ToxicologyToxicology&&

Drug AnalysisDrug Analysis

Study of drugs, poisons, and Study of drugs, poisons, and

other toxic substancesother toxic substances

Drug Analysis LabsDrug Analysis Labs

provide forensic drug testing for illicit provide forensic drug testing for illicit drugs seized by law enforcement drugs seized by law enforcement agencies, agencies,

support investigations of the FDA support investigations of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (Food and Drug Administration) regarding drug diversions, regarding drug diversions,

evaluate suspected tampering evaluate suspected tampering events.events.

ExamplesExamples of services are: of services are:

Analyzing cocaine, heroin, marijuana Analyzing cocaine, heroin, marijuana seizures for city and town police seizures for city and town police departments. departments.

Testing prescription drugs from Testing prescription drugs from hospital pharmacies to detect hospital pharmacies to detect substitution. substitution.

Analyzing over-the-counter drugs and Analyzing over-the-counter drugs and alcohol products to detect tampering, alcohol products to detect tampering, including dilution or poisonsincluding dilution or poisons

Job of ToxicologistJob of Toxicologist

a)a) Identify a toxin (poison)Identify a toxin (poison)

b)b) Determine likely effect on the individualDetermine likely effect on the individual

Degree of Toxicity depends on:Degree of Toxicity depends on: How much enters the bodyHow much enters the body Over what period of timeOver what period of time Other factors, depending upon the individual Other factors, depending upon the individual

Body sizeBody size AgeAge ToleranceTolerance General health of immune systemGeneral health of immune system

Intoxicant vs poisonIntoxicant vs poison

Intoxicant - alcohol: need lots of it to Intoxicant - alcohol: need lots of it to be be lethal lethal

Poison – need small amts to be lethalPoison – need small amts to be lethal

Right dose/wrong doseRight dose/wrong dose

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

Digitalis- common cardiac medicineDigitalis- common cardiac medicine Right dose… helps regulate heart Right dose… helps regulate heart

rhythmrhythm

Wrong dose (high)-irregular heartbeat. Wrong dose (high)-irregular heartbeat. leads to nausea, vomiting, death leads to nausea, vomiting, death

AutopsyAutopsy

Toxins not always visibly evident in Toxins not always visibly evident in organs or tissues.organs or tissues.

Need to collect and analyze body Need to collect and analyze body fluids.fluids.

Takes time (weeks/months)Takes time (weeks/months)

metalsmetals

In excess, these metals can be In excess, these metals can be harmful/fatalharmful/fatalironironmercurymercuryleadleadcoppercopper

Get samples from:Get samples from:

a)a) Where chemicals enter the bodyWhere chemicals enter the body- blood, injection sites, - blood, injection sites,

stomachstomach

b)b) Where chemicals concentrate in the Where chemicals concentrate in the body body --liver, brain, hair, vitreous humorliver, brain, hair, vitreous humor

c)c) Route of elimination for the Route of elimination for the chemicalschemicals

- urine- urine

BloodBlood

o Most useful for samplingMost useful for sampling

o Concentrations of toxins connected Concentrations of toxins connected to effect on the bodyto effect on the body

UrineUrine

Kidneys -filter waste and toxins from Kidneys -filter waste and toxins from blood blood

Toxins often more concentrated in Toxins often more concentrated in urine than in bloodurine than in blood

Can’t be used to estimate Can’t be used to estimate concentrations in bloodconcentrations in blood

In the Urine…In the Urine…

Concentration of toxin depends on Concentration of toxin depends on how much urine is producedhow much urine is produced

Drink lots of water – toxins dilutedDrink lots of water – toxins diluted

Dehydrated- toxins concentratedDehydrated- toxins concentrated

Stomach contentsStomach contents

Toxins don’t correspond to blood levelsToxins don’t correspond to blood levels

Living- use a gastric tube through the Living- use a gastric tube through the nose to collect a sample nose to collect a sample

Dead – cut into stomach to collect a Dead – cut into stomach to collect a samplesample

LiverLiver

Drugs and toxins metabolized Drugs and toxins metabolized (broken down) in the liver(broken down) in the liver

Toxins may remain in liver when Toxins may remain in liver when gone from bloodgone from blood

Vitreous humorVitreous humor

Liquid in eyeLiquid in eye Resistant to putrefaction (decay)Resistant to putrefaction (decay) Water-soluble toxins found hereWater-soluble toxins found here Lag behind blood levels by 1-2 hoursLag behind blood levels by 1-2 hours

HairHair

Absorbs heavy metalsAbsorbs heavy metals Arsenic, lead, thalliumArsenic, lead, thallium Can give a timeline of when the toxin Can give a timeline of when the toxin

appeared in the systemappeared in the system

Famous case: Robert Curley from Famous case: Robert Curley from Wilkes-BarreWilkes-Barre

InsectsInsects

Feed on corpsesFeed on corpses Drugs concentrate in tissues of the Drugs concentrate in tissues of the

insectsinsects Can analyze the insects to determine Can analyze the insects to determine

what toxins were in the body.what toxins were in the body.

C.O.D. vs M.O.D.C.O.D. vs M.O.D.

Cause of death – what caused the Cause of death – what caused the person to die? person to die? Heart attack, bullet wound, head trauma, Heart attack, bullet wound, head trauma,

kidney failure, etc.kidney failure, etc. Drugs and poisons are considered Drugs and poisons are considered

“contributing factors”“contributing factors”

Manner of death – how did the person Manner of death – how did the person die? die? Natural cause, accidental, intentionalNatural cause, accidental, intentional

Cause of deathCause of death

Someone with coronary artery Someone with coronary artery disease (CAD) takes amphetamines disease (CAD) takes amphetamines or cocaineor cocaine

Heart rate increases, causing a heart Heart rate increases, causing a heart attackattack

Cause of death = heart attack with Cause of death = heart attack with drugs being a contributing factordrugs being a contributing factor

Manner of DeathManner of Death

Was the death a natural death or an Was the death a natural death or an accident?accident?

A) if the amount of drug was low and the A) if the amount of drug was low and the victim had severe CAD, the manner of victim had severe CAD, the manner of death would be “natural”death would be “natural”

B) If the drug level was high and the CAD B) If the drug level was high and the CAD was mild, the manner of death would be was mild, the manner of death would be “accident.”“accident.”

Common Causes of Common Causes of Accidental PoisoningAccidental Poisoning

a)a) Children – often curious about Children – often curious about chemicals in the homechemicals in the home

b)b) Adults –mislabeled medicine Adults –mislabeled medicine containerscontainers

c)c) Elderly - Dose miscalculation or Elderly - Dose miscalculation or dangerous mixtures of prescriptionsdangerous mixtures of prescriptions

Homicide by poisoningHomicide by poisoning

Uncommon todayUncommon today

If there is a poisoning case, often the If there is a poisoning case, often the killer is someone who will know killer is someone who will know victim’s habitsvictim’s habits

- Family member- Family member

- caretaker- caretaker

PRESUMPTIVEPRESUMPTIVE

vsvs

CONFIRMATORY CONFIRMATORY

TESTSTESTS

Presumptive Tests for ToxinsPresumptive Tests for Toxins

Presumptive testsPresumptive tests: fast, cheap: fast, cheap Indicate likely presence of toxinIndicate likely presence of toxin Very sensitive but not specificVery sensitive but not specific Also known as “screening” testsAlso known as “screening” tests

Confirmatory Tests for ToxinsConfirmatory Tests for Toxins

* expensive, take time* expensive, take time

* sensitive & very specific * sensitive & very specific

……can identify the substance can identify the substance to to the exclusion of all others the exclusion of all others

Presumptive testsPresumptive tests

a)a) Color testsColor tests

b)b) ImmunoassaysImmunoassays

c)c) TLC = thin layer chromatographyTLC = thin layer chromatography

d)d) GC = gas chromatographyGC = gas chromatography

e)e) UV = ultraviolet lightUV = ultraviolet light

Color testsColor tests

Reagent is added to the substanceReagent is added to the substance Look for color changeLook for color change

Used for detection of LSD, etc.Used for detection of LSD, etc.

ImmunoassaysImmunoassays

Based on an antigen-antibody Based on an antigen-antibody responseresponse

Antigen = substance in questionAntigen = substance in question Antibody = testing reagent Antibody = testing reagent

If clumping occurs, the substance is If clumping occurs, the substance is presentpresent

Thin layer chromatographyThin layer chromatography

Separate compounds Separate compounds based on how far based on how far they move when they move when combined w/ a combined w/ a solventsolvent

Compare your Compare your unknown to known unknown to known standardsstandards

Gas chromatography Gas chromatography

Separate compounds by size, shape, Separate compounds by size, shape, chemical propertieschemical properties

Identifies class of toxin, but does not Identifies class of toxin, but does not make an exact identificationmake an exact identification

Ultraviolet lightUltraviolet light

Different compounds absorb or Different compounds absorb or reflect light in different amounts and reflect light in different amounts and at different wavelengths.at different wavelengths.

Extent of light absorbed/reflected Extent of light absorbed/reflected indicates the concentration of the indicates the concentration of the toxintoxin

Confirmatory testsConfirmatory tests

Sensitive and specificSensitive and specific Can identify to the exclusion of all Can identify to the exclusion of all

othersothers

Most important: GC/MSMost important: GC/MS Gas chromatograph/mass Gas chromatograph/mass

spectrometry machinespectrometry machine

Gas chromatograph- separates the Gas chromatograph- separates the sample into componentssample into components

Mass Spectrometer- identifies the Mass Spectrometer- identifies the componentscomponents

Interpreting the resultsInterpreting the resultsof toxicology testsof toxicology tests

Identify the toxins presentIdentify the toxins present Identify how the toxins were Identify how the toxins were

administeredadministered Determine concentrations of the toxinDetermine concentrations of the toxin Did the concentration affect behavior?Did the concentration affect behavior? Did the concentration play a role in the Did the concentration play a role in the

death?death?

Toxins can be:Toxins can be:

a)a) Ingested Ingested

b)b) InhaledInhaled

c)c) Injected into musclesInjected into muscles

d)d) Put into the into the bloodstream Put into the into the bloodstream through an IV.through an IV.

IngestedIngested

Toxins that are ingested will be found Toxins that are ingested will be found in the stomach, intestines, and liver.in the stomach, intestines, and liver.

Toxins that are inhaled will be found Toxins that are inhaled will be found in the lungsin the lungs

Toxins that are injected will be found Toxins that are injected will be found in tissues near the injection site. The in tissues near the injection site. The toxins are slowly picked up by bloodtoxins are slowly picked up by blood

IV (intravenous)IV (intravenous)

Toxins that enter through an IV will Toxins that enter through an IV will bypass the stomach and liver.bypass the stomach and liver.

No toxin will be found at the injection siteNo toxin will be found at the injection site Toxins will move through the body Toxins will move through the body

quicklyquickly High concentrations of the toxin will be High concentrations of the toxin will be

found in the blood and tissues.found in the blood and tissues. Low concentrations will be found in the Low concentrations will be found in the

stomach and liver.stomach and liver.

Toxicity affected by Toxicity affected by

AgeAge SexSex Body size/weightBody size/weight GeneticsGenetics NutritionNutrition Overall HealthOverall Health

Acute versus chronicAcute versus chronic

Acute poisoningAcute poisoning – quick but intense – quick but intense

Ex. cyanideEx. cyanide

Chronic poisoningChronic poisoning– drawn out in small – drawn out in small dosesdoses

Ex. Low doses of arsenic or Ex. Low doses of arsenic or thalliumthallium

HairHair

Reveals exposure to toxin Reveals exposure to toxin Reveals timelineReveals timeline Hair grows ½ inch per monthHair grows ½ inch per month Robert CurleyRobert Curley Drug Analysis Laboratories.docDrug Analysis Laboratories.doc

AlcoholAlcohol

Blood alcohol levelsBlood alcohol levels # of grams of alcohol in every 100 ml of # of grams of alcohol in every 100 ml of

bloodblood

.08 – legal limit.08 – legal limit

Blood alcohol levelsBlood alcohol levels

0.030.03 OKOK

0.03-0.080.03-0.08 Lose coordination, judgmentLose coordination, judgment

0.120.12 vomitvomit

0.250.25 ComaComa

0.300.30 Deep comaDeep coma

Evaluation Evaluation

a)a) Field sobriety testField sobriety test

b)b) BreathalyzerBreathalyzer

a)a) Blood testBlood test

Pennsylvania DUI LawsPennsylvania DUI Laws

http://www.1800dialdui.com/CM/http://www.1800dialdui.com/CM/DUIDWILaws/DUIDWILaws-DUIDWILaws/DUIDWILaws-Pennsylvania-DUI-Laws-Penalties.aspPennsylvania-DUI-Laws-Penalties.asp

DEADEA

Drug Enforcement AgencyDrug Enforcement Agency

A division of the Department of JusticeA division of the Department of Justice

NIDA – National Institute on Drug AbuseNIDA – National Institute on Drug Abuse

DRUG STATISTICS:DRUG STATISTICS:

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/statistics.html#arrestsstatistics.html#arrests

Drug Charges Drug Charges Supply charges depend critically on the Supply charges depend critically on the

quantity and quality of the drug found. quantity and quality of the drug found.

Example:Example: In one typical case involving herbal cannabis, the In one typical case involving herbal cannabis, the

charge related to possession of about a kilo of the charge related to possession of about a kilo of the stuff which it was alleged was intended for supply, stuff which it was alleged was intended for supply, and likely to command a price of at least £3,000. and likely to command a price of at least £3,000. A detailed examination of the material showed that the A detailed examination of the material showed that the

cannabis was mainly leaf with little or no evidence of cannabis was mainly leaf with little or no evidence of flowering tops - where the vast majority of the active flowering tops - where the vast majority of the active ingredients of cannabis reside. It was therefore debatable ingredients of cannabis reside. It was therefore debatable whether the material had any realistic sale value at all. This whether the material had any realistic sale value at all. This was accepted by the prosecution's scientist and the charge was accepted by the prosecution's scientist and the charge of supply, dropped. of supply, dropped.

Drug PenaltiesDrug Penalties

http://www.pennsylvania-criminal-http://www.pennsylvania-criminal-defense.com/drugpossession.htmdefense.com/drugpossession.htm

Drugs are “scheduled”Drugs are “scheduled”

There are FIVE schedules in which There are FIVE schedules in which the DEA classifies drugs, according to the DEA classifies drugs, according to their medicinal uses and potential their medicinal uses and potential addiction.addiction.

““Controlled Substance Act”Controlled Substance Act”

Schedule I. - Schedule I. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a high (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.medical supervision.

Examples of Schedule I drugs:Examples of Schedule I drugs:

HeroinHeroin MarijuanaMarijuana PeyotePeyote MescalineMescaline Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

Schedule II. - Schedule II. - (A) The drug or other substance has a high (A) The drug or other substance has a high

potential for abuse.potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has a (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.severe restrictions.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substances (C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.physical dependence.

Examples of Schedule II drugs:Examples of Schedule II drugs:

OpiumOpium CocaineCocaine MethadoneMethadone Injectable liquid MethamphetaminesInjectable liquid Methamphetamines

Schedule III. - Schedule III. - (A) The drug or other substance has a (A) The drug or other substance has a

potential for abuse less than the drugs or potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.other substances in schedules I and II.

(B) The drug or other substance has a (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence or high psychological dependence.dependence.

Examples of Schedule III drugs:Examples of Schedule III drugs:

Non-liquid methamphetaminesNon-liquid methamphetamines BarbituratesBarbiturates Substances containing limited Substances containing limited

amounts of codeine, opium, and amounts of codeine, opium, and morphinemorphine

Anabolic steroidsAnabolic steroids

Schedule IV. - Schedule IV. - (A) The drug or other substance has a low (A) The drug or other substance has a low

potential for abuse relative to the drugs or potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.other substances in schedule III.

(B) The drug or other substance has a (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.drugs or other substances in schedule III.

Schedule V. - Schedule V. - (A) The drug or other substance has a low (A) The drug or other substance has a low

potential for abuse relative to the drugs or potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.other substances in schedule IV.

(B) The drug or other substance has a (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.treatment in the United States.

(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.drugs or other substances in schedule IV.

Hair Testing for Drug UseHair Testing for Drug Use

Over the past two years, the Over the past two years, the popularity of hair analysis for drugs popularity of hair analysis for drugs has risen significantly, especially for has risen significantly, especially for pre-employment drug testing. This is pre-employment drug testing. This is due in large part to hair's outstanding due in large part to hair's outstanding immunity to alterations and longer immunity to alterations and longer detection times for drugs. detection times for drugs.

1.0 cm of hair = 1 month detection 1.0 cm of hair = 1 month detection time for drug(s). time for drug(s).

Home Drug TestsHome Drug Tests

Home Drug Tests:Home Drug Tests: http://http://

www.testsymptomsathome.com/www.testsymptomsathome.com/fs_dru0.asp?fs_dru0.asp?portalid=GOT&OVRAW=drugportalid=GOT&OVRAW=drug%20analysis&OVKEY=drug%20analysis&OVKEY=drug%20analysis&OVMTC=standard%20analysis&OVMTC=standard

Drug info…Drug info… GHB & Ketamine – the Date Rape drugs GHB & Ketamine – the Date Rape drugs

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/3-11-http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/3-11-99Testimony.html99Testimony.html

Peyote - Peyote - http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/3-11-http://www.nida.nih.gov/Testimony/3-11-99Testimony.html99Testimony.html

Ketamine - Ketamine - http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/KetamineKetamine

Drugs by name Drugs by name --http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guidhttp://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/ByName/e/ByName/