Forensic 3 Flashcards
What is PCP?
- phencyclidine
- phenylcyclohexylpiperidine
What does PCP cause?
dissociative anaesthetic with hallucinogenic properties (they won’t know the extent of pain that is happening to them)
PCP was first developed as ?
- an IV anesthetic for humans
- d/c due to undesirable side effects (convulsions, hallucinations, psychotic behaviour)
- patented as a vet anaesthetic and tranquilizer in 1968
how is PCP absorbed?
through intact skin so ppl who take down labs have to be really careful
some street names for PCP
- kools
- super weed
- angel dust
- monkey dust
- elephant tranquilizer
most common method of ingestion for PCP
smoked
“sherman’s cigarette”
describe PCP smoke
- very very hot and irritating to mouth and throat
- that’s why they mix with menthol or mint for cooling effect
other less common methods of ingestion for PCP
- oral ingestion
- injection
- eye dropper
- snorting or inhalation
- through the skin
desired effects of PCP
- intense euphoria
- hallucinations
- relaxation
- dissociation from the environment
onset, peak, and duration of PCP
onset: 1-5 min if smoked (30-60 min if orally ingested)
peak: 15-30 min
duration: 4-6 hours or longer
other effects of PCP
- agitation, confusion
- disorientation
- increased pain threshold
- elevated body temp and BP
- moon walking
- cyclic behaviour
Toxicity of PCP
- delirium
- hallucinations
- convulsions
- violent reactions
overdoses of PCP
- deep coma
- seizures
- death is due to respiratory arrest and possibly cardiac arrest
PCP:
Tolerance?
yes
PCP:
what type of dependence?
ONLY psychological
PCP has structural similarities to what compounds?
- ketamine
- dextromethorphan (DM)
What is GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate)?
CNS depressant
*comes in a powder or liquid (odourless, salty tasting odorless liquid, a little thicker than water)
How was GHB used in the past?
used in combo with anaesthetic, experimental treatment for narcolepsy, alcohol withdrawal, etc. weight control and sedative drug
What was GHB recently approved for in Canada?
as an experimental drug for treatment of narcolepsy
GHB street names
- easy lay
- liquid ecstasy
- liquid X
- G
- salt water
- georgia home boy
how is GHB ingested
Orally:
- capful of liquid
- or powder mixed with water, carbonated beverage, or alcohol
Desired effects of GHB
- relaxation
- sense of well being
- loss of social inhibitions
*similar to alcohol bc they are both CNS depressants
onset and duration of GHB
onset: 5-20 min
duration: 2-3 hours
how long is GHB detectable in blood and urine?
blood: 6 hours
urine: 12 hours
- problem for law enforcement who are trying to detect it
- short detection window so witnesses are very important
what are some other effects of GHB
- amnesia
- drowsiness
- impaired judgment
- slowed reaction time
- slurred speech
- loss of balance
what can happen at higher doses of GHB
- loss of consciousness
- slowed heart rate
- seizures
- decreased respiration
- coma
- death
What is GHB
endogenous metabolite
it is a neurotransmitter
so when they identify it, they need to determine the amount to tell if it’s endogenous or exogenous level
GHB can also be a product of ________ decomposition
postmortem
What are some analogs of GHB that are also abused?
1,4 butanediol
gamma butyrolactone (GBL)
What properties does cannabis have?
CNS depressant, stimulant and hallucinogenic properties
What is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis?
delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
What is Sinsemilla?
unfertilized female pot plants
female plants are better, produce high resin of THC
Medical uses of cannabis?
- anaesthetic
- improve appetite
- muscle spasms
- epilepsy, asthma, arthritis
- insomnia
- menstrual cramps
- antiemetic
- management of glaucoma
Describe Dronabinol
Synthetic trans (-) isomer of THC
Approved for:
- nausea and vomiting due to cancer
- anorexia and weight loss of AIDS
oral capsule
Describe Nabilone
Synthetic chromenone derivative of THC
Approved for:
- nausea/vomiting for cancer
- anorexia and weight less of AIDS
Describe Sativex
Natural THC and cannbidiol
Approved for:
-Tx of neuropathic pain and spasticity associated with MS
Comes as a spray (SL or side of cheek)
what is Hash
dried and pressed resin
generally smoked in a bong or pipe - can be mixed into food
Cannabis comes from what plant
cannabis sativa
street names for cannabis
- wacky weed
- dope
- grass
- J
- mary jane
Methods of ingestion of cannabis?
- smoking (joint, bong, blunt)
- oral ingestion (hash brownies), slower onset, slower absorption
desired effects of cananbis
- euphoria
- general sense of well being
- relaxation
- loss of inhibitions
what is the onset, peak and duration of cannabis
onset: 8-9 seconds (smoking)
peak: 10-30 seconds
duration: 2-3 hours
*much longer if orally ingested
what are some other effects of cannabis?
- distortion of time, space, body image
- impairment of recent memory and concentration
- mild confusion; disorientation
- reduced attention span
- reduced ability to process information
- difficulty with balance
- impaired ability to perform complex tasks
- decreased muscle strength
- spontaneous laughter
- conjunctivitis
- “munchies”
- dry mouth
describe toxic symptoms of cannabis
- fearfulness
- anxiety (more common in those who are first-time users, chronic high dose users or with oral ingestion)
- mild paranoia
Cannabis:
tolerance?
yes
Cannabis:
dependence?
nope (neither dependence develops)
THC is ___ soluble
fat
What is heroin
diacetylmorphine
CNS depressant (narcotic analgesic)
compare heroin to morphine in terms of potency
2-3 times more potent than morphine
how do you produce heroin
treat morphine with acetic anhydrine
heroin is a ________ opioid
semi-synthetic (bc it comes from morphine and morphine is natural alkaloid)
street names for heroin
- antifreeze
- big H
- brown sguar
- horse
- junk
- smack
methods of ingestion of heroin
- injection
- smoking
- snorting
*some ppl use crack cocaine and then heroin - ok cool
desired effects of heroin
- euphoria
- sense of well being
- relief of pain
onset and duration of heroin
onset:
- immediate for euphoria
- 15-30 min for other physical effects
duration: 3-6 hours for physical effects
describe other effects of heroin
“on the nod”
- semiconscious
- droopy eyelids
- head slumped forward, chin on chest
- easily awakened
- alert to questions
- slowed reflexes
- low, slow, raspy speech
- facial itching
- nausea
- difficulty with urination
- slow deliberate movements
how will heroin affect pupils
CONSTRICT
PIN POINT
toxicity of heroin
- respiratory depression
- coma
- death
what do we use to treat heroin OD
naloxone
heroin:
tolerance?
yes
heroin:
dependence?
yes - both psychological and physiological
Describe the physiological dependence of heroin
- withdrawal begins within 4-6 hours, peaks at 24-36 hours
- characterized by insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, hot and cold flashes, weakness, and cold-like symptoms
what drug is used to treat withdrawal?
methadone
what are some interpretation challenges with heroin
- heroin is not detected in body fluids
- requires special extraction procedure (heroin is amphoteric, has both acidic and basic parts - requires extraction at exactly a pH of 8)
- wide range of concentrations seen in deaths
