Unit 6: Drug Recognition and Evidence

The Commonly Abused Drugs

Following are synopses of the various drugs or drug types that are often encountered by the police investigator.

Heroin

This drug is a derivative of opium. It produces a “high” followed by a feeling of drowsiness and general well-being. It has a very high potential to create a physical dependency. It is usually taken by injecting it into the bloodstream, often using a modified eye dropper with a hypodermic needle attached as a syringe. Heroin can be sniffed, however, it has a very bitter taste, and is practically never taken orally unless encapsulated. Heroin is normally sold in “decks” and in clear gelatin capsules. For injection, the powder is dissolved in water,

frequently in a bent teaspoon or metal bottle cap. The water is heated to boiling and the solution is then taken up through a cotton pledget into a needle and medical syringe or the type of modified eye dropper.

The common physical evidence associated with heroin use is the equipment needed to prepare the solution and make the injection, and the glassine bags, papers, capsules, or other containers that are used. In conducting a search, it is well to bear in mind some of the characteristic actions of heroin abusers in protecting their supply. The addict will go to extreme lengths to do this. Capsules or decks of heroin are sometimes placed inside toy balloons or condoms to enable the user to quickly swallow them if surprised, and later recover them from the feces. Women have been known to hide heroin decks in their vagina or in their undergarments. Some addicts have concealed heroin decks under the tongue or along the side of the mouth. All containers should be collected by the investigator. They should be marked and secured in such a way as to insure that no loss of contents will occur. The container and the collected materials are then placed in a clean envelope or paper bag, sealed, marked with the necessary information, and forwarded to the laboratory for identification.

Heroin is only one of the several drugs that falls in the general classification of the narcotics. Since narcotics have generally the same appearance, the field investigator will normally not be sure what kind of drug he has encountered or if it is a drug. This lack of knowledge will apply, more often than not, to any suspected drug substance. Therefore, until chemical tests are performed by the crime laboratory, it is a good policy to refer to known or suspected drug substances only as “controlled drugs.” In a report, a notation such as “Four clear capsules containing a white crystalline powder” would meet technical and legal requirements. In all cases, it is important to state clearly the number and description of each item in the investigative notes and in the report.

Cocaine

Cocaine is also a narcotic drug, but it is obtained from the leaves of the coca bush rather than from the opium poppy. It is a white, odorless, fluffy, crystalline powder, and thus closely resembles heroin in appearance.

Also like heroin, it is commonly injected and sometimes sniffed. There are strong indications that a cocaine addict who has reached a high level of addiction (some inject the drug as many as 10 times a day) is incapable of planning a deliberate crime. However, if this is so, the addict may still commit crimes of violence out of imaginary fear of imminent danger. Some individuals experience intense excitation and a great sense of muscular strength under the influence of the drug.

The search for evidence items is the same as described for heroin.

Marijuana

Marijuana is a mixture of parts of the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. Because this drug is today so prevalent and in such wide use, it is the most likely to be encountered either in its dried form or as a live plant. There are usually five to seven blades to each leaf, but there may be as many as 21.

Material should be left in the container in which it was discovered. The material and the container are placed in a clean paper bag, sealed, and necessary information recorded on the outside of the bag. If possible, the original container of the drug should be marked before it is sealed in the bag.

Although marijuana may be eaten and the same effect attained, it is usually smoked. The cigarette sticks are usually rolled with two or three cigarette papers. Sometimes manufactured cigarettes are used by removing the tobacco filling and replacing it with marijuana. Various forms of pipes are also employed to smoke marijuana, ranging from the conventional tobacco pipe to hookahs, a form of water pipe. When burned, the drug gives off a sweet, pungent odor.

Marijuana has been known to be mixed with tobacco, catnip, dried leaves, and oregano. There have also been reports of deliberate “lacing” of the drug with addictive drugs such as heroin, however, this is definitely not a common practice.

The physical appearance of marijuana is sufficiently distinctive to allow an experienced investigator to identify it. Depending primarily on their state of dryness, the herbs are green to greenish brown in color, and usually hold some of the shape of the compression they were subjected to by the bulk processor (although this is not true of the “homegrown” supply”). But even if identification of the drug seems fairly certain, it is good practice to describe it in the investigation records and reports only in terms of its physical appearance and approximate quantity.

Although marijuana usually has definite physical and psychological effects on the user, some persons experience nothing the first or second time they experiment with it, and many individuals have no manifestations that are discernible to others. Thus, the appearance of normality in a suspect does not exclude the possibility of fairly heavy and recent use of the drug.

The evidence to be collected in connection with this drug is the smoking apparatus, the drug itself, any residues and ashes resulting from smoking, particularly the contents of ashtrays, and paper and other containers that may have been used.

Hashish

Hashish is far more potent, and dangerous, to the user than is marijuana. It is in the form of a brown powder or is pressed into blocks or small pieces. It is frequently wrapped in small, tinfoil packets. However, it has been known to be mixed with instant coffee in an attempt to disguise it. Hashish may be either eaten or smoked but it is usually the latter. Thus, the search is basically the same as for marijuana, allowing for the different bulk and appearance of the two drugs. While hashish is stronger than marijuana, its possession and sale still constitutes the offense of possession or sale of marijuana.

Hallucinogenic Drugs

These drugs, of which LSD, PCP and MDA are the most commonly abused, act on the central nervous system and on the psychic and mental functions. They produce visions, images, and dream- like thoughts, frequently very frightening. The user is usually unable to distinguish between fact and fantasy. LSD is available in most metropolitan areas in several forms, sometimes to the great detriment of the buyer who thinks he is getting something else. Foil packets, small tablets, small vials of liquid saturated sugar cubes or cookies, chewing gum, and capsules are relatively common forms of the drug’s packaging. Foil is used to protect LSD from light, which reduces its strength. Foil should therefore be left intact when encountered.

Natural hallucinogens like mescaline and psilocybin are seldom encountered. The drugs purported to be mescaline and psilocybin are usually LSD and PCP.

Since all the hallucinogens are very powerful and can be absorbed through the skin, the investigator should ‘not handle the material more than is absolutely necessary.

Barbiturates

These are a group of sedative and sleep-producing drugs that act on the central nervous system. They are usually taken orally, but they can also be used intravenously or rectally. Because they are prescribed frequently by physicians, their presence on a crime scene does not automatically indicate criminal intent or wrong doing. However, it is well to note that this type of drug is the most often used means of committing nonviolent suicide. Most of the barbiturates are legally manufactured preparations, ranging from tablets, capsules, and

suppositories to liquids. The best indication of abuse of these drugs is in the quantity of supply found. Abusers have been known to take as many as 40 barbiturate pills a day. The use of the barbiturates also often follows the excessive use of amphetamine drugs, which are discussed below, in order to “slow down”. Therefore, amphetamines and barbiturates may be discovered together.

The use of alcohol before or along with the barbiturates may result in a “quick drunk” and possible death from respiratory failure. Both alcohol and barbiturates are depressants and their actions are additive. Also, the barbiturates interfere with the body’s normal disposition of alcohol.

Common types of barbiturate drugs are:

- Pentobarbital sodium

- Secobarbital sodium

- Amobarbital sodium with secobarbital sodium

- Amobarbital sodium

- Phenobarbital

Amphetamines

Contrary to the barbiturates, which are used medically to relax the central nervous system,

amphetamines directly stimulate that system and produce excitation, alertness, and wakefulness. The degree of these effects depends on the dosage. They are commonly prescribed as an appetite depressant. Normally taken orally, amphetamines may also be injected. The drugs are produced in a wide variety of physical forms.

Because amphetamines are available only through prescription, any such drugs collected should be left in the container they were found in, if any. The container should be processed for prints, the material examined as noted below, then sealed, marked and placed in a clean envelope or paper bag. This outer container should also be sealed and marked.

Amphetamines, or materials suspected to be such, that are not in a container should be suitably packaged, sealed, and marked.

Most amphetamines found will be of legal manufacture. There are a number of dosage forms, tablets and capsules being common. The investigator should note, and include in his report, the quantity, color, and shape of all tablets and capsules. If there are markings on tablets, those should be recorded exactly. If the appearance of the material inside a capsule can be determined without opening it, that information should be recorded as well.

As with all other suspected drug substances, the investigator should be cautious in making an identification based only on the physical appearance of the material. Prior to its analysis by the laboratory, it is always good practice to refer to the material in the notes and report in terms of its physical description and quantity.

Some examples of amphetamine drugs legally manufactured are:

- Amphetamine sulfate

- Long-acting amphetamine sulfate capsules

- Dextroamphetamine sulfate

Methamphetamines

Methamphetamine (most commonly known as “speed”) is chemically related to amphetamine but it has more central nervous system activity and correspondingly less effect on blood pressure and heart rate than amphetamine.

The abuse of methamphetamine is more widespread than ever before. Many abusers “lipshoot” (take intravenously) methamphetamine and eventually may build up to more than 100 times the medicinal dose. Thus, it is not surprising to discover these persons in an acute toxic state with death as a possible outcome. Methamphetamine for medical purposes is available on prescription only. It is available commercially under a variety of trade names. However, it is also manufactured in clandestine laboratories and is available in illicit channels as a crystalline powder in tablets, and in a variety of liquid forms.

Toxic Vapors

It has become relatively common practice among persons who experiment with drugs to intentionally smell or inhale the fumes of certain substances in the hope of achieving a condition of intoxication or euphoria (feeling of well-being or elation). Model airplane glue is a typical such substance used for “sniffing”. However, inhaling fumes from gasoline, paint thinner, carbon tetrachloride, fingernail polish, acetone, and toluene will also produce forms of intoxication. The common practice is for the user to pour the substance into a plastic or paper bag, then place the bag tightly around the nose and mouth and inhale deeply. While such practice will usually produce only a blurring of vision, and other symptoms of intoxication, suffocation is always a distinct possibility as a result of the user breathing only vapors. If a death or serious injury has occurred as a result of the deliberate inhalation of toxic vapors, there will usuailly be a distinct odor of the solvent about the person’s clothing or on his breath, if he is still alive.

Evidence items to be searched for are plastic or paper bags with residues of the substance inhaled, rags or handkerchiefs containing dried material and possibly vomitus.