Forensic Toxicology - Chapter 9

 CHAPTER 9 FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY All rights Reserved Cengage/NGL/South-Western © 2016 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TOXICOLOGY? TEXT OVERVIEW ▸ Identification of toxic substances has improved due to advances in technology. ▸ When substances evidence is recovered, it is processed, wei...

 CHAPTER 9 FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY All rights Reserved Cengage/NGL/South-Western © 2016 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TOXICOLOGY? TEXT OVERVIEW ▸ Identification of toxic substances has improved due to advances in technology. ▸ When substances evidence is recovered, it is processed, weighed, separated and identified. ▸ The use, sale and distribution of illegal drugs are major areas of crime in the US today ▸ Exposure to poisons and toxins can occur naturally or as a result of crime or suicide attempts. ▸ Forensic toxicology helps determine the relationship between exposure to a substance and the toxic or lethal effects of that exposure on humans TEXT TOXICITY ▸ Depends on dose , duration, nature of exposure, interactions with other substances(medications, etc.), any by-products of metabolism. ▸ Exposure to poisonous and toxic substances, including arsenic, mercury, lead, toxic gases, pesticides, herbicides, and radiation, may occur naturally, intentionally or deliberately. ▸ Drugs can affect a person’s health, mood, metabolism, perception of reality, and awareness. ▸ Furthermore, extended drug use can lead to drug tolerance, dependence, addiction, Health issues, brain damage, criminal behavior, and even death. ▸ Lethal gases can damage the nervous system and interfere with breathing ▸ Substance evidence collection, processing, and handling must follow established guidelines TEXT A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE ▸ Neurons also known as nerve cells have spaces between them called synapses. ▸ In order to transmit a message between neurons, the body uses chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. ▸ Drugs interfere with nerve transmission by either blocking or mimicking neurotransmitters. ▸ Drugs have what is called the maximum tolerated dose, which is the largest amount of the drug that is helpful without causing dangerous side effects. ▸ Taking a drug with the dosage that is too high, or too much of a drug, can exceed the maximum tolerated and cost dangerous side effects TEXT BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER… ▸ Toxicology is the study of drugs, poisons, toxins, metabolites, and other substances that can harm a person when used for medical, recreational, or criminal purposes. ▸ Poisons are natural or manufactured chemicals, such as arsenic or rat poison, that can cause severe harm ▸ Toxins are naturally occurring poisonous substances living things produce, such as ricin or rattlesnake venom. ▸ What is ricin? TEXT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN …. ▸ Intentionally ▸ Taking is a drug to treat illness or to relieve pain ▸ Accidentally ▸ Unintentionally taken ▸ Deliberately ▸ Taken as in suicide TEXT BODY FLUIDS ▸ What body fluids are used to detect substances in both living people and dead bodies? ▸ Blood, sweat, stomach contents, or fluids from the vitreous humor of the eye ▸ How is this done? ▸ Via isolation of metabolites, which are products of cellular reactions, of the substances to verify their presence in the body TEXT o “all substances are poisonous; there's not which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” Paracelsus (1493-1541) What are your thoughts regarding this statement? BRIEF HISTORY OF FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY o Socrates is one of the earliest reported victims of poisoning (Hemlock, 399 B.C.) o By the 1600s, poisoning had become a profession. o Poisoning the enemies became the way for the rich to settle disputes with their enemies o Arsenic became known as inheritance powder o Arsenic is extremely toxic in small amounts, it is tasteless, odorless, and mimics the symptoms of natural disease, making it the ideal drug to poison someone ‣ Forensic Files: Death by Poison Writer's Block BRIEF HISTORY OF FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY (CONTINUED) o During the 1800s, methods of chemical analysis were developed to identify poisons in human tissue o In 1980, standardized techniques and testing were developed to help determine the cause of death. o In 1959, the was formed. o What is the purpose of the FDA? o To protect people from any food, drug, or cosmetic that can contains toxic components o In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act. o This established penalties for possession, use, and distribution of illegal drugs o Today, less than one-half of one percent of all homicides result from poisoning. o It worked!…sort of bioterrorism is a real threat EVIDENCE DETECTION, COLLECTION, AND STORAGE o Evidence may be in the form of: ‣ Pills, powders, liquids ‣ Botanical matter (seeds, leaves, mushrooms) ‣ Crystals (methamphetamine) ‣ Evidence found on clothing, objects, or liquid soaked fabrics ‣ Urine, blood, sweat, or saliva o Drugs, poisons, and toxins can be transported inside luggage, boxes, for large shipping containers. Today we have drug sniffing dogs trained to detect the smell of different drugs. o What is a mule in the world of toxicology? o A mule is someone that Is paid to smuggle drugs. These people have been known to hide drugs in their bodies including cavities (swallowing as well). Some have died as a result TEXT EVIDENCE COLLECTION o Correct packaging of the evidence is important to preserve the evidence and to protect individuals working with the evidence. o To prevent mold and contamination, all plant matter (ie. Marijuana) or any wet items (including blood stains) should be dried and placed in paper bags (NOT plastic). o Syringes with needles should be placed in a glass container labeled biohazard o If the evidence is identified as hazardous and volatile, it is handled with extreme caution. Usually small amounts are collected to protect those who are handling the evidence EVIDENCE TESTING AND REPORTING OF DRUGS, POISONS AND TOXINS o A toxicologist needs to answer three basic questions: 1. What substances are there? (qualitative testing) 2. Might there be any illegal components? 3. How much of each substance is present? (quantitative testing) o Presumptive testing may be performed at the crime scene. o These type of tests are preliminary and do not provide positive ID (colometrics, microscopic examination, etc.) EVIDENCE TESTING AND REPORTING OF DRUGS, POISONS AND TOXINS (CONTINUED) o Confirmatory testing is a multistep process that positively identifies the substance. o Toxicologists must also distinguish between: ‣ Acute poisoning ‣ Caused by high dose over a short period of time. ‣ This includes cyanide ingestion or inhalation, which immediately produces symptoms ( or ricin) ‣ Chronic poisoning ‣ Caused by lower doses over time, which produces symptoms gradually ‣ Examples are Mercury and lead poisoning WORD BANK ▸ Addiction ▸ Toxin ▸ Illegal drug ▸ Narcotic ▸ Controlled substance ▸ Poison ▸ Hallucinogen ▸ Toxicology ▸ Controlled Substance Act ▸ Stimulant ▸ Depressant ▸ Tolerance ▸ Dependency ▸ Toxicity  FIVE SCHEDULES OF DRUGS o Illegal drugs are those with no current medical use, such as heroin and LSD. o A second category includes controlled substances. o These drugs are considered illegal, however, the wholesale, possession, and use our restricted because of the effects of the drug, the potential for abuse, and how easily someone may become dependent on the drug. o These include stimulants, depressants, anabolic steroids, and some narcotics. o The federal controlled substances act of 1970 recognizes five schedules of drugs TEXT HEAVY METALS, GASES, POISONS, AND TOXINS ▸ These metals enter the body by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption from the skin or mucous membranes. ▸ The problem is that these heavy metals are stored in the soft tissues and can damage organs throughout the body. ▸ Arsenic has been known for contaminating the drinking water of millions of people throughout the world. ▸ Mercury poisoning has happened as a result of industrial waste being dumped into bodies of water. ▸ Lead was once an ingredient of paint. Children suffered from lead poisoning when they ate lead paint chips. HEAVY METALS, GASES, POISONS, AND TOXINS LETHAL GASES AND LETHAL INJECTIONS o Lethal gas chambers ‣ Nazis during World War II (death of millions) ‣ Carbon monoxide from engine exhaust and hydrogen cyanide o American penal systems (used for the death penalty) ‣ Hydrogen cyanide ‣ Gas chamber. Considered the most dangerous, complicated, and expensive method of administration ‣ Blocks the ability of the body to use oxygen o Carbon monoxide gas (today seen as accidental deaths) o Causes death by interfering with the ability of the body to absorb oxygen o Injections of potassium chloride or sodium pentothal (used in the death penalty/capital punishment) o How do they work? o Potassium chloride affects the heart's ability to send electrical signals o Sodium Pentothal acts as a depressant and slows down the central nervous system PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES The longer the exposure the more severe the symptoms TOXINS o Toxins may be produced by plants or animals. Ricin Rattlesnake venom o People react differently to toxins found in nature o Some people go into shock or die from it being a simple insect bite, while others merely experience skin irritation o Unfortunately, there is no such way of knowing how someone will react without being exposed to the toxin o The toxins of interest to forensic toxicologists are poisonous to humans. DRUGS o AND CRIME Drugs have not always been bad, nor were they intended to be o The initial intent was to prevent and treat illnesses and reduce pain o Almost half of the federal prisoners are there because of drug-related offenses. o Such as the possession or distribution of illegal drugs o Drug-related offenses where the effects of the drugs contributed to the crime o Drug-using lifestyle where the frequency of involvement in illegal activities increased o More than $600 billion is spent annually on costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and healthcare because of drug abuse. o Continued use of a drug can lead to addiction and dependency. TEXT DRUGS AND CRIME CONT ▸ Drugs are divided into five classes based on the reactions they produce. ▸ Includes narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids ▸ As mentioned before, how someone will react to a drug cannot be predicted because everyone's chemistry is different. Also, someone may be taking a drug or food or alcohol that may interact differently with the person's system TEXT DRUG TOLERANCE ▸ Tolerance ▸ Make build-up with continued drug use so that more drug is needed to produce the same effect. ▸ Continued use can lead to a physiological need called addiction ▸ Unfortunately, stopping the drug suddenly can result in physical withdrawal symptoms such as illness or even death ▸ Drug dependency results when there's an intense craving for the drug ▸ There is a difference between dependency and addiction. Dependency does not result in physical withdrawal upon discontinuation of the drug. TEXT SCHEDULES OF DRUGS o Schedule I ‣ No medical use, high potential for abuse ‣ Ex: Heroine, LSD, peyote (cactus), MDMA (ecstasy), bath salts, marijuana o Schedule II ‣ Severely restricted medical use, high potential for abuse ‣ Ex: Cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, oxycodone o Schedule III ‣ Accepted medical use, moderate potential for abuse, moderate to low risk of dependence ‣ Ex: Barbiturates, steroids, ketamine ‣ Barbs are used for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders. Highly superseded by Benzos ( Xanax, Valium, etc.) FIVE SCHEDULES OF DRUGS (CONTINUED) o Schedule IV ‣ Medical use, low potential for abuse, and the risk of dependency ‣ Ex: Xanax, Valium, sleeping pills, other tranquilizers o Schedule V ‣ Widely used for medical purposes, very low potential for abuse, contains limited quantities of narcotics. ‣ Ex: Robitussin® AC, Tylenol® with codeine ILLEGAL DRUGS o Hallucinogens ‣ These people have increased heart rate in blood pressure as well as dilated pupils. ‣ Affect perception, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions ‣ “things come alive,” “colorful,” “ 3 dimensional” ‣ Flashbacks may occur long after the drugs wear off ‣ Life long trips ILLEGAL o DRUGS Heroine ‣ Narcotics are addictive, sleep-inducing drugs that act as central nervous system depressants and suppress pain. ‣ Highly addictive, and it will lead to withdrawal ‣ Methadone is a slow-action opioid agonist. Methadone is taken orally so that it reaches the brain slowly, dampening the “high” that occurs with the other routes of administration while preventing withdrawal symptoms. Methadone has been used since the 1960s to treat heroin use disorder and is still an excellent treatment option, particularly for patients who do not respond well to others.. medications. Methadone is only available through approved outpatient treatment programs, where it is dispensed to patients on a daily basis Methadone vs. Methamphetamine ILLEGAL DRUGS o Combining drugs, such as heroin and alcohol, can be fatal because the effects are amplified o Remember heroin is the central system depressant, and so is alcohol. Together, the combination can be fatal ILLEGAL DRUGS (CONTINUED) CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES o Stimulants o Highly addictive drugs that increase feelings of energy and alertness while suppressing appetite o Examples are amphetamines, cocaine o Used to boost endurance and productivity o Side effects include high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and bleeding into the brain in extreme cases. o Depression usually takes over when the effects of the drugs wear off TEXT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES o Narcotics o Legal opiates include morphine, codeine, and mild painkillers o Hydromorphone is a synthetic opiate usually prescribed for severe pain o People requiring this type of medication for the long-term risk of becoming addicted o Symptoms of addiction include difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, weakness, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and even a coma TEXT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES CONT. o Depressants o Drugs such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines induce sleep but are typically highly addictive o Many accidental and suicidal death have resulted from people taking a combination of substances and alcohol o An abrupt withdrawal from these substances,. including alcohol can be fatal ALCOHOL o Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. o The amount of alcohol in a beverage is expressed as a percentage by volume or in proof, which is twice the percentage. o An 80-proof liquor contains 40% alcohol. o Someone with a blood alcohol concentration of.15 percent will retain alcohol in his or her body for approximately 10 hours. GEORGIA DUI DEFINED  ALCOHOL ▸ We have discussed that alcohol can be fatal. ▸ The liver metabolizes alcohol by converting it into acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid. ▸ By the way, acetaldehyde is responsible for some hangover symptoms experienced by binge drinking and is toxic. ▸ Liver failure is common among alcoholics. ▸ The rate of alcohol metabolism is no more than one serving or sometimes less than that. ▸ What do you think happens more alcohol is consumed? ▸ The level of alcohol circulating in the blood increases, along with its effects on the brain. ▸ Someone with a BAC of 0.15% will retain alcohol in their body for approximately 10 hours. ▸ Alcohol can be exhaled and as a result, you can be detected in someone's breath. ▸ Breathalyzers tests measure the alcohol in a person's breath and calculate the BAC ( in most states/some may be lower) if greater than 0.08 ANABOLIC STEROIDS o Anabolic steroids promote cell and tissue growth and division. ‣ They have a chemical structure similar to testosterone. ‣ Is there a legal use for anabolic steroids? ‣ Hypogonadism ( testes produce very low levels testosterone) ‣ Delayed puberty ‣ Impotence ‣ Muscle wasting caused by HIV o The 1930s, they gained popularity with weightlifters and bodybuilders because the increased muscle and bone mass o Negative side effects may include: ‣ Acne, increased body hair, and baldness ‣ Increased aggression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, impaired fertility in males, blood clotting, kidney and liver cancers, and heart attacks DOPING ▸ What is doping? ▸ Of substances to enhance athletic performance. ▸ It has been banned by most organized sports, mainly because people feel it violates the “spirit of competition” by providing an advantage to doping participants ▸ However, many athletes feel desperate to win and as result they find ways to dope ▸ We know that professional athletes are tested for doping ▸ Should student athletes be tested routinely for drugs and doping? ▸ Should all students be tested routinely for drugs? ▸ What would you do with that information? In other words, how will this information be useful?