forensics chapter 7 Flashcards
Toxicology
the study of poisons
What is forensic toxicology?
the science of detecting and identifying drugs and poisons a person may have used for medicinal, recreational, or criminal purposes.
What are the three primary responsibilities of a forensic toxicologist?
1) post mortem drug testing
2.) workplace drug testing
3.) identification of contraband materials
List and Desribe the four methods of exposure to toxins (ways to introduce them into the body).
1.) ingesting through the gastrointestinal system
2.) inhaling them into the lungs
3.) injecting them into the bloodstream
4.) absorbing them through the skin
What are the three ways people can be exposed to toxins?
1.) intentionally
2.) accidentally
3.) deliberatly
What is toxicity?
the extent to which a substance is poisonous and is affected by many factors
What four factors can affect toxicity?
1.) dosage
2.) duration
3.) how it was taken
4.) interactions
What two poisons were frequently used in the 17th century?
1.) arsenic
2.) cyanide
What common household pest control product contains arsenic?
rat poison
Why was arsenic such a popular poison during the 19th century?
it was readily available and found often in rat poisoning
What test was developed to detect arsenic and was the first use of toxicology in a jury trial?
the marsh test
is a rare but potentially deadly poison that makes the body unable to use life-sustaining oxygen.
cyanide
What odor can cyanide have to some people?
bitter almond
What is the Father of Toxicology?
Mathiw Orfila
Name some job responsibilities of present-day toxicologists.
they work with pathologists to analyze body fluids from autopsies. They may also be responsible for presenting evidence in court.
Contrast the two types of poisoning.
1.) acute
2.) chronic
What makes a drug illegal?
no accepted medical I.D.
Define controlled substances
legal substances who sale, possession and use are restricted
drug offenders make up how much of the federal prison system population?
half
What three factors determine classification of controlled substances?
1.) potential for abuse
2.) potential to physical and psychological dependence
3.) medical value
Describe the five schedules of controlled substances.
1.) drug with high potential for abuse and addiction, no medical value
2.) drug with high potential for abuse and addiction, some medical value
3.) drugs with less potential for abuse, acceptable for medical use.
4.) drugs with low potential for abuse, acceptable for medical use
5.) drugs with low potential for abuse, medical use, lowest potential dependency
What group of psychedelic drugs affects the user’s perceptions, thinking, self-awareness and emotions?
hallucinogens
What group of drugs acts to reduce pain by suppressing the central nervous system’s ability to relay pain messages to the brain?
narocotoics
What group of drugs increases feelings of well being, energy, alertness while suppressing appetite but can be followed by depression?
stimulants
What group of drugs promotes cell and tissue growth and division?
depressants
List four examples of Hallucinogens
1.) MDMA
2.) mescaline
3) LSP
4) PCP
List four example of Narcotics
1.) opium
2.) heroin
3.) oxycodone
4.) methadone
List three examples of Stimulants
1.) cocaine
2.) amphetamines
3.) methamphetamines
Which group of drugs tends to be highly addictive?
stimulants
Which group of drugs tends to produce tolerance and withdrawal?
narcotics
list three most common date rape drugs
1.) rohypnol
2.) GHB
3.) ketamine
what organ is most commonly damaged by alcohol use?
liver
what is the most poisonous biological substance known to humans?
botulism
What deadly nervous system disease takes a few lives because of vaccinations against it?
clostridium botulinum
What are pesticides?
any substance used to control pests
list two examples of heavy metals.
arsenic
lead
list two types of gases
hydrogen cyanide
carbon monoxide
name two bioterrorism agents
ricen
anthrax
what is the purpose of presumptive testing
narrow down possibilities so that more specific tests can be done
list some examples of confirmation tests
color tests
microcrystaline testing
what is the formal term for a post-mortem examination
autopsy
