Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In forensic chemistry, a quicker and more accurate analysis of a sample is always being pursued. Speedy analyses allow the analyst to provide quick turn-around times and potentially decrease back-logs that are known to be a problem in the field. Accurate analyses are paramount with the futures and lives of the accused potentially on the line. One of the most common methods of analysis in forensic chemistry laboratories is gas chromatography, chosen for the relative speed and efficiency afforded by this method. Two major routes were attempted to further improve on gas chromatography applications in forensic chemistry. The first route was to decrease separation times for analysis of ignitable liquid residues by using micro-bore wall coated open-tubular columns. Micro-bore columns are much shorter and have higher separation efficiencies than the standard columns used in forensic chemistry, allowing for faster analysis times while maintaining the expected peak separation. Typical separation times for fire debris samples are between thirty minutes and one hour, the micro-bore columns were able to achieve equivalent performance in three minutes. The reduction in analysis time was demonstrated by analysis of ignitable liquid residues from simulated fire debris exemplars. The second route looked at a relatively new detector for gas chromatography known as a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrophotometer. The VUV detector uses traditional UV and far-ultraviolet light to probe the pi and sigma bonds of the gas phase analytes as well as Rydberg traditions to produce spectra that are nearly unique to a compound. Thus far, the only spectra that were not discernable were from enantiomers, otherwise even diastereomers have been differentiated. The specificity attained with the VUV detector has achieved differentiation of compounds that mass spectrometry, the most common detection method for chromatography in forensic chemistry labs, has difficulty distinguishing. This specificity has been demonstrated herein by analyzing various classes of drugs of abuse and applicability to “real world” samples has been demonstrated by analysis of de-identified seized samples.

Background: Sedatives and hypnotics are substances to calm or relieve anxiety and to induce sleep. Long term prescription of benzodiazepines/Z-drugs may lead to the development of tolerance and the need to increase the dose. It is important to be aware of the risks of uncontrolled use of these drugs, such as harmful interactions with other substances, side effects and potential for abuse or addiction. Aim: The aim of this research was to describe abuse of sedatives and hypnotics from the user's perspective, to focus on circumstances leading to drug abuse, to describe beginning and course of the use of these drugs and self-awareness of the problem. The aim was also to describe the current state of users and their needs. Sample: The research sample consisted of 6 participants, of which 4 women and 2 men currently or recently using sedatives and hypnotics (specifically benzodiazepines/Z-drugs). Methods: Data were collected through a qualitative approach using a semi-structured interview. Interviews were conducted, rewritten into protocol summary, further analysed using thematic analysis, modified using open and axial coding and categorization methods. Results: Respondents may have misused sedatives and hypnotics to self-medicate symptoms. These drugs were prescribed for the first time with...

No description available.

Drug trafficking and smuggling is an ongoing challenge for law enforcement agencies. Cocaine smuggling is a high-value pursuit for smugglers and has been attempted using a variety of concealment methods including the use of bottled liquids, canned milk, wax and suspensions in cans of beer. In particular, traffickers have used clothing impregnated with cocaine for smuggling. Handling, transportation or re-packaging of drugs of abuse and explosives will inevitably leave residual material on the clothing and other possessions of the involved persons. The nails and skin of the person may also be contaminated through the handling of these substances. This research study describes the development of Raman spectroscopic techniques for the detection of drugs of abuse and explosives on biomaterials of forensic relevance including undyed natural and synthetic fibres and dyed textile specimens, nail and skin. Confocal Raman microscopy has been developed and evaluated for the detection and identification of particulates of several drugs of abuse and explosives on different substrates. The results show that excellent spectroscopic discrimination can be achieved between single particles and substrate materials, giving a ubiquitous non-destructive approach to the analysis of pico-gram quantities of the drugs and explosives in-situ. Isolating the particle in this way corresponds with an analytical sensitivity comparable with the most sensitive analytical techniques currently available e.g. the highly sensitive, yet destructive ionization desorption mass spectrometry. With the confocal Raman approach, this work demonstrates that definitive molecular-specific information can be achieved within seconds without significant interference from the substrate. The potential for the application of this technique as a rapid preliminary, forensic screening procedure is obvious and attractive to non-specialist operators as it does not involve prior chemical pretreatment ii or detachment of the analyte from the substrate. As a result, evidential materials can be analysed without compromising their integrity for future investigation. Also, the applications of benchtop and portable Raman spectroscopy for the in-situ detection of drugs of abuse in clothing impregnated with the drugs have been demonstrated. Raman spectra were obtained from a set of undyed natural and synthetic fibres and dyed textiles impregnated with these drugs. The spectra were collected using three Raman spectrometers; one benchtop dispersive spectrometer coupled to a fibre-optic probe and two portable spectrometers. High quality spectra of the drugs could be acquired in-situ within seconds and without any sample preparation or alteration of the evidential material. A field-portable Raman spectrometer is a reliable instrument that can be used by emergency response teams to rapidly identify unknown samples. This method lends itself well to further development for the in-situ examination by law enforcement officers of items associated with users, handlers and suppliers of drugs of abuse in the forensics arena. In the last section of this study, a portable prototype Raman spectrometer ( DeltaNu Advantage 1064) equipped with 1064 nm laser excitation has been evaluated for the analysis of drugs of abuse and explosives. The feasibility of the instrument for the analysis of the samples both as neat materials and whilst contained in plastic and glass containers has been investigated. The advantages, disadvantages and the analytical potential in the forensics arena of this instrument have been discussed. / Egyptian Government and Sohag University

No description available.

No description available.

No primeiro capítulo deste trabalho, são apresentados aspectos gerais sobre toxicologia forense e sobre a eletroforese capilar, onde se buscou mostrar como a técnica analítica pode ser útil para aplicações forenses. O segundo capítulo apresenta o desenvolvimento de metodologia analítica baseada em eletroforese capilar com detecção por arranjo de diodos para determinação de drogas de abuso ou seus produtos de biotransformação em humor vítreo. Foram estudados parâmetros como a composição do eletrólito de corrida (com especial atenção ao fenômeno de eletrodispersão), pré-concentração online (stacking) e modo de extração dos analitos. Foi obtida completa separação eletroforética de 12 analitos investigados em menos de 10 minutos de corrida. Os parâmetros de confiança analítica do método mostraram este é perfeitamente aplicável às análises toxicológicas com finalidade forense. O terceiro capítulo apresenta a elaboração de metodologia analítica baseada em eletroforese capilar acoplada a espectrometria de massas para determinação de cocaína e cinco produtos de biotransformação em urina, com procedimento de preparo da amostra biológica simplificado. O procedimento desenvolvido apresentou sensibilidade adequada para verificação de intoxicações agudas por cocaína, e a espectrometria de massas acrescentou grande seletividade à análise, principalmente quando a detecção foi realizada pela seleção do íon-pai e fragmentos gerados a 34% de energia de colisão. O terceiro capítulo apresenta o desenvolvimento de método simples e rápido para determinação de MDMA em comprimidos de Ecstasy usando eletroforese capilar de zona. Na corrida eletroforética desenvolvida, é possível determinar a concentração de MDMA em menos de dois minutos (usando procaína com padrão interno). O método desenvolvido foi comparado ao utilizado rotineiramente no Núcleo de Análise Instrumental do Instituto de Criminalística de São Paulo, baseado em cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção por fluorescência. O método eletroforético desenvolvido foi cinco vezes mais rápido do que o método de referência, permitindo maior produtividade sem que houvesse perda da qualidade do resultado. Por fim, o capítulo 4 apresenta as considerações finais deste trabalho, onde se pode concluir que a eletroforese capilar, ainda que pouco utilizada em laboratórios forenses brasileiros, pode ser ferramenta de grande utilidade nas análises toxicológicas destinadas a esta finalidade. / In the first chapter of this thesis, general aspects on forensic toxicology and capillary electrophoresis are presented, aiming to show how the analytical technique can be useful for forensic applications. The second chapter presents the development of analytical methodology based on capillary electrophoresis with diode array detection for determining drugs of abuse and/or their biotransformation products in vitreous humor. Parameters such as the composition of background electrolyte (with special attention to the phenomenon of electrodispersion), online pre-concentration (stacking) and sample preparation procedures were objects of study. The complete electrophoretic separation of 12 investigated analytes was obtained within 10 minutes of run. The validation parameters of the method have shown that this is perfectly applicable to toxicological analyses with forensic purposes. The third chapter presents the elaboration of analytical methodology based on capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry for determining cocaine and five biotransformation products in urine, with simple sample preparation. The process developed presented adequate sensitivity for the verification of acute intoxications by cocaine, and mass spectrometry contributed with great selectiveness to the analysis, mainly when the detection was conducted by the selection of the molecular-ion and fragments generated at 34% of collision energy. The fourth chapter presents the development of a simple and quick method for determining MDMA in tablets of Ecstasy using capillary zone electrophoresis. In the running condition, it is possible to determine the concentration of MDMA in less than two minutes (using procaine with internal standard). The method developed was compared with the one routinely used at Núcleo de Análise Instrumental do Instituto de Criminalística de São Paulo, based on high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The electrophoretic method developed was five times faster than the reference one, allowing higher productivity without loss of quality in the result. Finally, chapter five presents the final considerations of this thesis, where it is possible to conclude that capillary electrophoresis, even being little utilized in Brazilian forensic laboratories, can be a tool of great utility in toxicological analyses destined to this purpose.

O consumo abusivo de substâncias psicoativas é um problema de saúde pública, sendo as análises toxicológicas uma importante ferramenta para seu controle. Atualmente, o cabelo está entre as mais utilizadas matrizes biológicas para análise de substâncias psicoativas, devido principalmente ao seu amplo período de deteção. As análises toxicológicas de drogas de abuso podem ser conduzidas através de técnicas de triagem seguidas por técnicas confirmatórias para os resultados positivos. No presente trabalho, foi avaliada a adaptação do método de triagem para substâncias psicoativas em cabelo a partir do kit para imunoensaio em sangue DOA I WB P com a tecnologia Biochip - Randox Laboratórios®. As análises foram realizadas para as classes das anfetaminas, benzodiazepínicos, barbitúricos, cocaína, opiáceos e canabinoides. Os ensaios imunológicos seguiram a partir da análise de amostras reais, adicionadas e artificiais sendo todas previamente confirmadas por técnica de cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (GC-MS). Pelos resultados obtidos pôde-se observar que o kit não apresenta capacidade de analisar a classe de canabinoides. Já para os opiáceos, barbitúricos e anfetamina a aplicação do imunoensaio se mostrou promissora, entretanto a falta de amostras reais positivas impossibilitou a validação do método. Para cocaína, possíveis fontes de contaminação podem ter alterado os resultados impossibilitando a sua avaliação. Benzodiazepínicos, MDMA e metanfetamina apresentaram efeito matriz significativo, não havendo diferenciação entre amostras positivas e negativas. Desta forma, a validação e aplicação do método de imunoensaio para amostras de cabelo não foi possível devido ao elevado efeito de matriz apresentado pelo kit e a falta de amostras reais positivas impossibilitando a validação de parâmetros como sensibilidade, especificidade e exatidão. / The abuse of psychoactive substances is a public health problem and toxicological analysis is an important tool for its control. Currently, hair is among the most widely used biological matrices psychoactive substance analysis, mainly for its detection window. The toxicological analysis of drugs of abuse may be conduted by screening techniques followed by confirmation techniques for positive results. In the present work, an adaptation of a screening method for psychoactive substances in hair was evaluated from the DOA I WB P blood immunoassay kit with a Biochip - Randox Laboratories® technology. The analysis were performed for the drug classes of amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cocaine, opiates and cannabinoids. The immunological assays followed the analysis of real, spiked and artificial samples that have been previously confirmed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. From the results obtained it was observed that the kit does not sufficient capacity for analysis of cannabinoids. As for opiates, barbiturates and amphetamines, the immunoassay application proved to be promising. However, a lack of real samples made it impossible to validate the method. For cocaine, finding sources of contamination may have altered the results, making it impossible to evaluate. Benzodiazepines, MDMA and methamphetamine showed significant matrix effect, with no difference between positive and negative samples. Thus, a validation and application of the immunoassay method for hair samples was not possible due to the high matrix effect for the kit and a lack of actual samples making it extremely difficult to validate parameters such as sensitivity, specificity and accuracy.

Esta dissertação teve como objetivo descrever e analisar o objeto/sujeito da redução de danos, a partir da literatura brasileira, tendo como perspectiva teórica os fundamentos da Saúde Coletiva. A literatura internacional mostra que a redução de danos vem sendo adotada e difundida em vários países. A América do Norte e a Europa focalizam o debate na avaliação de estratégias em alguns segmentos populacionais, mas o debate teórico e político parece se concentrar na América Latina, notadamente no Brasil. Para compreender as tendências desse debate no Brasil, selecionou-se 44 publicações nacionais, no período de 1994 a 2006, tendo como referência o LILACS. A análise do material mostrou que a redução de danos tomou inicialmente como objeto as doenças transmissíveis, especialmente a AIDS sendo a finalidade do trabalho a prevenção desses problemas entre usuários de droga injetável. Com o objeto assim circunscrito, atingia-se populações usuárias de drogas consideradas marginalizadas ou excluídas. As primeiras formulações teóricas que orientaram as práticas encontravam-se entremeadas de críticas às abordagens e terapêuticas que unicamente perspectivavam a abstinência. Apesar da crítica por vezes contumaz aos modelos rígidos e intolerantes de combate às drogas, a finalidade de abstinência persistia nos discursos de uma parcela considerável daqueles que acabavam adotando, em maior ou menor grau, a orientação da redução de danos. Dada a envergadura que o fenômeno do consumo de drogas assumiu contemporaneamente, o que levou ao envolvimento de diversas áreas com esse objeto, o debate teórico em torno da redução de danos se ampliou. A adoção de práticas de redução de danos, diante das crescentes contradições sociais e de saúde que envolvem o complexo sistema das drogas, colocou para a arena das discussões acadêmicas e dos serviços, o tema da ética, dos direitos humanos, do engodo proibicionista, entre outros. A redução de danos foi se constituindo então como um \"movimento\" político, que procurava dar respostas a essas contradições. Dessa forma, o desenvolvimento de práticas de redução de danos - majoritariamente apoiadas por ONGs e organismos internacionais - passou a ser tolerado pela sociedade civil e legitimado pelo Estado. Assim, aceita pela nova saúde pública, passou a incorporar os conceitos de estilo e qualidade de vida e de promoção da saúde, imprimindo então mudanças no objeto de atenção. Nessa perspectiva, o que se busca é a melhoria \"dos modos de vida\" dos usuários, conquistada pela qualificação e preparação da \"comunidade\" para cuidar de sua saúde. Esvazia-se, dessa forma, o debate político, confinando-se a discussão do problema do consumo de drogas à dimensão particular, responsabilizando-se indivíduos, famílias e comunidades por um problema cujas raízes encontram-se no mal-estar contemporâneo. Alternativamente, a Saúde Coletiva vem se apresentando como um campo importante de resgate do caráter social e político da redução de danos que impeça sua transformação em um mero acessório de manutenção dos interesses capitalistas. Sugere-se, portanto, neste trabalho que a construção dos saberes e das respostas sociais relativas ao complexo sistema das substâncias psicoativas vincule-se, através de categorias de análise totalizantes, aos processos globais da sociedade contemporânea e às suas contradições / This essay had the goal of describing and analyzing the object/subject of harm reduction, based on Brazilian literature, having as theoretical perspective the Collective Health bases. International literature shows that harm reduction has been adopted and spread in several countries. North America and Europe focus the debate on the evaluation of strategies in some population segments, but the theoretical and political debate seems to be massed in Latin America, remarkably in Brazil. To understand the tendencies of this debate in Brazil, 44 national publications were selected, from 1994 to 2006, having LILACS¹ as reference. The analysis of this material showed that harm reduction initially objectified contagious diseases, especially AIDS, aiming the prevention of these problems among injecting drug users. Having circumscribed such object, marginalized or excluded drug users were considered. The first theoretical conclusions that guided the practices were highly critical of the approaches and therapeutics that only focused on abstinence. Although criticism being recalcitrant to the tough and intolerant models of drug combat at times, the focus on abstinence was supported by most of those who ended up adopting, totally or partially, harm reduction orientation. For as much as the increase on contemporary drug use, which has lead several areas to study this phenomenon, the theoretical debate on harm reduction was extended. The adherence to harm reduction practices, in the face of increasing social contradictions, brought to academic and service discussions the topic of ethics, human rights, prohibitionist decoy, etc. Then, harm reduction became a political movement that aimed at solving these contradictions. In that rate, the development of harm reduction practices - mostly supported by NGOs and international organizations - became tolerated by civil society and legitimated by the State. Thus, accepted by the new public health, it incorporated life quality and style concepts and health planning, causing great changes at the subject studied. In this perspective, the aim is improving the users\' way of life, achieved by the qualification and preparation of \"community\" to be aware of health issues. The political debate is then over, and the drug use discussion is confined to a quite particular dimension, blaming individuals, families and communities for a problem which was originally found in the contemporary malaise. Alternatively, Collective Health has been of great importance on recalling social and political awareness of harm reduction in order to inhibit its transformation in a tool of capitalism. It\'s suggested therefore, in this essay that knowledge acquisition and social answers related to the complex psychoactive substances system is linked to the global procedures of contemporary society and its contradictions

A sociedade brasileira marcada pelo traço de desigualdade social é um dos cenários no qual a questão do uso de álcool e drogas coexiste com as condições e relações sociais, arranjos familiares e situações de estresse. Assim, a dependência de substância, as co-morbidades, modalidades de tratamento e recaídas durante o processo de reabilitação são fatores que devem ser contextualizados neste cenário. Em relação às políticas públicas a Organização Mundial da Saúde, no âmbito da saúde mental, prevê o tratamento dos portadores de sofrimento psíquico como seres sociais visando a reintegração destes sujeitos na comunidade; o Ministério da Saúde, na proposta do Sistema Único de Saúde por sua vez, preconiza a atenção integral aos usuários de álcool e outras drogas priorizando a atenção primária, a educação em saúde, garantia de atenção na comunidade e envolvimento das redes sociais. Os estudos recentes trazem à luz a importância da abordagem da rede e apoio social nesta área como possibilidade de repensar e propor novas perspectivas para o aprimoramento da pesquisa e da prática em saúde mental com foco nos indivíduos dependentes de substâncias psicoativas. Portanto o presente estudo diz respeito ao apoio social e uso de drogas considerando os sujeitos inseridos em seus contextos de relações e condições sociais. Logo o objetivo proposto foi o de analisar a diferença entre dependentes e não dependentes de substâncias quanto à percepção de apoio, utilizando um instrumento de medida de apoio social validado, e identificar possíveis especificidades da rede de apoio destes indivíduos. O referencial teórico metodológico adotado é o de apoio social na perspectiva do Buffering Model, e a Análise de Redes Sociais (ARS). A amostra dos sujeitos foi composta por indivíduos do Centro de Atenção Psicossocial álcool e drogas (CAPSad) e de uma Unidade Básica Distrital de Saúde (UBDS) do município de Ribeirão Preto totalizando 102 indivíduos sendo 50 dependentes e 52 não dependentes de substâncias. Foram observados os aspectos éticos da pesquisa envolvendo seres humanos a saber, aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, consentimento livre e esclarecido e observação do Código de Ética dos Profissionais de Enfermagem. Quanto aos resultados a amostra foi homogênea em relação às baixas condições sócio-econômicas e escore referente ao número de apoiadores. No entanto, em relação ao escore de satisfação com o apoio social os dependentes de substâncias mostraram-se menos satisfeitos com o apoio social disponível quando comparados com os não dependentes de drogas (diferença estatisticamente significante). Apesar disso, os indivíduos do CAPSad apresentaram redes mais diversificadas em sua composição enquanto os não dependentes de drogas apresentaram redes mais densas centradas, de um modo geral, no círculo familiar. Convém destacar que entre os não dependentes de substâncias, 27% consomem álcool e ou outras drogas num padrão que, embora não caracterize dependência, de acordo com os pontos de corte do Questionário para Triagem do Uso de Álcool, Tabaco e outras Substâncias (ASSIST) seriam beneficiados da intervenção breve. A discussão dos resultados deste estudo, certamente dará uma contribuição importante tanto para direcionar as práticas terapêuticas vigentes quanto para subsidiar futuras investigações da área. / The brazilian society is marked by social inequality and is one of the scenarios in which the issue of alcohol and drugs coexists with economic conditions, family and social relationships and the different stress situations. Thus, substance dependence, co-morbidities, treatment modalities and relapse are factors that must be contextualized in this scenario. Regarding the mental health, the World Health Organization directs that persons with mental disorders are treated as social beings with the goal of reintegration of these individuals in the community. The proposal of the Brazilian Unified Health System recommends full attention to the users of alcohol and other drugs with priority for primary care, health education, ensuring attention to community involvement and social networks. Recent studies highlight the importance of addressing the social network and support of drug addicts as a possibility to reflect and propose new research and practice in mental health for individuals addicted to drugs. Therefore, the present study concerns the social support and drug use considering the subjects included in their contexts of social relations and conditions. The objective was to analyze the difference between drug addicts and no drug addicts in perception and structure social network for these individuals. The theoretical framework adopted is social support in view \"Buffering Model\" and the Social Network Analysis (SNA). The sample of subjects consisted of 50 drug addicts and 52 no drug addicts of public health services in Ribeirão Preto. The project was approved by the Ethics Research Committee. Results: the sample was homogeneous with regard to low socio-economic score and the perceived number social support. The satisfaction with social support available of drug addicts was less when compared to no drug addicts (statistically significant). Nevertheless, the no drug addicts showed denser networks focused in the family and drug addicts have more diverse composition of networks. Among no drug addicts, 27% consume alcohol and other drugs in a pattern that according Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) would benefit from brief intervention. The discussion of the results of this study will give an important contribution to direct the therapeutic practices and support future investigations of the area.