Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Forensic Science > Forensic Toxicology and Drugs of Abuse > Flashcards

Forensic Toxicology and Drugs of Abuse Flashcards

(51 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Define: Drug

A

A single substance that produces a physiological or pharmacological effect or change when ingested.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What can be classed as drug abuse and what can drug abuse result in?

A
  1. Self-administration of a drug
  2. Taking drugs for non-medical reasons
  3. Taking drugs in quantities which may impair an individual’s ability to function effectively

Can result in social, physical, or emotional harm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are some commonly abused drugs?

A

(excluding alcohol and tobacco/nicotine products)

  • THC - containing cannabis
  • MDMA - (ecstasy)
  • CBD
  • Cocaine
  • LSD
  • Ketamine
  • Magic mushrooms
  • Amphetamine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was the Shanghai Opium Commission for?

A

The first international conference to discuss the world’s narcotic problems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What was the Hague Opium Convention for?

A

The first international drug control treaty to implement legislation to restrict drugs to medical use.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What was the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs?

A

An international treaty to prohibit production and supplication of specific drugs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What was the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances?

A

An international treaty to control psychoactive drugs (amphetamine-type stimulants, psychedelics, barbiturates)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the UK legislation involving drugs?

A

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

In the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, how many categories of drugs are there?

A

Class A
Class B
Class C

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does the term ‘controlled drug’ mean with regard to the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971?

A

It’s a term used for any drug that is subject to this act.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Give an example of Class A drugs?

A
  • Cocaine
  • Ecstasy (MDMA)
  • Heroin
  • LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
  • Methamphetamine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the sentence for possession of class A drugs?

A

Up to 7 years’ imprisonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the sentence for supplying Class A drugs?

A

Up to life imprisonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Give an example of Class B drugs

A
  • Cannabis
  • Ketamine
  • Amphetamines
  • Barbiturates
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the sentence for possession of Class B drugs?

A

Up to 5 years imprisonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the sentence of supplying class B drugs?

A

Up to 14 years imprisonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are examples of Class C Drugs?

A
  • Anabolic Steroids
  • GHB
  • Benzodiazepines
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the sentence for possession of Class C drugs?

A

Up to 2 years imprisonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the sentence for supplying Class C Drugs?

A

Up to 14 years imprisonment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the legislation in the US with regard to drugs, and who signed it into law?

A

Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

Signed into law by president Richard Nixon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How many schedules are there within the CSA, and what are they used for?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • There are five schedules, and they are used to classify drugs based upon their abuse potential, medical applications, and safety.
22
Q

Name an example of a drug from each schedule

Study These Flashcards
A

I - Heroin - Highest potential for abuse
II - Morphine
III - Ketamine
IV - Benzodiazepines
V - Selected preperations of codeine - Lowest potential for abuse

23
Q

What are the three types of drugs?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Natural
  • Synthetic
  • Semi-synthetic
24
Q

What is a natural drug?

Study These Flashcards
A

A drug that is derived from plants and requires little to no processing
e.g. cannabis, opium

25
What is a synthetic drug?
Drugs that are produced solely through chemical processes e.g. amphetamine type stimulants
26
What is a semi-synthetic drug?
Is produced by subjecting natural drugs to some chemical processes.
27
What are Plant Alkaloids?
They possess psychotropic and stimulant activities.
28
Name 4 plant alkaloids
- Indole - Isoquinoline - Tropane - Phenethylamines
29
What are designer drugs and what are they for?
They are a synthetic version of an illegal drug produced to circumvent legislation. They allow dealers to make money without breaking the law. (Can also be known as legal highs/new psychoactive substances (NPS))
30
Name 4 types of designer drugs
1. Synthetic Cannabinoids 2. Stimulant-type drugs 3. Tranquiliser-type drugs 4. Hallucinogenic drugs
31
What are diverted legal drugs?
The transfer of any legally prescribed controlled substance from the individual it was prescribed for to another person for illicit use. - Usually diazepam, and opioids
32
What is drug trafficking?
Global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws.
33
What are clandestine labs?
Illegal drug laboratories
34
What are the two types of Clandestine drugs?
- Economic-based lab or super lab - large scale labs with the purpose of exporting drugs. - Addiction-based lab or user lab - small scale labs that produce drugs for personal use.
35
What are the two types of meth labs?
- Super lab - trained and highly organised - Mom-and-Pop lab - small and disorganised and are usually run by the user for their own use.
36
What is Toxicology?
The study of the adverse affects that drugs, poison, and other exogenous substances have on living organisms
37
What are factors that influence chemical toxicology?
- Dose - Exposure Route - Species - Life Stage - Gender - Metabolism - Excretion
38
What is forensic toxicology?
The application of toxicology for the purposes of the law.
39
What are the three major subgroups of forensic toxicology?
1. Post-mortem forensic toxicology 2. Human and animal performance toxicology 3. Forensic drug testing
40
Define: Poison
Substances that cause harm to organisms when sufficient quantities are absorbed, inhaled, or ingested.
41
Define: Toxin
A poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms that causes harm when they come into contact with tissues.
42
What is one method of gauging the toxicity of a poison?
The LD50 and dose-response curves.
43
What are the three Rs in dose response curves?
1. Replacing animals with in-vitro studies 2. Reducing the number of animals used 3. Refining care and procedures
44
What do EDs and TDs stand for?
Effective Doses (EDs) Toxic Doses (TDs)
45
What are the two primary functions of toxins?
- Predation - Defence
46
What are the 4 types of toxins?
- Haemotoxins - destroy red blood cells. - Necrotoxins - cause death of body tissues. - Phototoxins - cause harmful reactions when exposed to light. - Neurotoxins - affect the nervous system and cause paralysis.
47
How are antidotes for toxins produced?
- Produced using the toxin itself - Small doses of the toxins are injected into an animal to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to destroy the toxin. - Some toxins have no known antidote - (aconitine)
48
What are pesticides?
Organic poison that is intentionally released into our environment to kill living things. This includes herbicides, fungicides etc. e.g. DDT, toluene
49
Define: Xenobiotics
A substance introduced into the body, such as a drug or poison that is normally not there.
50
What are the three stages of forensic toxicology?
1. Qualitative Analysis 2. Quantitative Analysis 3. Interpretation
51
What is meconium?
Important matrix for monitoring prenatal drug ingestion by expectant mothers. Meconium is the first solid waste that captures a record of past ingestion of drugs by the mother which could have legal consequences

Forensic Science (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions