Drug Analysis

Forensic Science/CSI
Foster

How would you figure out which

type of drug each of these are?

Tests
Drug Identification
Screening or presumptive tests

Confirmatory tests

Spot or color tests

Spectrophotometry

Microcrystalline test

Ultraviolet (UV)
Visible

a reagent is added, producing a

crystalline precipitate that is unique for
a certain drug

Chromatography

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)

Controlled Substances Act

Schedule Ihigh 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 IIhigh 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

Controlled Substances Act, continued

Schedule IIIlower 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 IVlow 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 III
Examples: stimulants and depressants including Valium, Xanax,
Librium, phenobarbital, Darvon

Controlled Substances Act, continued

Schedule Vlow 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

Types of Drugs
Hallucinogens- naturally occurring substances that can
change normal thought processes, perceptions and moods
Stimulants- act on the central nervous system to make
the user feel better and increase his/her energy alertness
while suppressing appetite and fatigue
Narcotics- relieve pain
Designer drugs- designed for abuse and evasion of specific
drug laws

Testing for Drugs

1. Spot Tests- chemical reaction occurs causing a
color change
a. Must use further testing to confirm spectroscopy

Testing for Drugs

2. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)- separates
the components of the mixture

Testing for Drugs (cont.)

3. Metabolism- the sum of all chemical processes
occurring 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

Testing for Drugs (cont.)

4. Presumptive (screening) Test- presumes the
presence of the questioned substance
a. Tests using color- for marijuana, LSD, amphetamines,
cocaine, heroin, barbiturates
Marquisturns purple in the presence of
most opium derivatives and orange-brown
with amphetamines
Dille-Koppanyiturns violet-blue in the
presence of barbiturates
Duquenois-Levineturns a purple color in
the presence of marijuana
Van Urkturns a blue-purple in the
presence of LSD
Scott testcolor test for cocaine; blue

Testing for Drugs (cont.)

5. Confirmatory tests- specifically identify
one substance (many different types)
a. Spectroscopy- study of radiation and its interaction
with matter
1) 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 electors and have a
charge (positive or negative)

EM Spectrum
PowerPoint

Infrared Spectrometry

Mass Spectrometry

Gas Spectrometry