Forensic Aspects of Drug Abuse 3 Flashcards
What is PCP?
- dissociative anaesthetic with hallucinogenic properties
What was PSP first developed as?
IV anesthetic for humans
What are the street names for PCP?
- magic dust
- angel dust
- embalming fluid
- elephant tranquilizer
What the most common method of ingestion of PCP?
- smoked
How to they formulate the PCP to enable it to be smoked?
- applied in either powder or liquid form to a variety of leafy substances which can then be smoked in a pipe or homemade
What are the desired effects of PCP?
- intense euphoria
- hallucinations
- relaxation
- dissociation form the environment
What is the onset of effect from PCP?
1-5 minutes if smoked
What is the duration of PCP effect?
4-6 hours or longer
What are the physical effects of PCP?
- agitation, confusion
- disorientation
- increased pain threshold
- elevated body temp
- moon walking
- cyclic behaviour
What are the s/s of PCP toxicity?
- delirium
- hallucinations
- convulsions
- violent reactions
What happens with overdose associated with PCP?
- deep coma
- seizures
- death is due to respiratory arrest and potentially cardiac arrest
(longterm use- can lead to psychosis)
Does PCP cause both physiological and psychological dependance?
- psych: YES
- physiological: NO
What kind of drug is GHB classified as?
a CNS depressant
What was GHB used for in the past?
- combo with anaesthetic
- experimental tx for narcolepsy
- alcohol withdrawal
What are the street names for GHB?
- easy lay
- liquid E
- G
- salt water
What are the desired effects from GHB?
- relaxation
- sense of well being
- loss of social inhibitions
What is the onset of GHB?
- 5-20 minutes
What is the duration of action of GHB?
2-3 hours (makes it difficult because cannot be detected in blood after around 6 hours - implications for date rape trials)
What are the other effects associated with GHB?
- amnesia
- drowsiness
- impaired judgement
- slowed rxn time
- slurred speech
- loss of balance
At a higher dose, what are the physical reactions to GHB?
- LOC
- slowed HR
- seizures
- decreased resp
- coma
- death