4

Heroine

Street Name: Blanco, brown, Sugar, kabayo, kengkov.

gamot, matsakao, pulbos, sapsap, tinik
What it is: Alkaloid derived from morphine, white, off.
white or brown crystalline powder

How Taken: Orally, through inhalation, injection or by

smoking
Effects: slurring of speech; cyanosis; dry skin
and mouth; anoxia; urticaria; pulmonary
ventilation; pulmonary edema; hyperglycemia

Dangers: Dependence liability is high; dependence

usually develops more rapidly, sensitivity to
respiratory depressant effects.

32 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

 Morphine

Street Name: M, dreamer, emma, emsel, pulbos

What it is: Principal active component in opium; white
crystalline powder, light porous cubes, small
white tablets

How Taken: Any route, but mostly by intravenous

injection
Effects: Initial reaction is unpleasant to most
but calming supersedes and,
people
depending on
dose, may progress to coma and death from
respiratory failure

Dangers: sensitivity to respiratory depressant effect

until tolerance develops;
Psychic and
Physical dependence and tolerance develop
readily.

Chapter 111: Vice - Drugs Their Sources. Classifcations and Effects

E. VOLATILE SUBSTANCES (inhalants)

SOTERT

Inhalants

Inhalants-these are any liquid, solid or mixed substance that

the property of releasing toxic (psychoactive) vapors or fumes. that has
Fvamnle: solvents, aerosols glue, gasoline, kerosene, paint.
thinner,naphthalene, bases

What they are:

Liquid, solid or mixed substances
having
property of releasing toxie vapors or fumes or the
chemical substance which when sniffed, an
inhaled, or introduced
smelled,
into the
system of the body produce/induce aphysiological
condition of
intoxication, inebriation, excitement,
etc. stupefaction,
How it is being taken:
Sniffing or inhaled directly through the container or
from a bag or by
in the mouth
holding a rag with the substance

Dangers:
Causes permanent damage to brain or may result in
"Sudden Sniffing Death"; users become accident
prone; death due to road accidents,
from tall building, etc. after drowning, falling
sniffing glue; violence,
psychological dependence.

34 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

DANGEROUS DRUGS
What are considered Dangerous Drugs?
Dangerous Drug is a substance affecting the central nervous system
which when taken into the human body brings about physical,
emotional or behav1oral changes in a person taking it.

It is substance which when taken into the human body

a

alters mood, perception, feelings and behavior.

Under Republic Act 6425, otherwise known as the
Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, dangerous drugs are classified
into three (3) main categories, namely:
A. Prohibited Drugs
B. Regulated Drugs
C. Volatile Substances
A. Prohibited Drug, which includes opium and its active
components and derivatives, such as heroin and morphine;
coca leaf and its derivatives,
principally cocaine; alpha
and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as
mescaline,
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances
producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives;
all preparations made from any of the foregoing; and
other drugs and chemical preparations, whether natural or
synthetic, with the physiological effects of a narcotic or a
hallucinogenic drug (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March
2, 1982).
B. Regulated Drug, which includes
such
self-inducing sedatives,
as secobarbital, Phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital,
amobarbital and any other drug which contains a salt or a
derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or
salt of an isomer, of
amphetamine, such as Benzedrine or
Dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiolog1cal
action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as
methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound proucing
Similar physiological effects (As amended by PD No. 1083
dated March 14, 1980).

Chapter II: Vice - Drugs Their Sources. Classifications and Eeeis

 C. Volatile Substance. Liquid, solid or mixed substances
having the property of releasing toxie vapors or fumes or an
chemical substance which when sniffed, smelled, inhaled
or introduced into the physiological system of the body
produce/induce a condition of intoxication, inebriation
excitement, stupefaction, etc. n.

Under Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as tho

Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, it gives a single definition for
for
prohibited and regulated drugs. The old law defines the ter
"dangerous drugs" as
pertaining to either
prohibited drug"
"regulated drug".
Under Republic Act
9165, otherwise known as the
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, "Drug Dependence"
of psychic or physical state means a
dependence, or both, on a
dangerous drug
arising in a person following administration or use of that
periodic or continuous basis. drug on a
As based on the World Health
Drug dependence refers to a cluster
Organization definition.
and cognitive of physiological, behavioral
phenomena of variable intensity,
psychoactive drug takes on a high priority in which
the use of
others, a strong desire or a sense of
thereby involving,
among
and the difficulties in compulsion to take the substance
onset, controlling substance-taking
termination, or levels in terms of its
of use.

What is Drug Dependency?

Drug addiction or
controlled substance which dependence is a need for a
particular
comes from
periodic uSe of that drug, continuous and sometimes

Characteristics of Drug
1. Physical dependence
Dependency
It is the result
whena drug has been used for a
time. It is long period o
only identified when a characteristics
witharawa
36 Vice and Drug Education
and Control (Made
Simple)
 or abstinence syndrome occurs after its use is discontinued.
The body's physical system changes until the body needs
that particular drug in order to function.

2. Mental or psychological dependence

It is a need of drug in order to feel good, to get by or feel
normal.

3. Idiosyncrasy or side effect.

Idiosyncracy refers to a behavioral attribute that is distinctive

and peculiar to an individual's mannerism.

What is Physical Dependence?

Physical dependence is a result when a drug has been used

for a long period of time. It is only identified when characteristics
withdrawal or abstinence syndrome occurs after its use is
discontinued.
Babies born of drug dependent mothers often born
dependent and require drug are
special care, some are mentally and physically
impaired as harmed during fetus development.
If substance abuser's drug of choice is
a
order to maintain their unavailable, in
high and to avoid withdrawal symptoms,
they usually use other controlled substance which is available.
Sometimes they are multi-user since
they take several different
drugs at one or at different times. Multi use means
multi-risk

What is
Psychological Dependence?
Psychological dependence refers
individual to a state in which an
has a
compulsion take a drug,
to
may not be but one in which there
a
physical dependence.

Chapter IlI: Vice - Drugs Their 37

Sources, Classifications and Effects
 Addiction?
What is Drug or chronic
a state of periodic
refers to
Drug
addiction
consumption of a drug
by the repeated
intoxication produced
natural or synthetic.

Characteristics of Drug Addiction

of drug addiction:
the characteristics
are
The following
An overpowering desire
or need, compulsion to continue
1.
the
taking and obtain it
drug by any means.

tolerance
2. A tendency to increase dose or
3. A psychic or psychological
and generally a physical
dependence on drug.
4. A detrimental effect on the individual and on the society.

How is drug addiction acquired?

Drug addiction is acquired primarily in three ways:
1. Association is the tendency of a drug abuser to look for
peer groups where he feels being wanted and accepted.
2. Experimentation - is the tendency of a person to try and
explore the effects of drugs due to curiosity or other reasons.
3. Inexperienced Physicians-is the tendency of the physicians
to unnecessarily prescribe
drugs.

What is Drug Habituation?

Drug Habituation refers to a condition resulting from the

repeated consumption of drug.

38 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

Characteristics of Drug Habituation

The following are the characteristics of drug habituation:

1. A desire but not

compulsive to continue taking the drug for
the sense of improved well being it brings.
2. Little or no tendency to increase dose.
3. Some degree of psychic dependence on the effect of drug but
absence of physical dependence.
4. Detrimental effect if any, primarily on the individual.

What is Drug Use?

The word "Use" refers to the act of

injecting, intravenously
or
intramuscularly, or of consuming, either by chewing, smoking,
sniffing, eating, swallowing, drinking, or otherwise introducing into
the physiological system
of body, any the dangerous drugs.
the of

Other Definitions of Drug Abuse

The term "drug abuse" may refer to any of the following:
1. Use of
medically useful drugs which have the capacity to
alter mood and behaviour without
the benefit of
2. Use of a prescription.
medically useful mood-altering drug for a
different from the one for which that purpose
3. Use of
drug has been prescribed.
drugs and substances having no
application for purposes other than legitimate medical
research.

What is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse refers to non-medical of
physical, drugs that
use cause
user or to
psychological, legal; economic, or social damage to uic
people affected by the user's behavior.

apter 1ll: Vice -

Drugs Their Sources. Classifications and Eiects

39
 drugs but may also be
Abuse usually refers to illegal
such as prescribed
to that are available legally,
drugs
applicable medications.
and certain over- the counter
medications

Abuse?
What is Prescription utilization of
refers to the
improper
Prescription abuse the patientunder
physicians to
controlled substance prescribed
by the not used according to
treatments with medical problem. Any drug the counter
or o v e r

directions, whether
prescribed by a physician prescription in a
substance abuse. Using a
medication, can be another s prescription
is illegal.

m a n n e r not prescribed,
for using

HOW DRUGS WORK?

amount needed to treat

or heal, that is, the
Minimal dose
-

1.
smallest amount of a drug that will produce a therapeutic
effect.
2. Maximal dose largest amount of a drug
-
that will produce
a desired therapeutic effect without any accompanying

symptoms of toxicity.
3. Toxic dose amount of drug that
-

produces untoward effects

or symptoms.
4. Abusive dose - amount needed to produce the side effects
and action desired by the individual who improperly uses it.

5. Lethal dose the amount of drug that will cause death.

40 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

 Administration and Metabolism
of Druggs

Objectives:
It is the objective of this chapter to explain how is drug
administered into the body, as well as how are drugs tested,
what are those commonly tested drugs and what are the usual
specimens for drug testing.

What is Administer?

Under Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as

Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, administer refers
to any act of introducing any dangerous
drug into the body of any
person, with or without his/her knowledge by injection, inhalation,
ingestion or other means or of committing any act of indispensable
assistance to person in administering a dangerous
a
herself unless administered by a duly licensed
drug to himself/
purposes of medication.
practitioner for

HOW DRUG IS BEING

ADMINISTERED/TAKEN
Drug may be administered by any of the following means:
Oral Ingestion

Intravenous/Injection
Inhalation (smoking, snorting, snifing)
Snorting
Buccal
Suppositories
Chapter IV: Administration and Metabolism of Drugs 45
 Oral Ingestion
The drug is taken by the mouth and must pass through
stomach before being absorbed into the bloodstream. This is
the most common ways of taking a drug. one of

Inhalation
A drug in gaseous form enters the lungs and is
absorbed by the capillary system. is
quickl
It probably
commonly-used route of drug administration.
the second mos
nost

Injection
drug can be administered into the body by the use of
The
a
syringe or hypodermic needle in the following ways:
a. Subcutaneous-a drug is administered by injecting the
just below the surface of the skin. This drue
is sometimes called
"skin popping".
b. Intramuscular administration involves the
-

injection of a
drug into a large muscle mass that has a good blood
such as the gluteus maximus, supply,
quadriceps, or triceps.
C. Intravenous -

this is the most efficient means of

administration which involves depositing a drug
into the
directly
bloodstream. This is also the most rapid method of
drug administration.

Snorting
Inhalation through the nose of drugs not in gaseous form.
is done by inhaling a powder of into the nasal coats o
a liquid drug
the mucous membrane.

46 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

Buccal
Drug is administered by placing it in the buccal cavity just
under the lips. The active ingredients of the
drug are absorbed in the
bloodstream through the soft tissues lining the mouth.

Suppositories
Drug is administered through the vagina or rectum in
suppository form and the drug is also absorbed into the bloodstream.

DRUG DETECTION

Drug Detection depends on:

Absorption : (Structure and composition, diffusion and
transport, Psycochemical factors in
penetration)
Disposition: (Distribution, pH partition principle, electro
chemical and Donnan distribution, bio
transformation)
Elimination

WHAT DRUGS ARE TESTED?

MOST COMMON:
Marijuana
Cocaine
Methamphetamine and its derivatives
Benzodiazepines
Ecstacy
OTHER POPULAR TESTS:
Barbiturates
Oxycodon
Amphetamine
Chapter IV: Administration and
Metabolism of Drugs
 Opiates
PCP

SAMPLE SPECIMENS

Blood

Fingernails
.
Hair
Saliva
Sweat
Tissue
Urine (almost 99%)

48 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

 Identification and Examination
of Dangerous Drugs
Drug testing is a form of forensic testing. Drug test results issued should be
scientifically, legally and forensically defensible."

Objectives:
This chapter is objectively designed to emphasize the
methods of identifying dangerous drugs through laboratory
examinations. It also emphasizes the distinction between
screening/preliminary test and confirmatory test.

What is Drug Identification?

Drug Identification is a branch of Forensic Chemistry that
deals with the scientific examination of drugs and volatile substances.
Drug identification is usually conducted by a forensic
chemist/chemical officer to determine the presence of dangerous
drug on submitted specimens. The forensic chemist/chemical officer
also conducts drug test on body fluids of suspected drug pushers and
users to determine the presence of dangerous drug metabolites.
Paraphernalia like smoking pipes, tooters and aluminum
foils should also be submitted for examination to determine the
presence of dangerous drugs.

What are the Forms of Dangerous Drugs

Drugs are in various forms. These includes tablets, capsules,
liquid, powder, brick or decks of marijuana, crushed leaves and
uprooted plants.

Chapter V: Identification and Examination of Dangerous Drugs

 the suspected
sample takenJrom
Examination of the
Drugs
Dangeros
Methods of Examination

(2) methods oI
There are two laboratory examinot
nation
drugs namely: of
suspected dangerous
1. Qualitative examination

2. Quantitative examination

Steps common to qualitative and quantitative method

The following are the steps common to

qualitative and
quantitative method of analysis:

1. Selection of method to be used

2. Physical test
3. Sampling
4. Sample preparation
5. Chemical test
6. Confirmatory examination
7.Calculation and interpretation of dates
8. Drawing of conclusion and writing report

Two phases in the examination of the

Drugs suspected Dangerous
The two (2) phases in the examination of the
dangerous drugs are suspected
1.
Screening test/Preliminary test (also known as the color test)
This test is
non-specific and preliminary in nature. It IS
employed to reduce the family or group of drug to a small and
manageable number.

Vice and
Drug Education and Control (Made
Simple)
 Screening test includes a series of color tests producing
characteristic colors for each family or group of drugs. This is done
by adding specific reagent to unknown sample in a spot plate.

Screening test is quite simple to perform even by investigators

in the field. As a matter of fact, field tests using these techniques are
being taught in Narcotics Investigation Courses. Test reagents and
basic apparatus are commercially available.

Color Reactions:

Upon addition of specific reagents to a sample of dangerous

drugs, a specific color reaction is produced such as:

Cannabis: Duquenois-Levin == violet

Fast Blue B salt = purple red

Cocaine: Cobalt Thiocyanate test or CT test = blue

Scott test or Modified CT test: Reagent 1= blue
Reagent 2=pink
Reagent 3 = blue

Wagner test = brown (specific test for cocaine)

Diazepam Zimmerman test =

reddish purple or pink (some
benzodiazepine derivative do not give color with this test)
Hydrochloric acid = yellow
Vitali-Morin test =

yellow orange
Opium Marquis = violet

Ferric Sulfate Brownish purple

=

Mecke Blue to green

=

Nitric acid =Orange to red to yellow

Morphine: Marquis =
Violet to reddish purple
Codeine: Mecke =
Blue to green
Nitric acid
Orange to yellow
=

Heroin: Mecke= Blue to green

Nitric acid =
Yellow to green

Chapter V: Identification and Examination of Dangerous

Drugs 5s
 reddish purple (for barbiturates)
Dille-Koppanyi test
=

Methamphetamine Hydrochloride:

Simon test Blue

=

brown
Marquis test Orange to
=

Simon test
=
Blue
Ecstacy: CT test =blue
Methaqualone and Phencyclidine:
violet
Lysergide or LSD: Ehrlich
=

Mescaline: Marquis test = Orange

Liebermann = black

Note:
It must be noted that Positive results of these tests are not
conclusive, as there are substances that may give same positive
color reaction/s upon addition of the specific reagents. Hence,
confirmatory tests must be performed by the forensic chemist/
chemical officer on case to establish the presence and identification
of dangerous drug. It must also be noted that only those specimens
that yielded presumptive positive results are subject to confirmatory
test in order to confirm if the positive result of the screening test is
really positive.

2. Confirmatory Test

Confirmatory test is the method employed to confirm the

results of the screening/preliminary test. This test involves the
application of an analytical procedure to identify the presence of a
specific drug or metabolites. This is independent of the screening
test and which uses techniques and chemical principles differen
from that ofthe initial test in order to ensure reliability and accuracy

There are several methods used in the confirmatory test.

Some of these methods are:

56 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

 (a) Chromatography i s the process ofseparating mixture and
comparing the migration of each component with standard.
Some chromatographic techniques include:
Gas chromatography
Thin Layer chromatography
High-Pressure Liquid chromatography
What is a Gas Chromatography?
It is a separation technique
The mobile phase is a gas
Separation is based on the difference in migration
rates among sample components.

(b) Spectroscopy a confirmatory method whereby light is

used to identify the sample specimen.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR)
Used for the identification ofpureorganic substances..
ldentifies organic substances particularly dangerous drugs
and explosive ingredients based on their characteristic
functional groups. In layman's term, the resulting spectrum
could be referred to as the fingerprints of the substance.

(c) Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy - Used for screening of

dangerous drugs in urine specimen.

Examination of the Urine Specimen

The rate of excretion from the body depends on the drug's
solubility in fat. Water soluble drugs (such as cocaine) are excreted
quickly, while fat soluble drugs (such as marijuana) may take
Several weeks or months before excretion.

Drug test must be conducted to apprehended individual/s

who is/are suspected to be a user/s; and to those who are
charged with the offense of "Illegal Use of Dangerous Drugs".

Chapter V: Identification and Examination of Dangerous Drugs s7

Validity Test for Urine Specimen
Validity test is conducted to determine the integrity

samples.
grity of the

Reasons for Conducting Validity Tests

In cases of unobserved urine collection

When there is suspicion that the urine

specimen has been
en
tampered

Instances when to allow Unobserved Urine Specimen Collection

When donor is physically unable to go to the laboratory

When donor is involved in a crime scene
When donor is involved in post-accident trauma
When donor is critically ill

Different Types of Tampered Urine Specimen

The following are the different types of tampered urine
specimen:
a. Adulterated - a specimen containing either a substance

that is not a normal constituent for that type of specimen or

containing an endogenous substance at a concentration that
is not a normal physiological concentration
b. Diluted - refers to a specimen with less than normal

physiological constituents
c.
C. Substituted a specimen which has been derived through
switching or replacement of the original sample.

s8 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

 Ways to Adulterate Urine Samples
The following are the different ways to adulterate urine
samples:

(a) Addition of salt

(b) Addition of juice

(c) Addition of detergent
(d) Addition of bleach and other oxidizing
(e) Adulterants
(6) Addition of illicit drugs

Ways to Substitute a Urine Sample

The following are the ways to substitute a urine sample:

(a) Urine from friends or other persons not using drugs may be
used as substitute specimen
(b) Replace sample with other substance
similar to urine in appearance.

Ways to Dilute a Urine Specimen

The following are the ways to dilute a urine specimen:

a. Internal Dilution
(e.g. Intake of plenty of water before collection or drinking
of herbal tea, etc.)
b. External Dilution

(e.g. Addition of water to previously collected urine)

Parameters for Validity Tests

The
following are the parameters for validity testS

Chapter V: ldentification and Examination of

Dangerous Drugs 59
 (a) Initial Validity Tests:
Physical characteristics such as color, odor, etc
Volume
Temperature
PH
Specific gravity
Nitrites
Creatinine
Oxidizing agents
(b) Confirmatory Validity Tests
Physical characteristics such as color, odor, etc.

Volume
Temperature
PH
Specific gravity
Nitrites
Creatinine
Oxidizing agents
Other Methods for Confirmatory Validity Tests
Physical characteristics-visually determined
Volume-same as physical characteristics
Temperature using thermometer
-

pH pH
-

Meter calibrated with appropriate buffers

Specific gravity - use a refractometer

Criteria in determining tampered urine specimen

a urin-
The following are the criteria in determining whether
specimen is tampered or not:

60 Vice and Drug Education and Control (Made Simple)

 (a) Adulterated

pH: <3 or> 11

Nitrite: >500.0 uglL
Presence of endogenous/exogenous substances (e.g
oxidizing agents)
(b) Diluted
*
Sp. Gravity: <1.003
*
Creatinine: <1768.0 umol/ml
(c) Substituted

Sp. Gravity: <1.003 or>1.020

*Creatinine: < 442.0 umol/L
*
pH <2 or>9

When do we consider a urine specimen as invalid?

A urine specimen is considered invalid under the

Circumstances: following
Adulterated, substituted or diluted
Improperly collected, handled and stored
Improperly documented

Chapter V: ldentification and Examination of Dangerous Drugs