unit 7: toxicology Flashcards
toxicology:
study of drugs, poisons, toxins
poisons:
substances that are absorbed through the skin, gut, or inhaled
toxins:
poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms
venom:
poisonous substance secreted by animals and injected through bite or sting
toxicologists:
- examines the effects of substances on the body
- establishes a cause and effect from the exposure
- develops treatments and techniques for detection
substances toxicologists look for:
- misused legal drugs
- illegal and controlled drugs
- environmental toxins
methods of exposure:
ingesting, inhaling, injections, absorbtion
3 ways someone is exposed to a toxin:
- intentionally- prescription medicine
- accidentally- poisoned
- deliberately- suicide
toxins can be detected through examining:
- blood
- sweat
- tears
- stomach content
- fluids from eyes
- urine
- hair
toxicity:
the degree to which a substance is harmful
toxicity depends on:
- dose- how much you take
- duration- length of the exposure
- nature of the exposure- how it got in your system
- interaction- medical, alcohol, etc.
- by-products broken down- some makeup can break down into toxins
399 B.C.
Socrates poisoned with hemlock
1600s
arsenic used by rich people to poison rival families and to settle dispute
1800s
chemical analysis to detect arsenic and other poisons in human tissues
1959
FDA formed- evaluates products used in foods, drugs, and cosmetic
1970s
controlled substance act
1978
Georgi Markov stabbed with umbrella and injected with ricin capsule
2006
Litvinenko poisoned with polonium exposure
evidence can be found as:
- pills
- powders
- liquids
- botanical matters (seeds, leaves, mushroom)
- crystals
- embedded in food, paper, candy
- objects
- clothing
addiction:
a physical process associated with drug use whereby a person craves a drug; failure to take the drug can result in withdrawal symptoms
dependency:
a powerful craving for a drug; unlike addiction, dependency does not result in physical withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation
tolerance:
a condition occurring with consistent use of one drug whereby a person needs more and more of the drug to produce the same effect
withdrawal:
symptoms caused by sudden discontinuation of the drug
schedule I drug:
- no medical use
- high potential for abuse
- ex. heroin, LSD, marijuana
schedule II drug:
- severely restricted medical use
- high potential for abuse
- moderate to low risk of dependency
- ex. cocaine, meth, oxycodone
schedule III drug:
- accepted medical use
- moderate potential for abuse
- moderate to low risk of dependence
- ex. barbituates, steroids, ketamine
schedule IV drug:
- medical use
- low potential for abuse
- moderate to low risk of dependence
- ex. xanax, sleeping pills, valium
schedule V drug:
- widely used for medical purposes
- low potential for abuse
- contains limited quantities of narcotics
- ex. tylenol with codeine, robitussin
illegal drugs:
- schedule I narcotics
- addictive
- depressants
- suppress pain
hallucinogens:
affect the perception, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions
controlled substances:
- stimulants, narcotics, depressants, etc.
- schedule II-IV
stimulants:
- highly addictive
- increases feeling of energy while suppressing appetite
- tolerance built requiring more substance
- side effects: high bp, rapid heart rate, depression after effect, bleeding in the brain
- cocaine, caffeine, meth
narcotics:
- legal opiates prescribed for extreme pain
- high risk of addiction
- controlled substances with prescriptions
- side effects: difficulty breathing, confusion, loss of consciousness
- morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone
depressants:
- drugs that relieve anxiety and produce sleep
- highly addictive
- abrupt withdrawal can be fatal
- overdose causes, death, loss of coordination, coma
- barbituates, alcohol, benzodiazepines
alcohol:
- central nervous system depressant
- high tolerance
- legal but potent drug
- breathalyzer to determine BAC
anabolic steroids:
- promote cell and tissue growth and division
- originally used to treat hypogonadism
- schedule II drugs
drug testing:
hair is more commonly used than urine
marijuana
- schedule one
- cannabis
- distorted perception, low bp, dizziness, paranoia, anxiety, confusion
heroin
- schedule one
- narcotics
- drowsiness, depression, blue fingernails and lips, constricted pupils, flushing of skin, dry mouth
methamphetamine
- schedule two
- stimulant
- agitation, high heart rate, paranoia, stroke, death, high bp, high body temp
cocaine
- schedule two
- stimulant
- loss of appetite, stroke, paranoia, cardiac arrest, anxiety, irritable
barbituates
- schedule three
- depressant
- relief of anxiety, sleepiness, clammy skin, suicidal thoughts, coma
xanax
- schedule four
- depressant
- amnesia, hostility, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak pulse, coma
LSD
- schedule one
- hallucinogen
- distorted perception of shapes and sizes, acute anxiety, depression, psychosis, death
acute poisoning:
- high doses over short period of time
- symptoms are seen immediately
- cyanide poisoning
chronic poisoning:
- small doses over long period of time
- symptoms are not very visible
- typ[ically not reversible
arsenic poisoning:
- used in the production of pesticides, herbicides, wood preservation, etc.
- used to treat syphilis until 20th century
- symptoms: garlic odor in breath, hypersalivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin lesion
mercury poisoning:
- sources: broken mercury thermometer, some skin products, certain types of fish
- symptoms: hearing difficulties, memory problems, anxiety, tremors
lead poisoning:
- causes: using lead-based paints, water pipes, cosmetics, herbal remedies, lead bullets
- symptoms: loss of appetite, weight loss, headaches, fatigue
carbon monoxide:
cars, WWII gas chambers
hydrogen cyanide and potassium chloride:
capital punishment
pesticides kil ___ and herbicides kill ___
insects; plants
almost ___ of the individuals in federal prison are there because of drug-related offenses
half
presumptive tests:
conducted by 1st responders
confirmatory tests:
conducted by toxicologists
