Drugs and

Forensic Toxicology

Forensic Science
Addendum to “Bath Salts”
Video…
 As of 2/19/14, “Bath Salts” are illegal in
41 states with legislation pending in
others.
 In July of 2012 President Obama signed
a bill amending federal drug policy to
ban “bath salts.”
 “Bath salts” are bad news!!! Stay away!
What is toxicology?
 Toxicology is the study of drugs and
poisons, and their interactions with or
effects on the body

 Forensic Toxicology is the application

of toxicology to the law, including
 Workplace or Forensic Drug Testing
 Postmortem Toxicology
 Human Performance Testing
History of Toxicology
 Socrates was one of the earliest
reported victims of poisoning, by
hemlock, in 399 BC.

 By the 17th century, it was not

uncommon for rich European families to
use poisoning as a means of settling
disputes.
 Arsenic became known as “inheritance
powder.”
History of Toxicology

 Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853) is considered

one of the fathers of toxicology as he
helped to develop a method of chemical
analysis to identify arsenic and other
toxins in human tissue

 Today, less than 0.5% of all homicides

result from poisoning
Role of the Toxicologist

 Studies body fluid, tissue, and organs for

drugs and/or poisons
 Must detect, identify, quantify, and assess
toxicity
 May have extremely minute quantities to test
 May conduct postmortem pathological
examinations, and examination of personal
effects and empty containers, etc.
Collecting Toxicological
Evidence
 When possible, collect both blood and
urine
 Collect two voids (samples) of urine
in separate specimen containers
 Collect a sample of blood if a
physician or registered nurse (RN) is
available
(stop)
Toxicology of Alcohol
 Approximately 40% of traffic deaths in
the U.S. are alcohol-related (2008)
 Toxicologists have had to develop
specific procedures for measuring the
degree of alcohol intoxication
 Methods for diagnosis must be
defendable within the framework of the
legal system
Toxicology of Alcohol

 Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol,

ethanol
also called ethyl alcohol, which is
obtained by the fermentation of sugars
from grains, fruits, and vegetables.

 Alcohol is a depressant, a chemical that

slows the heart rate and brain activity,
and causes drowsiness
 Alcohol Metabolism
 Alcohol is absorbed through the walls of the
stomach and small intestine, and distributed by
blood throughout the body.
 In the liver, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase
(ADH) breaks down ethanol into acetylaldehyde
(causes hangovers), then eventually into carbon
dioxide and water.
 The liver can normally metabolize 1-2 drinks (15-30
mL or up to 1 ounce) an hour. When a person
drinks more than the liver can metabolize, the
excess is distributed to the tissues of the body
which can damage them.
 Alcohol in the Blood
 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is usually
written as a decimal
 Example: 0.08
 This means there are 8 g of alcohol per
10,000 mL of blood; your blood is 0.08%
alcohol.
Effects of Alcohol at Different BACs
0.03 – 0.12 0.25 – 0.40 0.35 – 0.50 0.40 and up
euphoria vomiting, loss circulatory and coma and
of bladder respiratory death
control system
impairment
 BAC and the Law
 A BAC greater than 0.08 is considered to be
“drunk driving”
 Implied consent says drivers who receive a
driver's license are automatically consenting
to be tested for blood alcohol content if a
police officer has probable cause
 While a driver can refuse to take this test,
implied consent laws often automatically
revoke licenses on the spot.
Field Sobriety Tests
 If a police officer smells alcohol on a
driver, he/she may perform field
sobriety tests, including:
 Horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test
 Nystagmus is involuntary jerking
movements of the eyes; more pronounced
when intoxicated
 Walk and turn
 Heel to toe in a straight line, following
directions
 One leg stand
 Count aloud by 1000’s for 30 seconds
or recite alphabet backwards
 Watch walk and turn video
 Try it out with a partner
Alcohol Breath Test
 90% of alcohol is processed by the liver.
The remaining 10% is excreted through
breath, perspiration, and urine
 A breath test, such as a Breathalyzer
measures the amount of alcohol in
exhaled air.
 The amount of alcohol in breath is
1/2100 the amount in blood.
 2100 mL of air has the same amount of
alcohol as 1 mL of blood.
Negative Effects of Alcohol
 All alcohols are toxic to the body.

 Consumption of alcohol can lead to liver

damage, possibly cirrhosis. Chronic alcohol
abuse can lead to Korsakoff’s Syndrome.
 Driving while intoxicated can have deadly
results.
 Alcohol may change the effect of
medications.
 Never consume alcohol while taking drugs with a
sedative effect.
(stop)
Drugs
 “Drug” can mean different things…
 Illicit or illegal drugs that have no
accepted medical use in the US
 Controlled substances:
substances legal drugs
whose sale, possession, and use are
restricted because of their effects and the
potential for abuse.
 Drugs can fall into one of several
different classes: narcotics,
hallucinogens, depressants, stimulants,
club drugs, and steroids
Types of Drugs: Narcotics

 Narcotics reduce pain by suppressing

the central nervous systems ability to
relay pain messages to the brain
 Pain relievers are called analgesics

 Narcotics induce sleep and depresses

vital body functions such as blood
pressure, pulse, and breathing
Types of Drugs: Narcotics
 Varieties of narcotics:
 Opiates: derived from the Asian Poppy
 Herione, morhpine, codeine
 Synthetic opiates: man-made
 Methadone: given to heroine addicts to try and
break their addiction
 Oxycodone (OxyContin or Percocet)
 Hydrocodone (Vicodin)

 Overdose on narcotics can result in

difficulty breathing, low blood pressure,
loss of consciousness, and possibly
coma and death.
Types of Drugs: Hallucinogens
 Hallucinogens alter the user’s
perceptions, thinking, self-awareness,
and emotions.
 Some hallucinogens can cause panic
attacks, seizures, headaches, and
sometimes psychosis that can last for
weeks.
 Many hallucinogens, particularly PCP,
increase the user’s heart rate, which
could lead to heart failure.
Types Of Drugs: Hallucinogens
 Varieties of Hallucinogens
 Marijuana (from cannabis plant)
 The most widely used illicit drug in the U.S.
 Contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

 Has medical uses such as treating glaucoma

and relieving nausea due to chemotherapy
 MDMA (“Ecstacy”)
 Mescaline (from Peyote cactus)
 LSD (Lysergic Acid, or simply “Acid”)
 PCP (phencyclidine or “Angel Dust”)
 Mushrooms (contain psilocybin)
Types of Drugs: Depressants

 Depressants are used to relieve anxiety

and produce sleep.
 Depressants reduce body functions such
as heart rate.
 Overdose can cause coma and death.
 Mixing depressants with other drugs or
alcohol can increase their effects and
health risks.
Types Of Drugs: Depressants
 Varieties of Depressants:
 Alcohol
 Barbiturates: “downers” such as
Phenobarbital and Methaqualone (also
called Quaaludes, illegal)
 Anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety drugs
including benzodiazepines such as
Diazepam (Valium)
 Inhalants (“huffing”)
 Sedatives, muscle relaxers, etc.
 Marijuana and opiates (like morphine) are
also considered depressants.
Types of Drugs: Stimulants
 Stimulants increase feelings of energy
and alertness while suppressing fatigue
and appetite.
 Also called “uppers.”
 Depression often results as the drug
wears off.
 Stimulants are highly addictive.
 Overdose can result in irregular heart
beat, heart attack, stroke, seizures,
coma, and death.
Types of Drugs: Stimulants

 Varieties of Stimulants
 Amphetamines, also called “speed.”
 Cocaine, including crack cocaine
 Derived from the South American coca plant
 Addictions to cocaine are very difficult to
overcome
 Methamphetamines, also called “meth.”
 Typically
methamphetamines are more potent
and dangerous than amphetamines
Meth Addiction
Types of Drugs: “Club Drugs”
 Club drugs are called such because
they are most often used at nightclubs,
bars, and raves (all night dance parties)
 Varieties of Club Drugs”
 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (aka
MDMA or Ecstasy)
 Chronicuse can cause body system
breakdown, severe brain damage, memory
loss, and seizures
 Ketamine or “Special K” is an animal
anesthetic used by veterinarians
Types of Drugs: “Club Drugs”
 Date Rape Drugs are called that
because they are often associated with
drug-facilitated sexual assault, rape, and
robbery.
 These drugs can produce increased
libido and depress the central nervous
system, resulting in loss of
consciousness and memory.
 Varieties include GHB and Rohypnol
(also called “Roofies”)
Types of Drugs: Anabolic
Steroids
 Anabolic Steroids promote cell division and
tissue growth
 Athletes may take steroids to increase muscle
mass
 Anabolic steroids are chemically related to
testosterone
 Side effects include liver malfunction, cancer,
breast development in males, masculinizing
effects in females, diminished sex drive in
males, unpredictable moods (“roid rage”),
personality changes, depression, hypertension,
and high cholesterol
Be careful…
 All of these drugs, even the legal ones,
can have harmful side effects. Overdose
can be deadly.

 Assignment: Drug Brochures

Poisons!
Toxins and Poisons

 A poison is any substance that causes

disturbance to an organism
 More specifically, a toxin is poison
produced naturally by an organism
 Examples: snake venom, poison ivy
Intake of Poisons
 Poisons enter and affect the body in
different ways:
 Ingestion (poisons are eaten)
 90% of all poisonings involve children
swallowing household products or medicine
 Inhaled
 Example: carbon monoxide, sarin nerve gas
 Injected
 Heroine

 Absorbed (through skin, eyes, or mucous

membranes)
 Poison sumac
Poisons: Pesticides
 Pesticides are by definition poisons as
they are used to kill organisms that
threaten plants such as food crops
 Example: DDT (for mosquitoes)

 These chemicals lead to an excess of

the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
 Overdose can lead to muscle spasms,
seizures, anxiety, rapid heartbeat,
sweating, diarrhea, and at high
concentrations coma and death
Poisons: Heavy Metals
 Metal compounds can enter the body by
ingestion, inhalation, or absorption
through the skin or mucous membranes
 Metals are stored in soft body tissues
and damage organs
 Examples:
 Lead
 Mercury
 Arsenic
 Cyanide
 Strychnine
Poisons: Heavy Metals

 Arsenic Poisoning
 Within 30 minutes: abdominal pain, severe
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, muscle
cramps, convulsions, kidney failure,
delirium, and death.

 Cyanide Poisoning
 Can be fatal in 6-8 minutes.
 Signs of poisoning include weakness,
confusion, coma, pink skin, and an
almond-like odor.
Poisons: Bioterrorism Agents
 A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate
release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or
other harmful agents used to cause
illness or death in people, animals, or
plants. Examples include:
 Ricin
 Anthrax
 Mustard Gas
 used in World War I
 A man-made gas

 Forms large blisters on exposed skin and the

lungs
 Poisons: Bioterrorism Agents
 Ricin comes from castor beans.
 Can be inhaled as a mist or powder, or
ingested in food
 Amount the size of a pin head can be deadly!
 Within a few hours of exposure the victim
may die
 If inhaled effects include fever, cough, nausea,
sweating, low blood pressure, fluid in the lungs,
and death
 If ingested effects include vomiting diarrhea,
dehydration, low blood pressure, hallucinations,
seizures, and death
 Poisons: Bioterrorism Agents
 Anthrax poisoning is caused by the spores
of the bacteria Bacillus anthracis
 Anthrax can enter the body through
inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption
 Symptoms depend on exposure type:
 Inhalation: flu-like symptoms that become
progressively worse and usually result in
death.
 Ingestion: vomiting, fever, abdominal pain,
and severe diarrhea. 25 - 60% fatal.
 Skin: itchy bumps that develop into sores with
a black center. Death is rare with appropriate
treatment.
(stop)
Drug Control Laws

 There are varying levels and penalties

based on:
 manufacture vs. distribution vs. possession
 type, amount, concentration
Controlled Substance Act
 The Controlled Substances Act – the
federal law that establishes five
classifications (“schedules”) of controlled
dangerous substances on the basis of a
drug’s potential abuse, potential for
physical and psychological dependence,
and medical value
 The U.S. Attorney General has the
authority to add, delete, or reschedule a
drug as needed
Controlled Substances Act
Schedule I
 High potential for abuse
 no currently accepted medical use in the
U.S.
 Examples: heroin, marijuana (some
states), methaqualone, LSD
Controlled Substances Act
Schedule II
 High potential for abuse
 some accepted medical use with severe
restrictions,
 potential for severe physiological and
psychological dependence
 Examples: morphine, cocaine, methadone,
PCP, most amphetamine preparations,
most barbiturate preparations, and medical
marijuana (some states)
Controlled Substances Act
Schedule III
 Less potential for abuse
 currently accepted medical use
 potential for low to moderate
physiological and high psychological
dependence
 All barbiturates not included in Schedule
II, such as codeine preparations and
anabolic steroids
Controlled Substances Act
Schedule IV
 Low potential for abuse
 current medical use
 Examples: tranquilizers such Valium

Schedule V
 Low abuse
 medical use
 less potential for dependence than Schedule IV
 Examples: Robitussin cough syrup, non-
narcotic medicinal ingredients and some opiate
drug mixtures in low concentrations
Criminal Penalties
 Schedule I and II have the most severe
penalties
 The Controlled Substance Act controls
substances that are chemically similar or
related to controlled substances such as
“designer drugs”
 It also regulates the manufacture and
distribution of chemical compounds used
by clandestine labs to make drugs
Testing For Drugs

 Bodily fluids and tissues might be tested

for the presence of drugs, especially:
 Blood (drug remains for 24 hours)
 Urine (drug remains for 72 hours)
 Hair (drug is permenantly embedded in
hair’s protein structure)
 Location along hair shaft gives clues to
time of drug use. If drug is found closer
to the root, use was more recent.
Testing For Drugs
 There are several types of tests to screen
for the presence of drugs
 Screening test: preliminary test that
reduces number of possibilities
 Confirmatory test: a single test that
identifies a specific substance
 Color test: changes color when a specific
substance is present
 Microcrystalline test: identifies drug based
on color and shape of crystals formed
 Immunoassay: uses drug specific
antibodies to detect low concentrations of
drugs
Testing For Drugs

 Chromatography: separates a chemical

into its components (often different
colors) so they can be identified

 Spectrophotometry: Examines the

wavelength and frequencies of light
absorbed by a substance to identify it
 (end)
 Watch drug dog video