DRUGS

MODULE 10
 WHAT IS A DRUG?

Drug is a chemical substance that brings

physical, physiological, behavioral and/or
psychological change in a person taking it.
All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are
medicinal drug.
MEDICINAL DRUG VS

A substance which A substance affecting the

when taken into the central nervous system which
when taken into the human
human body cures body brings about physical,
illness and/or relieves emotional or behavioral
signs/symptoms of changes in a person taking it.
disease.
 WHAT IS DRUG ABUSE?
Any non-medical use of drugs that cause
physical, psychological, legal, economic, or
social damage to the user or to people affected
by the user's behavior.
Abuse usually refers to illegal drugs but may also
be applicable to drugs that are available legally,
such as prescribed medications and certain over-
the-counter medications.
WHAT ARE CONISDERED DANGEROUS
DRUGS?
Dangerous Drug is a substance affecting the
central nervous system which when taken into
the human body brings about physical, emotional
or behavioral changes in a person taking it.
It is a substance which when taken into the
human body alters mood, perception, feelings
and behavior.
WHAT ARE CONISDERED DANGEROUS
DRUGS?
Under Republic Act 6425 (now repealed by RA
9165), 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
WHAT ARE CONISDERED DANGEROUS
DRUGS?
A. Prohibited Drugs
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 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).
WHAT ARE CONISDERED DANGEROUS
DRUGS?
B. Regulated Drugs
includes self-inducing sedatives, such 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 physiological action similar to amphetamine; and
hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone, nitrazepam or
any other compound producing similar physiological
effects (As amended by PD No. 1683 dated March 14,
1980).
WHAT ARE CONISDERED DANGEROUS
DRUGS?
C. Volatile Substances
Liquid, solid or mixed substances having the
property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes or any
chemical substance which when sniffed, smelled,
inhaled, or introduced into the physiological system
of the body produce/induce a condition of
intoxication, inebriation/drunkenness, excitement,
stupefaction, etc
 IMPORTANT NOTES:

Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the

Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, gives a single definition
for prohibited and regulated drugs. The old law defines
the term "dangerous drugs” as pertaining to either
“prohibited drug” or “regulated drug”.
 IMPORTANT NOTES:
“Drug Dependence" - means a state of psychic or physical
dependence, or both, on a dangerous drug arising in a person
following administration or use of that drug on a periodic or
continuous basis.
Characteristics of Drug Dependency
1. Physical dependence - the body's physical system changes until
the body needs that particular drug in order to function.
2. Mental or psychological dependence - a need of drug in order to
feel good, to get by or feel normal.
3. Idiosyncrasy or side effect-an adverse reaction that does
not occur in most patients treated with a drug and does not
involve the therapeutic effect of the drug.
 IMPORTANT NOTES:
“"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
the body, any of the dangerous drugs.

“Sell” - means the act of giving a dangerous drug,

whether for money or any other material
consideration.
 IMPORTANT NOTES:
“What happens to confiscated, seized and surrendered dangerous
drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and
essential chemicals, instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory
equipment?”
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) shall have custody of all
dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors
and essential chemicals as well as instruments/paraphernalia and/or
laboratory equipment that are confiscated, seized and/or surrendered.
The apprehending team or the group in custody of the confiscated drugs
shall immediately prepare inventory and photograph the items in the
presence of the accused or his counsel, a representative from the media
and the Department of Justice (DOJ) and any elected public official. The
items will then be submitted to the PDEA Forensic Laboratory for
examination. Within 24 hours after receipt of the items, the Forensic
Laboratory Examiner shall issue a certification of the Laboratory results.
 IMPORTANT NOTES:
“What happens to confiscated, seized and surrendered dangerous
drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and
essential chemicals, instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory
equipment?”
The court shall conduct an ocular inspection of the inspected items within
72 hours after the filing of the criminal case. The PDEA shall then destroy or
burn the items in the presence of the accused, a representative from media
and DOJ, civil society groups and any elected official. However, a
representative sample shall be retained.
After the judgement has been rendered in the criminal case, the trial
prosecutor shall inform the Dangerous Drugs Board that the case has been
terminated and ask permission from the court to turn over the
representative sample to the PDEA.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
A. ACCORDING TO ORIGIN
1. NATURAL DRUGS 2. SYNTHETIC DRUGS
are active ingredients, secondary are artificially produced substances,
metabolic products of plants and synthesized in the laboratory for the
other living systems that may be illicit/illegal market, which are almost
isolated by extraction. wholly manufactured from chemical
Examples: compounds in illicit/illegal laboratories.
Raw opium Examples:
Marijuana Methamphetamine
Coca bush Barbiturates
 CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
B. ACCORDING TO LEGAL CLASSIFICATION

A.RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002)

Under RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002, the term prohibited and regulated was changed into
dangerous drug with the following classification:
1. Immediate precursors - a chemical substance used in the
clandestine manufacturing process becomes incorporated in full or in
part into the final molecules substance under international control. Ex.
Immediate precursor norfentanyl for the production of fentanyl (use to
treat severe pain)
2. Essential chemicals - chemical substances used as reagent or
solvent in the illegal manufacture of controlled substances (eg. Use of
chemicals for the production of heroin, cocaine and amphetamine)
3. Narcotic, psychotropic and designer drugs-synthetic version of a
controlled substance (such as heroin) that is produced with a slightly
altered molecular structure to avoid having it classified as an illicit
drug.
 CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
B. ACCORDING TO LEGAL CLASSIFICATION
B. Presidential Decree 1619
 Penalizing the use or possession or the unauthorized sale to minors of volatile substances for the
purpose of inducing intoxication or in any manner changing, distorting or disturbing the auditory,
visual or mental process.
Dangerous Drugs were classified as: Volatile Substances
Volatile substances as used in this Decree shall mean and include any liquid, solid or mixed
substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes containing one or more of the
following chemical compounds: methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, n-
butyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone, benzene, toluene, xylene,
stryene, naphtalene, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, methylene chloride, trichloroenthylene,
tetrachloroenthylene, nitrous oxide, dichlorodifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, isoamyl
nitrate, ether or chloroform or any other chemical substance which when sniffed, smelled,
inhaled, or introduced into the physiological system of the body produces or induces a condition
of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, dulling of the brain or nervous system,
depression, giddiness, paralysis, or irrational behaviour or in any manner changing, distorting or
disturbing the auditory, visual or mental processes.
 CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
B. ACCORDING TO LEGAL CLASSIFICATION

C. RA 6425 (The Dangerous Drugs Act Of 1972)

Classified as:
 Regulated
Prohibited
Volatile Substances
 CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
C. ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
CLASSIFIED AS:
1. Narcotics
a substance used to treat moderate to severe pain.
a type of drug that have the potential to be addictive.
Examples are: Codeine, Fentanyl (Actiq, Abstral, Duragesic, Fentora),
Hydrocodone (Hysingla, Zohydro ER), Hydrocodone/acetaminophen
(Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo),
Meperidine (Demerol), Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), Morphin
2. Designer Drugs
a synthetic version of a controlled substance (such as heroin) that is
produced with a slightly altered molecular structure to avoid having it
classified as an illicit/illegal drug.
The most common designer drugs include analogs of fentanyl,
meperidine, piperazine, and methamphetamines.
 CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
D. ACCORDING TO PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
A. STIMULANTS
 are drugs which increase alertness of physical disposition
B. HALLUCINOGENS (psychedelic drugs)
 are drugs which affects sensation, thinking, self-awareness and emotion (it
changes a person state of reality)
 Changes in time and space perception (false beliefs) and hallucinations
overwhelming, depending on dose and quality of drugs.
C. DEPRESSANTS
 are drugs which depress or lower the function of the Central Nervous
System.
D. INHALANTS
 these are any liquid, solid or mixed substance that has the property of
releasing toxic (psychoactive) vapors or fumes
 common household, industrial and medical products that produce vapours,
which some people inhale (breathe in) to make them feel intoxicated or high
 ex. Glue, gas, gasoline, sniff, huff, chroming (solvent), poppers.
 STIMULANTS
1. Amphetamine
Street Name:
 Eye opener, lid poppers, pep pills, uppers ,hearts
What it is:
Reduces appetite
Relieves mental depression
Comfort fatigue and sleepiness
How it is taken:
Orally as tablet or capsule
Effects:
General: wakefulness, increased alertness/initiative
Toxic: from restlessness to coma and death
Dangers: Dependence, overdose, violent/bizarre
behavior
 STIMULANTS
2. SHABU (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride)
used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an
appetite suppressant.
Shabu is a slang term for the drug methamphetamine
used in Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, and
Indonesia. It is also the term for crystal meth in the
Philippines. It is the drug of choice for 90% of the Filipino
drug users. Shabu is commonly made from cheap
medicines containing ephedrine. Police in the
Philippines say that Shabu is often made in industrial
style labs capable of producing over one ton per day
 STIMULANTS
2. SHABU (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride)
Street Name:
 Poor man's cocaine, S, shabs, ubas, siopao, sha, ice
What it is:
White odorless crystal/crystalline powder with a bitter numbing
taste
How it is taken:
 Ingestion, inhalation (chasing the dragon), sniffing, injection,
smoked
Effects:
General: anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior
 Long Term: psychosis similar to schizophrenia, difficulty in concentrating,
loss of interest in sex
 Physical: chest pain, irregular heartbeat, hypertension, convulsion, death
 Dangers: Injection from contaminated needles may lead to risk of
infections, phlebitis, septicemia, AIDS, etc.
 HALLUCINOGENS
1. ECSTASY
Street Name:
XTC, Adam, essence, E, herbals
What it is:
MDMA, short for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is most
commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly. It is a laboratory-made
drug that produces a “high” similar to the stimulants called
amphetamines. It also produces psychedelic effects, similar to
the hallucinogens mescaline and LSD.
How it is taken:
Swallowing or inhalation
Effects:
Exaggerated emotions, makes un and BP hike up, dries the
mouth, stiffens arms, legs, jaw; dilates pupils of the eyes,
causes faintness, chills sweating and nausea
Dangers:
It can really kill!
 HALLUCINOGENS
2. LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE (LSD)
 Street Name:
 Lucy in the sky with diamonds, wedding bells, acid, white sugar, lightning, cubes,
brain eaters
 What it is:
 It is available in powder, liquid, tablet, or capsule form.
 It is synthetic chemical, made from a substance found in ergot, which is a
fungus that infects rye (grain)
 odorless, tasteless, colorless
 How it is taken:
 Usually taken by mouth
 Some people inhale it through the nose (snort) or inject it into a vein
(shooting up
Effects:
 vivid hallucinations, confusion, blurring and distinction between conscious
and unconscious thought
 Physical Effect: dilated pupils, flushed face, increased BP
Dangers:
May cause abnormal amount of breakage of chromosomes of WBCs
that carry genes, which may result to miscarriages and birth defects
 HALLUCINOGENS
3. MARIJUANA
 Street Name:
 Mary Jane, Flower, pampapogi, brownines,damo, pot, tea, joint, Dope
 What it is:
It comes from Cannabis Sativa L. (Indian hemp); looks like fine, green
tobacco
Main Component: Tetrahydrocannabinol
 How it is taken:
Smoked in pipes/cigarettes; can be taken in food; made into candy;
sniffed in powder form; mixed with honey or butter
Effects:
Immediate: faster heartbeat, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth
Long Term: chest pain, temporary loss of fertility, cancer, marijuana
burnout.
Dangers:
Slows down user's mental and psychomotor activities; long-
term use may lead to psychological dependence; may lead to
cancer.
 DEPRESSANTS
1. NARCOTICS
a drug which induces sleep (hypnotics) or stupor and relieve pain
(Analgesics)
Something that soothes, or causes a sensation of mental numbness
This includes Opium, Opiates, Heroin, Morphine, and Codeine
2. TRANQUILIZERS
substance that reduces anxiety, ease tension, and relax
muscles.
3. Sedatives and Hypnotics
calm the nerves, reduce tension and induce sleep
Example: Barbiturates, alcohol
 INHALANTS
these are any liquid,
solid or mixed
substance that has the
property of releasing
toxic (psychoactive)
vapors or fumes.
Example: solvent,
glue, gasoline,
kerosene, paint.
thinner, naphthalene
EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
Drug testing is a form of forensic testing. Drug test results issued
should be scientifically, legally and forensically defensible

DRUG IDENTIFICATION
Is a branch of Forensic Chemistry that deals with the scientific
examinations of drugs and volatile substances.
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.
 EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
Forms of dangerous drugs
Drugs are in various forms. This includes tablets, capsules, liquid,
powder, brick or decks of marijuana, crushed leaves and uprooted plants.
Examination of the sample taken from the alleged confiscated Dangerous Drugs
Methods of examination
1. Qualitative examination
2. Quantitative examination
Steps common to qualitative and quantitative methods:
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 result
8. Drawing of conclusion and writing report
 EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
Two phases in the examination of the alleged confiscated
Dangerous Drugs
1. SCREENING TEST/PRELIMINARY TEST
Also known as color test
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.
It includes 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.
It 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.
 EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
1. SCREENING TEST/PRELIMINARY TEST
Color Reactions:
Upon addition of specific reagents to a sample of dangerous drugs,
specific color reaction is produced, such as:
Cannabis (Marijuana): Duquenois-Levin=violet
Fast Blue=purple red
Cocaine: Cobalt Thiocyanate test or CT test=blue
Scott test of Modified CT Test
Reagent 1=Blue
Reagent 2=pink
Reagent 3= Blue
**Wagner test=brown (specific test for cocaine)
1. SCREENING TEST/PRELIMINARY TEST
EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
Color Reactions:
Diazepam: Zimmerman test=reddish purple or pink
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
Heroine: Mecke=Blue to green
Nitric acid=yellow to green
 EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
1. SCREENING TEST/PRELIMINARY TEST
Color Reactions:
Barbiturates: Dille-Koppanyi test=reddish purple
Metamphetamine Hydrochloride : Simon test=Blue
Maquis test=Orange Brown
Ecstasy: Simon test=Blue
Methaqualone and Phencyclidine: CT test=blue
LSD: Ehrlich test: Violet
Mescaline: Marquis test=Orange
Lieberman =Black
Note: It must be noted that Positive results of these tests are not conclusive, as
there are other 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.
 EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
2. CONFIRMATORY TEST
It 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 used
techniques and chemical principles different from that of the initial test
in order to ensure reliability and accuracy.
There are several methods used in the confirmatory test. Some of these
methods are:
A. Chromatography-the process of separating the mixture and
comparing the migration of each components with standard. Some
chromatographic techniques include:
 Gas chromatography
 Thin Layer chromatography
 High Pressure Liquid Chromatography
 EXAMINATION OF DANGEORUS DRUGS
2. CONFIRMATORY TEST
What is Gas Chromatography?
 A separation technique using gas as mobile phase
 Separation is based on the difference in migration rates among
sample components
B. Spectroscopy-confirmatory method whereby light is used to identify the
sample specimen
C. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
 Used for the identification of pure organic substances. Identifies
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.
D. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy
 Used for screening of dangerous drugs in urine specimen
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 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.”
 Validity Test for Urine Specimen
 Conducted to determine the integrity of the urine sample
 Reasons for Conducting Validity test:
 In case of unobserved urine collection
 When there is suspicion that the urine specimen has been
tampered
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 Instances when to allow Unobserved Urine
Specimen
 When donor is physically unable to go to the laboratory
 When the 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

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 constituent
C. Substituted-A specimen which has been derived through
switching or replacement of the original sample.
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 Ways to adulterate Urine sample
 Addition of salt
 Addition of juice
 Addition of detergent
 Addition of bleach and other oxidizing agent
 Addition of illicit drugs
 Ways to substitute a Urine sample
 Urine from friends or other persons not using drugs may be used
as substitute specimen
 Replace sample with other substance similar to urine in
appearance.
 Ways to dilute a Urine Specimen
A. Internal dilution-intake of plenty of water before collection or
drinking of herbal tea
B. External Dilution-addition of water to previously collected urine
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 Parameters for Validity test
 Initial Validity test
 physical characteristics such as color, odor, etc
 Volume
 Temperature
 pH (4.0-8.0)
 Specific gravity (1.005-1.035)
 Nitrites
 Confirmatory tests
 physical characteristics such as color, odor, etc
 Volume
 Temperature
 pH (4.0-8.0)
 Specific gravity (1.005-1.035)
 Nitrites
 Creatinine
 Oxidizing agents
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 Parameters for Validity test
 Other methods for Confirmatory Validity Tests
 Physical characteristics-visually determined
 Volume-same as physical characteristics
 Temperature-using thermometer
 pH-using pH meter calibrated wit appropriate buffers
 Specific gravity-use a refractometer
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 Criteria for determining tampered urine
 Adulterated
 pH: less 3.0 or greater than 11.0
 Nitrite: >500 ug/L
 Presence of endogenous/exogenous substances like
oxidizing agents
 Diluted
 Specific Gravity: less than 1.003
 Creatinine: <1768.0 umol/mL
 Substituted
 Specific Gravity: less than 1.003 or greater than 1.020
 Creatinine: <442.0 umol/L
 pH: less than 2.0 or greater than 9.0
 EXAMINATION OF URINE SPECIMEN FOR
DANGEROUS DRUGS
 When do we consider a Urine specimen as
Invalid?
 A urine specimen is considered invalid under the
following circumstances:
 Adulterated, substituted or diluted
 Improperly collected, handled and stored
 Improperly documented
 Chain of Custody refers to procedures to account for each
specimen by tracking its handling and storage from point of
collection to final disposal.
 These procedures require that the applicant’s identity is
confirmed and that a Custody and Control Form is used
from time of collection to receipt by the laboratory. Within
the laboratory, appropriate chain of custody records must
account for the samples until disposal.
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