Toxicology And Illicit Drug Confirmation Flashcards

1
Q

What is toxicology ?

A

Examination of biological samples for the presence of drugs

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2
Q

What is toxicology divided into ?

A

Criminal toxicology and road traffic toxicology

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3
Q

What is a receptor ?

A

A molecule on the cell membrane that responds only to specific hormones, antigens or drugs

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4
Q

What is an agonist ?

A

An agonist is a drug that binds to and fully activates a receptor

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5
Q

What is an antagonist ?

A

An antagonist is a drug that binds to and inhibits receptor activity

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6
Q

What is a partial agonist ?

A

A partial agonist binds to a receptor weakly, it does not elicit a full effect and is blocking the receptor from being activated fully by an agonist thus has antagonist like effects

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7
Q

How does GABA work ?

A

Causing membrane depolarisation by increasing the flow of negative CI ions across the membrane

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8
Q

What activates GABA receptors ?

A

GABA or numerous drugs

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9
Q

How does glutamate work ?

A

Increases the frequency of NA+ and CA+ ions across the membrane

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10
Q

What is dopamine associated with ?

A

Pleasure and addiction

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11
Q

What is the substance in alcohol that makes it alcohol ?

A

Ethanol

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12
Q

What are the different types of alcohol of forensic interest ?

A

-methanol
-iso-propanol
-ethylene glycol

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13
Q

What is the mechanism of alcohol ?

A

Alcohol binds to alpha sub unit of GABA receptor and increases the likelihood and potency of the GABA ligand

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14
Q

How does memory loss occur ?

A

Inhibition of GABA

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15
Q

Where is alcohol absorbed from ?

A

Duodenum

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16
Q

How much alcohol enters the bloodstream from the stomach ?

A

20%

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17
Q

Why does consumption of food slow down absorption of alcohol ?

A

Delays gastric emptying

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18
Q

What is the fatal level of alcohol ?

A

> 400mg

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19
Q

What does CNS depressants and the use of alcohol cause ?

A

Synergistic effect

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20
Q

Why is heroin never found in toxicology results when tested for ?

A

Metabolises fast

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21
Q

When can you state that it’s a heroin overdose ?

A

If 6-MAM is present in results

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22
Q

What is the mechanism of heroin ?

A
  1. Morphine binds to opiate receptors
  2. Morphine inhibits GABA release
  3. Dopamine release no longer inhibited
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23
Q

What is speedballing ?

A

Mixing heroin and cocaine and taken by injection

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24
Q

What two ways does Heroin OD typically occur ?

A

-prolonged absence
-relapse

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25
Q

What is the mechanism for cocaine ?

A

-dopamine retake blocked by cocaine
-build up of dopamine in synaptic cleft
-effects are intense and short lived

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26
Q

What do toxicology tests for cocaine show ?

A

Benzoylecgonine

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27
Q

What is the psychoactive and toxic element of cocaine ?

A

Cocaethylene

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28
Q

What is cocaine OD typically related to ?

A

-cardiovascular complications
-binge use

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29
Q

What is cocaine OD accompanied by ?

A

-convulsions
-foaming of the mouth
-loss of consciousness

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30
Q

What is the base form of cocaine ?

A

Crack

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31
Q

How are crack rocks formed ?

A

-baking soda
-heated
-cooled quickly

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32
Q

In what form is cocaine more addictive ?

A

when smoked

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33
Q

What i8s the mechanism for benzodiazepines ?

A

-bind to gamma sub unit on GABA receptor

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34
Q

What is doctor shopping ?

A

visiting multiple physicians to obtain multiple prescriptions

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35
Q

What affect does ecstasy (MDMA) ?

A

Serotonin shock syndrome (heatstroke)
- lowers the bodies ability to regulate body temperature

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36
Q

what is the mechanism for MDMA ?

A

-blocks the reuptake pump for serotonin/ dopamine
-levels increase
-mental relaxation/ euphoria

37
Q

How long can MDMA last for ?

A

4-8 hours

38
Q

What conditions do amphetamines have use for ?

A

Narcolepsy and ADHD

39
Q

How are amphetamines typically taken ?

A

Snorted or mixed with a drink- foul tasting

40
Q

What are common side effects of methamphetamines ?

A

Nausea, panic attacks, compulsive repetitive behaviour and jaw clenching

41
Q

What is road traffic toxicology ?

A

A branch of toxicology that focuses exclusively on drink or drug impairment when in control of motorised transport

42
Q

What does road traffic toxicology typically involved ?

A

Motorists who’s driving has been adversely affected by drink or drugs

43
Q

What officers might road traffic toxicology include ?

A

-Royal Navy
-airline pilots

44
Q

What is Henry’s Law ?

A

Is a gas law that states that the amount of dissolved gas in a liquid is directly proportional at equilibrium to its partial pressure above liquid

45
Q

What is the Licensing Act of 1872

A

Made it an offence to be ‘drunk while in charge on the highway or other public places of any carriage, horse, cattle or steam engine’

46
Q

What happened in 1927 ?

A

Licensing act was extended to cover ‘any mechanically propelled vehicle’

47
Q

What was published in 1927 by the BMA ?

A

‘Tests of drunkenness’

48
Q

What is the Road Safety Act 1967 ?

A

Introduced the present 80mg% and 107mg% blood and urine alcohol limit (and overall 70mph speed limit)

49
Q

What is the grand rapids study ?

A

Grand rapids is a town in Michigan where the first large scale epidemiological study was carried out.

50
Q

What was the method for the grand rapids study ?

A

Breath samples were taken from nearly 6,000 drivers in accidents and about 7,600 drivers not in accidents

51
Q

What was derived from the results of the grand rapids study ?

A

-Grand rapids curve
-related blood alcohol levels to the increased probability of being involved in an accident

52
Q

What were the results of the grand rapids study ?

A
  • BAC above 40-50mg you are at an increased risk of being involved in an accident
    -legal limit 80mg increased risk of about 400%
  • at 50mg the increased risk becomes significant
    -at 100mg the increased risk becomes 600%
53
Q

What are the effects of alcohol on driving ?

A
  • impairs reaction time
    -can induce drowsiness and fatigue (higher doses)
    -can induce overconfidence and recklessness
    -impairs motor coordination and impairs steering and tracking
    -drivers often overcompensate by excess speed reduction
    -unable to respond to challenges
54
Q

What plant is cannabis derived from ?

A

Cannabis sativa

55
Q

What is the main active ingredient in cannabis ?

A

Delta-9 tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC)

56
Q

What are the three main forms of cannabis ?

A

-marijuana
-hashish
-hash oil

57
Q

What form of cannabis is the least potent ?

A

Marijuana

58
Q

What form is marijuana taken ?

A

Smoked or taken as edibles

59
Q

What is marijuana made from ?

A

Dried leaves and flowers from the cannabis plant

60
Q

What is hashish made from ?

A

Resin (a secreted gum) of the cannabis plant

61
Q

How is hashish taken ?

A

Dried and pressed into blocks and smoked or can be added to food and eaten

62
Q

What is the most potent form of cannabis ?

A

Hash oil

63
Q

Where is hash oil obtained from ?

A

Thick oil obtained from hashish

64
Q

How is hash oil taken ?

A

Smoked

65
Q

How is cannabis smoked ?

A

-hand-rolled cigarettes
-special water pipes (bongs)

66
Q

What are the effects of cannabinoids on the body ?

A
  • feeling of well-being, talkativeness
    -drowsiness
    -loss of inhibition
    -decreased nausea
    -increased appetite
    -loss of co-ordination (bloodshot eyes)
    -dryness of the eyes, mouth and throat
    -anxiety and paranoia
67
Q

What is dabbing or budding ?

A

-The use of butane or carbon dioxide to extract high purity THC from cannabis resin
- The extract is typically a sticky wax oil that can be 80-90x the potency of cannabis

68
Q

What long term effects can cannabinoids have ?

A

-not physiologically addictive
-habitual addiction
-effects learning and motivation
-worsen underlying mental health issues

69
Q

How does cannabis work ?

A
  • Cannabinoids
    -endocannibinoid receptors
    -The endocannabinoid system is involved in regulating a variety of physiological processes
70
Q

What are the effects of cannabinoids on driving ?

A

-reduced coordination
-slower reaction times
-slower information processing
-confusion
-changes in vision, hearing and time and space perception
-cannabis has a slow elimination rate
-long term users are especially prone to a ‘baseline high’
-the effects of cannabis on driving are not noticeable until a driver is challenged
-5ng is the same risk as 150mg BAC

71
Q

What did the government do in 2015 regarding drugs ?

A

Introduced fixed limits for drug driving

72
Q

What is the THC fixed limits ?

A

2 ug

73
Q

What is the benzoylecgonine fixed limits ?

A

50 ug

74
Q

What is the cocaine fixed limit ?

A

10 ug

75
Q

What is the 6-AM fixed limit ?

A

5 ug

76
Q

What is the amphetamine fixed limit ?

A

250 ug

77
Q

What is the LSD fixed limit ?

A

1 ug

78
Q

What is the MDMA fixed limit ?

A

10 ug

79
Q

What is the ketamine fixed limit ?

A

20 ug

80
Q

What is the methylamphetamine fixed limit ?

A

10 ug

81
Q

What is the morphine fixed limit ?

A

80 ug

82
Q

What is the methadone fixed limit ?

A

500 ug

83
Q

What are the different impairment tests ?

A

-pupillary examination
-modified Romberg balance test
-walk and turn test
-one leg stand test
-finger and nose test

84
Q

Where are preliminary impairment tests conducted ?

A

Police station

85
Q

What are problems with the impairment tests ?

A

-subjective (no scoring system, dependent on police officer)
-movements are unnatural
-hard to pass sober
-Don’t take into account emotional state/ shock

86
Q

What is road traffic toxicology typically divided into ?

A

-drink driving
-drug driving

87
Q

What is a section 4 of the RTA ?

A

Impairment based legislation, there is no limit, once a drug is found in your system then impairment must be proved

88
Q

What is section 5A of the RTA ?

A

Drug limit legislation

89
Q

What is the uncertainty of BAC ?

A

+/- 6mg