Drugs in Forensic Toxicology

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A. L.

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A. L.

About these flashcards

This flashcard set covers advanced topics in forensic toxicology at the university level, focusing on the identification and effects of various drugs. It delves into the analysis of substances like THC, MDMA, cocaine, and LSD, exploring their routes of administration, concentration levels, and both positive and negative effects. The set also discusses the three primary stages of drug analysis, including visual inspection, presumptive testing, and confirmatory tests. Ideal for students and professionals in forensic science, this flashcard set provides essential knowledge for understanding drug interactions and their implications in forensic investigations.

Flashcards

47

Students

2

Language

English

Category

Chemistry

Level

University

Created / Updated

25.01.2016 / 01.05.2016

When do blood THC concentrations peak? (1p)

Within minutes, and just after smoking ceases

The effects of cannabis and THC are delayed relative to maximum blood concentration. When are the peak effects felt within and when do the effects generally return to baseline within? (2p)

1. Peak effects are felt within ~30min
2. Effects return to baseline within 3-6hrs

On the oral ingestion of cannabis and THC, how is the T_max and C_max relative to those of smoking? (2p)

1. T_max is ~1-6hrs (much slower)
2. c_max is significantly lower

When cannabis and/or THC are ingested orally, how does the drug diffuse and about how long does it take? (2p)

1. The drug diffuses out of fatty tissues
2. It takes about 1-4 days

How does the structure of cannabis and THC determine its general effect on the body? (1p)

Cannabis and THC are structurally similar to serotonin, so act as initiators of the serotonergic system, thus activate effects similar to serotonin.

What class of drug are cannabis & THC? (1p)

Hallucinogens

What are N-bombs? (1p)

N-bombs are synthetic, structurally different drugs that have similar effects as other drugs (such as LSD)

What category of drugs is LSD and what are routes of administration are commonly used for it? (2p)

1. LSD is the most potent of hallucinogens
2. Oral and transdermal

What is the dose range for LSD, when are the effects felt, and how long may they last? (3p)

1. Dose ranges from ~50-300µg
2. The effects are generally felt within ~30min
3. Effects may last up to 10-12hrs

Is it often fatal to take LSD? (1p)

Fatal toxicity is rare, but injury due to fatal impairment is possible

What are 9 symptoms of hallucinogen toxicity? (9p)

1. Dizziness
2. Weakness
3. Tremors
4. Altered perception of colour, shape, and time
5. Disorganized thought
6. Difficulty expressing thoughts
7. Depersonalization
8. Dream-like feelings
9. Hallucinations

What are the three primary stages of drug analysis and identification? (3p)

1. Visual inspection
2. Presumptive testing
3. Confirmatory test

What is observed during visual inspection of drugs? (3p)

Spae, colour, and markings (especially pharmaceuticals)

Outline the Marquis test (4p)

1. Test for alkaloids
2. Contains 2% formaldehyde
3. Purple in the presence of heroin, morphine, and most opium derivaties
4. Orange-brown with amphetamines and methamphetamines

Outline the Duquenois-Levine (DL) test. (3p)

1. Test for cannabinoids
2. Solution A - 2% vanillin + 1% acetaldehyde in ethyl alcohol
Solution B - concentrated HCl
Solution C - Chloroform
3. Positive = purple colour in chloroform layer

Outline the Van Urk test (3p)

1. Test for LSD
2. 1% solution of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in 10% concentrated HCl and ethyl alcohol
3. Positive = turns blue-purple

Outline the Scott test (4p)

1. Test for cocaine
2. Solution A - 2% cobalt thocyanate dissolved in water and glycerin (1:1); positive = blue
3. Solution B - concentrated HCl; positive = clear pink
4. Solution C - chloroform; positive = blue reappears

What are microcrystalline tests based on, and what are 2 pros and 2 cons? (5p)

1. Microcrystalline tests are based on the formation of a precipitate in reaction of drug with the added reagent
2. Thought to be more selective than traditional colour tests because of the presence of the precipitate, as well as the characteristics of the crystals used in evaluation of results
3. Rapid-acting
4. Effects of the overally drug matrix may still affect interpretation
5. Require confirmation by another method with superior sensitivity and selectivity

What must confirmatory tests result in? (1p)

At least 2, completely different descriptors

How is a sample prepared for confirmatory analysis, and what are two methods? (3p)

1. Sample preparation consists of dissolution and selective extraction of the drugs
2. Chromatography for retention time/factor
3. Mass spectroscopy for collecting the abundance of chemical, retention time, etc.

What are four categories of drugs of abuse? (4p)

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1. Stimulants
2. Depressants
3. Hallucinogens
4. Volatiles

What are five categories of therapeutic drugs? (5p)

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1. Non-opiods
2. Antihistimines
3. Antidepressants
4. Antipsychotics
5. Anticonvulsants

What two other types of chemicals are of forensic relevance? (2p)

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1. Carbon monoxide
2. Cyanide

What types of drugs are structurally similar to naturally occurring neurotransmitters? How do they differ so that the drug effects are not the same? (2p)

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Amphetamine-related drugs (ARDs)
Particularly, amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (MA)

Due to structural variations, there are differences in receptor binding profiles and thus, differences in drug effects from natural NT

Give the 8 examples of amphetamine-related drugs (ARDs) (8p)

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1. Amphetamine
2. Methamphetamine
3. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
4. Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)
5. Methyenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA)
6. Para-methyoxyamphetamine (PMA)
7. Benzylepiperazine (BZP)
8. Bath salts (beta-keto amphetamine analogues)

What are 4 common "good" effects and 7 "bad" effects of amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (MA) (11p)

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1. Euphoria
2. Hyperactivity
3. Vasoconstriction
4. Tachycardia

5. Agitation
6. Paranoia/Delusions
7. Psychosis
8. Seizures
9. Arrhythmia
10. Cardiorespiratory arrest
11. Death

What are 3 therapeutic uses of amphetamines? (3p)

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1. Increase wakefulness (eg. in military)
2. ADD/ADHD
3. Appetite suppression

How do bodies respond to amphetamines in terms of habits? (3p)

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1. Habit-forming
2. Often abused in a binge fashion
3. Marked withdrawal symptoms include hypersomnolence, depression, and cravings

Describe the effect of methyldioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (2p)

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MDMA is a synthetic drug that promotes release and inhibits reuptake of serotonin in nerve synapsess, as well as similar but to a lesser extent, effects with respect to dopamine and norepinephrine

What effects does methyldioxyamphetamines, metabolized from MDMA, have? (6p)

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1. Increased energy
2. Hypertension
3. Tachycardia
4. Euphoria
5. Hallucinations (mostly due to structural similarity to mescaline)
6. Muscle clenching and spasms (eg. teeth clenching)

What is the "street name" for MDMA? (1p)

Ecstasy

Why are rave/club deaths common with the use of MDMA? (3p)

1. Hyperpyrexia (extreme body temperature), due to use of MDMA and strenuous physical activity and confined conditions)
2. Death resulting from multiple organ failures
3. Normally able to maintain much higher blood MDMA concentrations outside of "club" conditions

List 6 "good" effects and 7 "bad" effects of cocaine intake (13p)

1. Euphoria
2. Heightened sexual excitement
3. Increased energy
4. Vasoconstriction
5. Dilated pupils (mydriasis)
6. Tachycardia

7. Paranoia
8. Hallucinations
9. Delusions
10. Arrhythmia
11. Seizures
12. Cardiovascular injury
13. Cardorespiratory collapse

What system of the body does cocaine affect most largely, and what is this a result of? (2p)

1.Cocaine affects the central nervous system the most
2. Due ot inhibition of dopamine reuptake

For cocaine, what 4 common routes of administration are used? (4p)

1. Intranasal (snorting)
2. Smoking (crack or free base)
3. Intravenous
4. Oral (often to avoid discovery)

Why is it difficult to measure concentrations of cocaine, especially that which is administered? (2p)

1. Cocaine is rapidly converted to a number of inactive metabolites, both in vivo and in vitro
2. Cocaine concentrations measured may be lower than those at the time of death or sampling

How can a "crash" phase after binge doses of drugs be characterized by? (2p)

1. Extreme Fatigue
2. Depression

Define: opiates, and the main reason for their abuse (2p)

Opiates: drugs that are clinically used for the treatment of pain, and in rare cases, cough

They are abused for their euphoric effects

Name 3 "positive" effects and as many negative effects as you can about opiates/opiodes (3p+)

1. Analgesia
2. Euphoria
3. Sedation

4. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, mental clouding, dysphoria, loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, death
5. Pupillary contriction, reduced gastric motility, hypotension

For opiates/opiods, name 4 common routes of administration for THERAPEUTIC use and 4 common routes for ILLICIT use (8)p)

Therapeutic:
1. Oral (immediate and controlled release)
2. IV (infusion)
3. Transdermal (Fentanyl)
4. Epidural (Obstetrics)

Illicit:
5. Oral
6. IV
7. Smoking
8, Intranasal

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Flashcards

Outline the Marquis test (4p)

1. Test for alkaloids
2. Contains 2% formaldehyde
3. Purple in the presence of heroin, morphine, and most opium derivaties
4. Orange-brown with amphetamines and methamphetamines

Outline the Duquenois-Levine (DL) test. (3p)

1. Test for cannabinoids
2. Solution A - 2% vanillin + 1% acetaldehyde in ethyl alcohol
Solution B - concentrated HCl
Solution C - Chloroform
3. Positive = purple colour in chloroform layer

Outline the Van Urk test (3p)

1. Test for LSD
2. 1% solution of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in 10% concentrated HCl and ethyl alcohol
3. Positive = turns blue-purple

Outline the Scott test (4p)

1. Test for cocaine
2. Solution A - 2% cobalt thocyanate dissolved in water and glycerin (1:1); positive = blue
3. Solution B - concentrated HCl; positive = clear pink
4. Solution C - chloroform; positive = blue reappears

What are microcrystalline tests based on, and what are 2 pros and 2 cons? (5p)

1. Microcrystalline tests are based on the formation of a precipitate in reaction of drug with the added reagent
2. Thought to be more selective than traditional colour tests because of the presence of the precipitate, as well as the characteristics of the crystals used in evaluation of results
3. Rapid-acting
4. Effects of the overally drug matrix may still affect interpretation
5. Require confirmation by another method with superior sensitivity and selectivity

What must confirmatory tests result in? (1p)

At least 2, completely different descriptors

How is a sample prepared for confirmatory analysis, and what are two methods? (3p)

1. Sample preparation consists of dissolution and selective extraction of the drugs
2. Chromatography for retention time/factor
3. Mass spectroscopy for collecting the abundance of chemical, retention time, etc.

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