NARCOTIC DRUGS

Dangerous Drugs
Laws Governing Dangerous Drugs
Classification of different dangerous drugs
 INTRODUCTION
A drug can be defined as a natural or synthetic
substance that is used to produce physiological or
psychological effects in humans or other higher order
animals.

Narcotic drugs are analgesics, meaning they relieve

pain by a depressing action on the central nervous
system. It is a drug capable of causing narcosis or
depressing effect on the body. It induces sleep or
insensibility by action on the nerve center.
 INTRODUCTION
The regular use of a narcotic drug will invariably lead
to physical dependence.

The most common source for these narcotic drugs is

opium, extracted from poppies.
DANGEROUS DRUGS
PROHIBITED DRUGS REGULARTED DRUGS
Opium Self inducing sedatives

Heroine Secobabital

Morphine Phenobarbital

Coca leaf and its derivatives Hypnotic drugs

LSD Etc.

Indian hemp
Etc.
 LAWS GOVERNING
DANGEROUS DRUGS
1972 the Dangerous Drug Act, RA 6425 was
enacted and approved.

The laws on Dangerous Drugs are found in Article II

and Article III of the R.A. 6425 known as the
Dangerous Drug Act of 1972 as amended.
 Article II

PROHIBITED
SEC.3 importation of Prohibited Drugs
DRUGS
SEC.4. Sale, Administration, Delivery, Distribution and transportation of
Prohibited Drugs
SEC.5. Maintenance of a den, Dive or Resort for Prohibited Drugs
SEC.6. Employers and Visitors of Prohibited Drug Den
SEC.7. Manufacture of Prohibited Drug
SEC.8. Possession or Use of Prohibited Drug
SEC.9. Cultivation of Plants which are source of Prohibited Drugs
SEC.10. Records, Prescription, sales and Purchase of Prohibited Drugs
SEC.11 Unlawful Prescription of Prohibited Drugs
SEC.12. Unnecessary prescription of Prohibited Drugs
SEC.13 Possession of Opium pipe and other Praraphernalis of Prohibited
Drugs
 Article III
REGULATED DRUGS
SEC.14. Importation of Regulated Drugs
SEC.15. Sales, Administration, Dispensation, delivery
transportation and distribution of Regulated Drugs
SEC.16. Possession or Use of Regulated Drugs
SEC.17. Record of Prescription, Sales , Purchases
Acqusition of Regulated Drugs
SEC.18. Unlawful prescription of Regulated Drugs
SEC.19. Unnecessary Prescription of Regulated Drugs
 OPIUM
The dried latex obtain from seedpod of Opium poppy
Papaver somniferum Linne
The Poppy plant is an annual herb and must be

cultivated.
Street names : Buddha, Chinese molasses, Chinese

Tobacco
Earliest record was as early as 3 B.C

Indeginous to Asia Minor, and widely grown in

China, India, Turkey, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria

and Iran.
 MORPHINE
Crystalline substance known as salt of opium
Morphine is readily extracted from opium and is

used to synthesize heroin.

Therapeutic use of morphine are:
1. To relieve pain.
2. Useful in checking diarrhea
3. Valuable in treatment of dry, non-productive coughs
4. Excellent for pre- operative medication.
5. Reduce blood pressure and bleeding.
6. Useful hypnotic when pain interferes with ability to sleep
 Morphine and Opium Addicts
Opium Addicts are usually quieter , more apt to be
lethargic, slow and dreamy and are rarely as
impulsive and quick in their behaviour.
Morphine addicts the individual is lethargic, the

skin is sallow and pallorous. They complain often of

being cold, and there is frequently a subnormal
temperature. Addicts show bodily neglect and are
careless in their dress
 HEROIN
Prepared by heating morphine with acetic anhydride
or acetyl chloride.
Five times as potent as morphine but produces a

most vicious addiction.

Heroin produces a high that is accompanied by

drowsiness and a sense of well-being that generally

last for three to four hours.
Addicts frequently dissolve heroin in water by

heating it in a spoon, and then inject in the skin.

What does it look like?
COCAINE AND CRACK COCAINE

COCAINE CRACK COCAINE

What do they look like: What do they look like:
Crystalline powder White, off-white crystalline rocks
How taken: How taken:
Orally, snorted, inhaled or injected Inhaled from pipe, but sometimes
injected
EFFECTS: increase heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, thoughts and activity levels. It also
lifts mood and gives a sense of energy and well being.
 OPIATES
Codeine is also present in opium, but it is usually
prepared synthetically from morphine.
 OPIATES
OxyContin is prescribed to a million patients for
treatment of chronic pain.

Methadone is another well-known synthetic opiate.

Methadone, which is pharmacologically related to

heroin, appears to eliminate the addicts desire for
heroin while producing minimal side effects.
What does it look like?
 HALLUCINOGENS
Another class of drugs is hallucinogens; marijuana is
the most well-known member of this class.

Hallucinogens cause marked changes in normal

thought processes, perceptions, and moods.

Marijuana is the most controversial drug in this class

because its long-term effects on health are still
largely unknown.
 MARIJUANA
Marijuana refers to a preparation derived from the
plant Cannabis.
The chemical substance largely responsible for the
hallucinogenic properties of marijuana is known as
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
The THC content of Cannabis varies in different
parts of the plant, generally decreasing in the
following sequence: resin, flowers, leaves, with little
THC in the stem, roots or seeds.
Marijuana is either smoked or taken orally but the
most prevalent method used is smoking.
MARIJUANA
The THC-rich resin is known as hashish.
Marijuana does not cause physical dependency, but

the risk of harm is in heavy, long-term use.

MARIJUANA
 HALLUCINOGENS
Other hallucinogens include LSD, mescaline, PCP,
psilocybin, and MDMA (Ecstasy).

LSD is synthesized from lysergic acid, and can

cause hallucinations that can last for 12 hours.

Phencyclidine, or PCP, is often synthesized in

clandestine laboratories and is often smoked,
ingested, sniffed.
What does it look like?
 CLUB DRUGS
The term club drugs refers to synthetic drugs that are used
at nightclubs, bars, and raves (all-night dance parties).
Substances that are often used as club drugs include, but
are not limited to, MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB (gamma
hydroxybutyrate), Rohypnol (Roofies), ketamine, and
methamphetamine.
GHB and Rohypnol are central nervous system depressants
that are often connected with drug-facilitated sexual assault,
rape, and robbery.
 CLUB DRUGS
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also known as
MDMA or Ecstasy, is a synthetic mind-altering drug
that exhibits many hallucinogenic and amphetamine-
like effects.
Ecstasy enhances self-awareness and decreases
inhibitions, however, seizures, muscle breakdown,
stroke, kidney failure, and cardiovascular system
failure often accompany chronic abuse.
 CLUB DRUGS
Ketamine is primarily used as a veterinary animal
anesthetic that in humans causes euphoria and
hallucinations.
Ketamine can also cause impaired motor functions,

high blood pressure, amnesia, and mild respiratory

depression.
 ANABOLIC STEROIDS
Yet another category of drugs is the anabolic
steroids.

These are synthetic compounds that are chemically

related to the male sex hormone testosterone.

Anabolic steroids are often abused by individuals

who are interested in accelerating muscle growth.
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
Side effects include unpredictable effects on mood
and personality, depression, diminished sex drive,
halting bone growth, and liver cancer.
 DEPRESSANTS
These include alcohol (ethanol), barbiturates,
tranquilizers, and various substances that can be
sniffed, such as airplane glue, model cement, or
aerosol gas propellants such as freon.

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol) enters the bodys

bloodstream and quickly travels to the brain, where it
acts to suppress the brains control of thought
processes and muscle coordination.
 DEPRESSANTS
Barbiturates, or downers, are normally taken orally
and create a feeling of well-being, relax the body,
and produce sleep.
Tranquilizers, unlike barbiturates, produce a relaxing
tranquility without impairment of high-thinking
faculties or inducing sleep.
Sniffing has immediate effects such as exhilaration,
but impairs judgment and may cause liver, heart,
and brain damage, or even death.
What does it look like?
 STIMULANTS
The drug classification of stimulants includes
amphetamines, sometimes known as uppers or
speed, and cocaine, which in its free-base form is
known as crack.
Stimulants are substances taken to increase alertness
or activity, followed by a decrease in fatigue and a loss
of appetite.
Amphetamine and methamphetamine, often injected
intravenously, cause an initial rush, followed by an
intense feeling of pleasure.
This is followed by a period of exhaustion and a
prolonged period of depression.
 METHAMPHETAMINE
Crystal meth, sometimes simply known as meth, is a drug
that can addict a person from the first time they try it.
Methamphetamine is completely artificial, created of very
toxic chemicals.
These chemicals can initially offer a high, but they can also
cause serious harm or even death not only for those who
take the drugs, but for those who make them as well.
Methamphetamine ingredients can be combined in a wide
variety of formulas, but the basics are the same and most
of them are highly flammable and extremely lethal if
ingested in any way. The resulting product is just as bad, if
not worse..
 What you need?
METHAMPHETAMINE
A number of the ingredients commonly used in creating meth are
extremely toxic:
Materials
 How to Cook?
The equipment for making meth typically uses
common items found in everyones home. This might
include glass bottles, cheesecloth, aluminum foil,
oven-safe or heat-safe dishes, rubber tubing, and
other common items.
Everything can be picked up at a hardware store or

discount store. In addition, most of the chemicals

used in meth are perfectly legal and can even be
acquired in large quantities. That explains the
growing popularity of making meth in the everyday
kitchen.
 How to cook?
It starts with grinding down the cold medication pills
and adding a binder to them to separate the
pseudoephedrine from the medication.
Then the medication is mixed with acid and red

phosphorus, bubbled for a while, and then the red

phosphorous is filtered out.
Next, caustic soda is added to give the meth a

base, a process that has to be carefully cooled to

avoid explosion.
After that, Freon or other chemicals are added to

separate the liquid from the solids.

 How to cook?
Hydrogen chloride then turns the meth into a salt,
which lowers the acidity. It is then dried on a cloth.
The final product is filled with yet more additives to
make it even more addictive, then it is packaged for
sale and use.
METHAMPHETAMINE
 Side effects of Meth
Long term use Observable physical
Weight loss effects
Severe dental problems: Meth Mouth
Permanent damage to blood vessels sunken eyes
of heart and brain dark baggy eye lids
High blood pressure leading to heart
attacks, strokes and death facial drooping,
Liver and kidney damage particularly the mouth and
Destruction of tissues in nose if lower lips
snorted
Respiratory problems and lung pale skin
damage if smoked dark blue-black lips
Infectious diseases and abscesses if
injected wrinkles from skin losing
Damage to the brain similar to elasticity
Alzheimers disease
Convulsions
acne and sores \
Collection and Preservation
The field investigator has the responsibility of ensuring that
the evidence is properly packaged and labeled for the
laboratory.
Generally common sense is the best guide, keeping in mind
that the package must prevent the loss of the contents
and/or cross-contamination.
Often the original container in which the drug was
seized will suffice.
All packages must be marked with information that is

sufficient to ensure identification by the officer in the

future and establish the chain of custody.
 Drug Detection Times
amphetamines: up to 4 days
cocaine: up to 72 hrs.

opiates: up to 5 days

PCP: up to 6 days

barbiturates: up to a week

benzodiazepines: up to a week

then theres alcohol & cannabinoids

 Cannabinoids
30+ day detection window often exaggerates
duration of detection window
reasonable & pragmatic court guidance
detection time: at 50 ng/mL cutoff

up to 3 days for single event/occasional use

up to 10 days for heavy chronic use
detection time: at 20 ng/mL cutoff

up to 7 days for single event/occasional use

up to 21 days for heavy chronic use
Preliminary Analysis
Faced with the prospect that the unknown substance may be
any one of a thousand or more commonly encountered drugs,
the analyst must employ screening tests to reduce these
possibilities to a small and manageable number.

This objective is often accomplished by subjecting the material

to a series of color tests that will produce characteristic colors
for the more commonly encountered illicit drugs.
 Preliminary Analysis
screening test for marijuana
Duquenois-Levine Color test
THC screening.. Marijuana and Hashish
Drops added to vegetation, turns purple color
 Color screening test
Marquis Test ex: Nark II

Primary presumptive test used for ecstasy testing. Also used to test for cocaine,

opiates (e.g. methadone, heroin), and methamphetamine.

Purple Opiates
Orange to brown Amphetamine & Meth
Blue Ecstasy
Red Aspirin
Pink cocaine
COLOR TEST
Preliminary Analysis
Microcrystalline tests can also be used to identify specific
drug substances by studying the size and shape of crystals
formed when the drug is mixed with specific reagents.

left cocaine,
right marijuana
Confirmational Determination
Once this preliminary analysis is completed, a
confirmational determination is pursued.
Forensic chemists will employ a specific test to identify a
drug substance to the exclusion of all other known chemical
substances.
Typically infrared spectrophotometry or gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to specifically
identify a drug substance.
 Special Test
Morphine
Iodic acid test- 5% potassium iodate and dilute
sulphuric acid turns violet
Prussian blue test- few drops of 3% ferricyanide +

10% ferric chloride = Prussian blue color

Nitrous acid test a yellow green color develops

turns red upon addition of NaOH.

 Special Test
Codine
Pellagris Test 3-4ml HCl + 3-4 drops of conc.
Sulphuric acid + evaporate = emerald green color
Furfural Test- sulphuric acid then heat + cane-sugar

solution (slowly) = purple-red color

Prussian Blue Test green color

Ferric Chloride Test conc. Sulphuric acid + 1 drop

of 10% ferreic chloride solution = blue

Oxidation Test- blue color
 Special Test
Cocaine
Potassium permanganate test saturated
potassium permanganate solution = violet crystalline
precipitate
Chromic acid test 5%chromic acid + HCl =

crystalline orange precipitate

Iodic acid test sulphuric acid + small particle of

potassium iodate + evaporate sample = brown to

olive green to blue to violet then disappear