unit 12 toxicology Flashcards
1) What are some factors affecting the alcohol absorption rate?
- total time taken for consumption
> longer the time, lower the peak - alcohol content of the beverage
> more carbohydrates, slower - amount of consumption
- stomach contents
- weight
What are the two mechanisms of elimination of alcohol in human body? Where does each take place in?
> oxidation
– takes place almost entirely in the liver
– 95‑98% of the alcohol consumed gets oxidized into CO2 and HO
excretion
– elimination in an unchanged state
– breath, urine and perspiration
-kidneys
3) What are the two ways of measuring the quantity of alcohol present in the blood system?
1) blood analysis
> costly and time consuming
> requires a certified medical personnel
2) breath analysis
> rapid and accurate
> easily administered by Law Enforcement personnel
partition ratio
(breath‑to‑blood ratio) of alcohol is 2100:1
5) Name two instruments that are used to measure the blood alcohol content.
- Headspace Gas Chromatography
measures unit of alcohol per unit of blood - Gas Chromatograph
> specific compounds will come out at specific time frame
> peak heights relative to concentration
What are some quality standards/precautions in breath testing?
measures the BAC by measuring its concentration in alveolar breath (gases from the lungs)
what is the nationally accepted legal measure for drunk driving?
0.08
0.04 for commercial drivers
7) Describe the Implied Consent Law.
-A licensed driver has given his implied consent to a field
sobriety test and/or a Breathalyzer/blood test to
determine the BAC.
> Generally upheld in courts despite the 4th amendment
(reasonable search and seizure) and the 5th amendment
(right against self‑incrimination) because driving is
considered a privilege rather than a right.
top 3 most abused drugs in the US?
marijuana, alcohol, opioids
what are the three steps of toxicological analysis?
detection, isolation, identification
what is not a deciding factor in penalties under the controlled substance act?
street value of drug
(YES- weight, concentration, and type of drug)
what specific drug was restricted under its precursor control act?
methamphetamines
the presumptive screening test performed on a suspected cocaine sample is…
cobalt thiocyanate test
what pair categorizes the types of poisonings?
acute and chronic
which two are inheritance powders?
arsenic and cyanide
Describe the Reinsch Test.
To screen for the presence of heavy metals
8) What is the primary purpose of testing human hairs for the presence of drugs?
Hair analysis is used to establish long-term drug abuse or poisoning.
10) Who is known as the “Father of Toxicology” for what achievement?
Mathieu Orfilla (Father of Toxicology) devised a method
to detect arsenic
11) Compare and contrast acute and chronic poisoning.
- acute poisoning
> caused by a high dose over a short period
– ex. cyanide - chronic poisoning
> caused by lower dose over long period
– ex. mercury, lead
14) How was Georgi Markov murdered?
He was poisoned by ricin (poison found in castor beans- 36-72 hours till death after taking this poison)
List the differences between cocaine and “crack” cocaine.
1) Cocaine Hydrochloride
> white powder form
> water soluble
> typically snorted or injected
2) Crack Cocaine
> free‑base form combined with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
> insoluble in water
> typically smoked
> potent to lung and liver
16) What type of facility are drugs such as methamphetamine and PCP manufactured in?
Clandestine Lab
17) What are the two (2) common natural hallucinogens?
– Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
– Peyote (cactus)
– Psilocybin (mushroom)
List the factors affecting the Drug Schedule.
– potential for abuse
– potential for physical & psychological dependence
– medical value
Describe the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act of 2005.
restricted the sale of ingredients for methamphetamines
-daily sales limits
– 30‑day purchase limits
– often sold behind the counter or locked away
– purchases reported to Attorney General
20) How do you visually/microscopically identify a marijuana plant/leaf?
Microscopic analysis: presumptive test for marijuana with the presence of
cystolithic hairs (or “ Bear Claws “)
– glandular hairs
– non‑glandular hairs
What are the screening/presumptive tests performed on a suspected marijuana sample?
Weight test
Dugenois levine test
Microscopic analysis
FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy)
Gas chromatography- mass spectrometry
What are the confirmatory tests performed on a suspected marijuana sample?
FTIR
gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
What are the three (3) screening tests that can be performed for the presence of crack cocaine?
Cobalt thiocyanate test
Microcrystalline
UV spectroscopy
Gas chromatography
