Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-91).

Thesis (Doctoral)- / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-171)

A common practice amongst street drug manufacturers and dealers is to combine the illicit drug of abuse they intend to distribute with additional substances. Substances added in an attempt to mimic or enhance the desired effect of the drug of abuse are known as adulterants as opposed to diluents, which are added simply to increase the weight of the product. By definition, an adulterant has a physiological effect on the body and as physiologically active compounds these adulterants may have side effects apart from the drug it is added to. They can be minimal, treatable, or otherwise manageable while others can be worse than those incurred from the drug of abuse itself. Due to varying trends in street drug purity, an effort must be made to understand the effects adulterants and diluents, as well as mixtures thereof, may have on forensic drug analysis. Colorimetric spot test analysis is typically performed using a representative sample of the raw, suspected drug material. These tests are often employed in the lab prior to any attempt to isolate a specific compound or at the scene before an arrest is made. This being the case, the reagents will be exposed to and have the potential to react with anything present in the sample with the drug of abuse. While much work has been done regarding the specificity and cross reactivity of colorimetric spot tests, limited information is available about how mixtures of adulterants may affect the results. This research consists of two parts which approach the common theme of adulterants differently. The first part is a literature based investigation into the pathological side effects of several common drug adulterants. The specific compounds discussed are: levamisole, phenacetin, atropine, and several topical anesthetics (benzocaine, lidocaine, prilocaine, and procaine). A review of articles from the scientific literature was conducted in order to convey what is known in the medical field regarding the effects these compounds can have on the body. The second part of this research was a laboratory based investigation which analyzed the effects of twenty-three common adulterants on two colorimetric spot tests: the Marquis reagent for the presumptive identification of heroin, morphine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA) and the modified Scott test for the presumptive identification of cocaine. This was performed in order to observe the reactivity of these compounds so that a better understanding of the effect their presence can have on the analysis of seized drug samples using these tests could be obtained. The literature review portion of this research revealed that the adulterants levamisole, atropine, phenacetin, and the topical anesthetic adulterants lidocaine, prilocaine, benzocaine, and procaine, can be toxic and have severe, deleterious effects on the body in both chronic and acute exposures. Levamisole stimulates the immune system resulting in the production of self-reactive antibodies that attack neutrophils. This causes an autoimmune disorder that weakens the immune system and causes leukocyte agglutination leading to necrotizing vasculitis. Atropine functions to decrease the parasympathetic tone and increase the sympathetic tone in the body. An overdose can cause anticholinergic toxicity, a syndrome very similar to sympathomimetic toxidrome caused by cocaine overdose. Both are characterized by hypertension, hyperthermia, tachycardia, ataxia, disorientation, and mydriasis. However, they can be distinguished as anticholinergic toxicity causes dry and flush skin and mydriasis which is unreactive to light while sympathomimetic toxidrome causes profuse sweating and mydriasis which is reactive to light. Phenacetin is metabolized to O-ethyl-N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (O-Et-NAPQI), a highly reactive and unstable electrophile. It is capable of covalently binding with proteins and other cellular components, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This leads to mutagenesis and subsequent tumor generation as well as apoptosis and necrosis of various tissues in the bladder and kidneys. The topical anesthetics have each been associated with the development of methemoglobinemia. This is a condition caused by an increase in the concentration of methemoglobin in the blood. Methemoglobin binds more strongly to oxygen so that it cannot be released to the tissues resulting in oxygen starvation. This was found to be caused by the metabolism of prilocaine and lidocaine to the oxidative compounds O-toluidine and 2,6-xylidine respectively. The cause has not been previously reported for benzocaine or procaine. The laboratory portion of this research revealed the impact several adulterants and their mixtures can have on colorimetric spot tests. Testing with approximately 1 mg of sample material revealed that eight out of the twenty-three adulterants reacted with the Marquis reagent to cause a color change within 15 minutes. Of the ten 3-component mixtures tested, eight resulted in a color change. Of the six five-component mixtures, four resulted in a color change; of the six eight-component mixtures, three resulted in a color change; and of the six ten-component mixtures, five resulted in a color change. Of the color changes observed, none were consistent with the "expected" color change for a presumptively positive result of the Marquis test. Testing with the adulterant diphenhydramine revealed that this compound had a unique and intense reaction with the Marquis reagent. This compound initially reacted by turning the liquid a vibrant yellow-green upon contact with the sample. Prior to 2 minutes, solid red-brown aggregates formed in the liquid and proceeded to increase in size while the reagent solution darkened to a red-black color over the 15 minutes of observation. Mixtures containing diphenhydramine each reacted differently. Solid material did not form in the mixture tests and the color changes observed ranged from light orange to a dark red-orange. In addition, one 3-component mixture containing adulterants which did not cause a color change when tested individually (diltiazem, acetaminophen, and quinine) was observed to cause a light brown color to develop, which darkened over the 15 minutes of observation. The results for the modified Scott test showed that the complexity of this test has made it highly specific for cocaine. None of the individual components or mixtures tested reacted in a manner consistent with a presumptively positive identification for cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) or cocaine base for all three steps. Of the twenty-three adulterants tested, eight of the twenty-three gave a similar result to cocaine base in step 1, however, of these eight, only one (quinine) gave a similar result to cocaine base in step 2, and this adulterant did not react consistently to cocaine base in step 3. The research using the adulterant mixtures revealed that the compounds present in these samples tended to react individually with the modified Scott test reagents. In other words, the results for each mixture appeared as a combination of the individual results for each component. While the results observed for the adulterants and mixtures tested were not consistent with the expected presumptively positive results for the drugs these tests are used to detect, it was concluded that the presence of adulterants in a sample has the potential to affect the results of a colorimetric spot test in a variety of ways. Given that these tests are typically employed on samples of raw suspected drug material, it is important that analysts understand the impact adulterants can have on the interpretation of presumptive drug tests.

Methodics of drug crime investigation Abstract The subject of my diploma work is the methodics of drug crime investigation. Above all, I have chosen this subject because I am deeply interested in the problem of drug and circumstances that are linked with this issue. As police officer I have a lot of experience on the field of drug crime investigation and I decided to focus my diploma work especially on the methodics of serious organized and international drug crime. My diploma work is structured into two parts and seven chapters. In the General part I tried to explain most important facts about drug crime, its history, its causes and I mentioned some specifics of the drug scene in the Czech Republic. Chapter 2 of my diploma work is aimed to provide detailed information about various kinds of drugs, about their origin, appearance and effects on human health. Very important part of my diploma work is also next chapter that is aimed on legal regulation of drug treatment in our country. Relevant crimes and misdemeanors were mentioned as well as some de lege ferenda suggestions concerning this issue. Chapter 4 deals with general principles of creating methodics of single crimes investigation. It describes essential components of these methodics, recommended approaches and tries to explain the necessity of...

L'addiction est une affection chronique emmaillée de rechutes, caractérisée principalement par des comportements compulsifs de recherche et de consommation de drogue. Il s'agit d'une pathologie grave et fréquente. Les sujets qui parviennent à se désengager de ces compulsions sont considérés comme abstinents. Les études épidémiologiques montrent que l'abstinence, notamment pour les opiacés est fortement associée à une prévalence accrue de la dépression. Le but de mon travail de thèse était d'aborder spécifiquement la cooccurrence des troubles dépressifs et addictifs. J'ai participé à l'élaboration d'un modèle murin de cette comorbidité, et nous nous sommes focalisés sur l'addiction aux opiacés, en particulier l'héroïne. Suite à un traitement chronique par l'héroïne et au cours de l'abstinence paraissent progressivement des comportements apparentés à la dépression. Ce traitement chronique à l'héroïne modifie le fonctionnement du système sérotoninergique et l'activité du récepteur opioïde kappa (Article publié: Distinct mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor mechanisms underlie low sociability and depressive-­like behaviors during heroin abstinence). Les déficits comportementaux observés peuvent être prévenus et reversés par un traitement antidépresseur ciblant le system sérotoninergique ou en inhibant l'activité du récepteur opioïde kappa avec un antagoniste, dans des portions similaires (Manuscript submis: Kappa opioid receptor antagonism prevents and reverses heroin abstinence-­induced social deficit with similar efficacy compared to chronic antidepressant treatment). Notre étude nous permet de proposer que le récepteur opioïde kappa constitue un acteur majeur à l'interface de l'addiction et de la dépression(Revue publié: The kappa opioid receptor: from addiction to depression, and back). / Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder and is mainly described as compulsive craving and consumption of a drug in spite of adverse consequences. Individuals who have achieved to refrain from such compulsive behaviour are considered abstinent, but present symptoms reminiscent of depression. Epidemiological studies report that abstinence, particularly from opiates, strongly associates with higher prevalence of depression. Aim of my thesis was to specifically address the co-­occurrence of opiate addiction and major depression in preclinical research. Thus, I have contributed to develop a mouse model of opiate abstinence, and in particular extend our model of morphine abstinence to heroin. Following exposure to escalating doses of heroin, abstinent mice progressively exhibit a depressive-­like phenotype, revealed by low sociability., and show altered serotonergic and kappa opioid receptor signaling (Published article: Distinct mu, delta and kappa opioid receptor mechanisms underlie low sociability and depressive-­like behaviors during heroin abstinence).Importantly, these behavioural deficits can be both prevented and reversed by antidepressant treatment targeting serotonergic signaling, or inhibiting the activity of the kappa opioid receptor withan antagonist, with similar efficacy (Submitted article: Kappa opioid receptor antagonism prevents and reverses heroin abstinence-­induced social deficit with similar efficacy compared to chronic antidepressant treatment). Altogether, our results allow us to propose the kappa opioid receptor is a major player at the interface of addiction and depression (Published review: The kappa opioid receptor: from addiction to depression, and back).

In this dissertation, I focus on the social response of criminalization and incarceration to the problem of heroin use among women in Massachusetts in the ongoing era of the United States' "War on Drugs." Based on fieldwork conducted between 2010-2014, I argue that the convergence of therapeutic ideals with the prison system creates a means of governing and regulating these women's lives via what I call the "carceral therapeutic state." I examine various facets of treatment programs in the state women's prison, MCI-Framingham, and a local Boston jail, Suffolk County House of Corrections, including drug treatment, trauma treatment and work readiness programs. I consider how and why these programs in prisons and jails have become means to centralize and solidify the criminal justice system as the predominant site of addiction and mental health treatment for poor women on drugs. / Anthropology

This paper analyzes the impact of the 2012 legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington State on opioid abuse. Using synthetic control methodology, this paper finds that the legislation prevented 638 overdose deaths and lead to over 3,600 individuals seeking treatment for opioid abuse disorders. Due to the large health, social, and economic impacts of the opioid epidemic, further research should be conducted into ways to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions, the number of opioid overdoses, and opioid abuse generally.

Methadone treatment continues to be the most widely used treatment modality for heroin addiction despite continued controversy. The efficacy of methadone treatment has been determined primarily by statistical research of program outcomes. This study explored heroin addicts' perceptions of methadone treatment.

abstract: Opioid use rates and related deaths continue to be a public health crisis; while there are many contributing factors to opioid use disorders, criteria for diagnosis include problems related to social functioning. Previous research indicates that laboratory rats, which are frequently used as animal models of addiction-related behaviors, are capable of prosocial behavior. The following collection of studies were performed to determine the effects of heroin on prosocial behavior in rats, as well as the role of the insula in both self-administration of heroin and prosocial behaviors. All of the experiments were conducted utilizing an established model of prosocial behavior in rats in which a performing rat releases a cagemate from a restrainer. The occurrence of and latency to free the confined rat was recorded. After baseline rescuing behavior was established, rats were allowed to self-administer heroin (0.06 mg/kg/infusion i.v.), and subsequent experimental conditions were imposed. Experimental conditions, in a series of different studies, included comparing heroin reinforcers with sucrose, chemogenetically modulating the insular cortex (both stimulatory and inhibitory processes) and administering excitotoxic lesions in the insula. There were significant differences in saving behaviors between heroin and sucrose groups demonstrating an opioid induced loss of prosocial behavior. Modulating the insula chemogenetically resulted in some restoration of these opioid related deficits, and insular lesions did not significantly impact prosocial behaviors, however, there were significant differences between rates of heroin intake in lesioned animals versus non-lesioned controls. Taken together, these results demonstrate the deleterious effects of heroin on prosocial behaviors and offer further support for the role of the insula in both addiction and social constructs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2020