Forensics Vocabulary | Drugs & DNA

Psychological dependence

is the conditioned use of a drug caused by underlying emotional needs.

Physical dependence

is defined as the physiological need for a drug that has been brought about by its regular use.

Narcotic

An analgesic or painkilling sub-stance that depresses vital body functions such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing rate

________ are analgesics, meaning they relieve pain by depressing the central nervous system.

Opiates

_______ are not derived from morphine, but they have the same physiological effects on the body. Examples of _______ include methadone and Oxycontin (oxycodone)

hallucinogens

___________ cause marked changes in normal thought processes, perceptions, and moods. Marijuana is the most well known drug in this class. Other ___________ include LSD, mescaline, PCP, and MDMA (ecstasy)

depressants

___________ decrease the activity of the central nervous system, calm irritability and excitability, and produce sleep. ___________ include alcohol (ethanol), barbiturates, tranquilizers, and various substances that can be sniffed, such as airplane glue or model cement.

stimulants

__________ increase the activity of the central nervous system and are taken to increase alertness and activity. __________ include amphetamines and cocaine

Club drugs

__________ are synthetic drugs that are used at nightclubs, bars, and raves. Some __________ act as stimulants, and others may have depressant effects

Anabolic steroids

_________________ are synthetic compounds that are chemically related to the male sex hormone testosterone. _________________ are often abused by individuals who are interested in accelerating muscle growth.

analgesics

__________ relieve pain by depressing the central nervous system.

A drug or substance that lessens or eliminates pain

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

_______ is a drug; its major behavioral effects derive from its depressant action on the central nervous system. _______ is the most widely used and abused drug.

Controlled substances

a drug which has been declared by federal or state law to be illegal for sale or use, but may be dispensed under a physician's prescription.

is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession and use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated

chromatography

any of several analytical techniques for separating organic mixtures into their components by attraction to a stationary phase while being propelled by a moving phase.

Screening test

a preliminary test used to reduce the number of possible identities of an unknown substance

Confirmation test

a single test that specifically identifies a substance

Microcrystalline test

a test that identifies a specific substance based on the color and shape of crystals formed when the substance is mixed with specific reagents.

spectrophotometry

an analytical method for identifying a substance by its selective absorption of different wavelengths of light

Controlled substance schedule I

drugs have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical use in the US, and/or lack accepted safety for use in treatment under medical supervision.

Controlled substance schedule II

drugs have a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use or a medical use with severe restrictions, and a potential for severe psychological or physical dependence.

Controlled substance schedule III

drugs have less potential for abuse than those in schedules I and II, and currently accepted medical use in the US, and a potential for low or moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Controlled substance schedule IV

drugs have a low potential for abuse relative to schedule III drugs and have a current medical use in the US; their abuse may lead to limited dependence relative to schedule III drugs.

Controlled substance schedule V

drugs must show low abuse potential, have medical use in the US, and have less potential for producing dependence than schedule IV drugs.

Marquis Color Test

The reagent turns purple in the presence of heroin and morphine and most opium derivatives. Marquis also becomes orange-brown when mixed with amphetamines and methamphetamines

Scott Test Color Test

This is a color test for cocaine. A powder containing cocaine turns solution A blue. Upon addition of B, the blue color is transformed to a clear pink color. Upon addition of C, if cocaine is present, the blue color reappears in the chloroform layer

Dillie-Koppanyi Color Test

This is a valuable color test for marijuana, performed by adding solutions A, B, and C, respectively, to the suspect vegetation. A positive result is shown by a purple color in the chloroform layer.

Duquenois-Levine Color Test

This is a valuable screening test for barbiturates, in whose presence the reagent turns violet-blue in color.

Van Urk Color Test

The reagent turns blue-purple in the presence of LSD. However, owing to the extremely small quantities of LSD in illicit preparations, this test is difficult to conduct under field conditions.

DNA

the molecules carrying the body’s genetic information; ___ is double stranded in the shape of a double helix.

DNA profiling

_____________ is the process of determining an individual's DNA characteristics.

DNA typing

__________ is a laboratory procedure that detects normal variations in a sample of DNA. __________ is most often used to establish identity, parentage, family relationship and appropriate matches for transplantation of organs and tissues.

Chromosomes

a threadlike structure in the cell nucleus composed of DNA, along which the genes are located.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

a technique for replicating or copying a portion of a DNA strand outside a living cell; this technique leads to millions of copies of the DNA strand

Tandem repeat

region of a chromosome that contains multiple copies of a core DNA sequence arranged in a repeating fashion.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)

Different fragment lengths of base pairs that result from cutting a DNA molecule with restriction enzymes

electrophoresis

a technique for separating molecules through their migration on a support medium under the influence of an electrical potential

Short tandem repeats (STRs)

A region of a DNA molecule that contains short segments consisting of three to seven repeating base pairs

____ are locations on the chromosome that contain short sequences that repeat themselves within the DNA molecule.

Mitochondrial DNA

is located outside the cells nucleus and is inherited from the mother

CODIS (combined DNA index system)

is a computer software program developed by the FBI that maintains local, state, and national databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime-scene evidence, and profiles of missing people.