Illicit drugs Flashcards
What is the difference between addiction and dependence?
Addiction is a result of physiological and biochemical changes made to accommodate for the drug while dependence is psychological
What are the four main types of drugs?
Stimulants, depressants, narcotics and hallucinogens
What is a stimulant and some examples?
Drug that elevates mood through increasing brain activity. Includes amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine
What is a depressant and some examples?
Drug that decreases brain activity. Includes barbiturates
What is a narcotic and some examples?
Drug that provides pain and anxiety relief. Includes opium, morphine, heroin
What is a hallucinogen and some examples?
Drug that induces hallucinations. Including LSD, psilocybin, marijuana, mescaline, ecstasy
What is the difference between an excipient and a diluent in drug exhibits?
Excipients are added to mimic the activity of the main drug which diluents dilute the main drug to give the exhibit more bulk
What is involved in preliminary drug tests?
First a visual examination and the package is weighed. Tests are used where a positive results gives a colour change
What is a microcrystal test?
Adding reagents to the suspected drug and the crystalised complex formed is analysed in terms of shape, colour and speed of deposition
What does chromatography determine in drug testing?
How many substances are present
What methods are used to confirm the presence of drugs?
Gas chromatography to separate the components and mass spectrometry to identify the components. Also used infrared spectrophotometry
What drugs have specialised identification tests?
Marijuana, LSD and marked tablets
