana, LSD
2. Stimulants- act on the central nervous system to make the user feel better and increase his/her energy alertness while suppressing appetite and fatigue
a. Ex: Cocaine, caffeine
3. Narcotics- relieve paina. Ex: Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Codeine, Morphine,
Heroin b. Designer drugs- designed for abuse and evasion of specific
drug laws
Types of Drugs
1. Spot Tests- chemical reaction occurs causing a color change
a. Must use further testing to confirm – spectroscopy
Testing for Drugs
If it is a color change why is it a chemical change and not a physical change?HINT:Why does the color change occur?
Testing for Drugs (cont.)
3. Metabolism- the sum of all chemical processes in an organism
a. Metabolites- molecules involved in the process of metabolism (found in hair)
b. The presence of metabolites implies what the original chemical was
c. Can lead to false positives
4. Presumptive (screening) Test- presumes the presence of the questioned substance
a. Tests using color- for marijuana, LSD, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, barbiturates
Testing for Drugs (cont.)
Marquis—turns purple in the presence of most opium derivatives and orange-brown with amphetamines
Dille-Koppanyi—turns violet-blue in the presence of barbiturates
Duquenois-Levine—turns a purple color in the presence of marijuana
Van Urk—turns a blue-purple in the presence of LSD
Scott test—color test for cocaine; blue
5. Confirmatory tests- specifically identify one substance (many different types)a. Spectroscopy- study of radiation and it’s interaction
with matter1) Infrared spec. studies absorption of energy near IR
2) Mass spec. studies presence of ions- atoms or molecules that have lost or gained one ore more electrons and have a charge (positive or negative)
Testing for Drugs (cont.)
Mass Spectrometry Separates components of a mixture by mass and then measures the quantity of the substance with that mass.