Drugs

Drugs

Introduction

Forensic labs are often called in to identify unknown powders, liquids and pills that may be illicit drugs. There are basically two categories of forensic tests used to analyze drugs and other unknown substances like cocaine. In this context, confirmatory tests are more specific and can determine the precise identity of the substance which include gas chromatography and also high performance liquid chromatography.

Discussion

Self-administration of drugs has been constituted as a way for people seek pleasurable effects. It is well known that the abuse of substances psychoactive (cocaine) became increasingly in the last 10 years, becoming one of the most common phenomena in the world population. Drugs of abuse are chemicals administered in order to obtain recreational psychoactive effect without any indication or medical advice to cause physical or psychological dependence and / or reduced capacity to live as a productive member of society.

Most drugs of abuse affects the central nervous system (CNS) and amending state of consciousness causing emotional changes, mood changes, thinking and behavior. These are substances that trigger sensations Pleasant and / or suppressing unpleasant sensations. Cocaine, for example, is a drug of abuse inducing CNS depressant sensations such as euphoria, relaxation, anxiety, impairment of mental functions and motor until drowsiness and sleep and other effects. The abuse of cocaine remains one of major public health problems, social, economic and legal impact. Self- administration of these drugs has been formed as a way people seek pleasurable effects, but is also associated with great harm to society. Research show that people dependent on chemicals such as cocaine is more likely to commit crimes.

The toxicological analysis to demonstrate the use of drugs of abuse can be performed in different biological samples, such as urine, blood, sweat, hair, saliva and other. The analytical methods used in forensic chemistry to determination and quantification of drugs on individuals and their body fluids and tissues Biological chromatographic methods are as HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography efficiency) and GC / MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). These techniques have been becoming increasingly necessary, before the crime, as separate and identify the way detailed and safe chemicals, coupled with a high sensitivity, fast analysis and ability to study complex samples in forensic science. In this sense, the present work aims to show the main methods Chromatographic analytical chemistry used in forensic detection of cocaine, as well as the main characteristics this drug.

Cocaine

Cocaine is an alkaloid extracted from the leaves of a plant found exclusively in South America, the Erythroxylum coca. It is a powerful local anesthetic and potent CNS stimulant, which is why it is used as a drug of abuse. Cocaine can get to the consumer in the form of a salt, cocaine hydrochloride, which is soluble in water and used to aspirate or be dissolved in water for intravenous administration or under base form, the crack, which is slightly soluble in water, but when it is volatilized heated.

It is well established that cocaine exerts its potent CNS stimulant effect synapses on dopaminergic and noradrenergic, giving users a ...