Forensic Pharmacology by B Zedeck & M Zedeck

Author:B Zedeck & M Zedeck [Zedeck, B & Zedeck, M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

70 Forensic Pharmacology

ultrashort, short, intermediate, and long acting, and are in

Schedules II, III, or IV.

Street names of commonly abused barbiturates describe the

color and markings on the actual pill. Amytal® (amobarbital):

blue heavens; Butisol® (butabarbital): bute, stoppers; Lumi-

nal® (phenobarbital): phennies and phenos; Nembutal® (pento-

barbital): nembies and yellow jackets; Seconal® (secobarbital):

red devils and seggies; Tuinal® (amobarbital and secobarbital):

Christmas trees, rainbows, tooies. Other street names include

amy’s, block busters, bluebirds, downers, goofballs, pinks, and

stumblers.

The Derivation of Proof

The term proof used for alcoholic beverages dates back to

colonial days in the United States. President George Washing-

ton appointed Alexander Hamilton as his first secretary of the

treasury. Hamilton levied a 10-cents/gal on tax on whiskey.

The citizens of Pennsylvania—a chief source of whiskey—

rebel ed, but their famous “Whiskey Rebel ion” was sup-

pressed. To determine the content of alcohol in the whiskey,

gunpowder was moistened with the alcohol-containing prod-

uct and then ignited. If the alcohol content was high enough,

the product burnt, and this was considered 100 proof. At least

50% alcohol was required for the gunpowder to burn. The gov-

ernment said that 100 proof, or 50% alcohol by volume, was to

be the standard for American liquor. Yet, the 10-cents/gal on

tax was placed on all whiskey, even if below proof. Today, the

proof number is always twice the percentage number of the

concentration of alcohol in the product.

Central Nervous System Depressants

71

Barbiturates are usually taken orally, sometimes with alco-

hol to increase the intoxicating effect, or by injection. The

ultrashort-acting barbiturate Pentothal® produces surgical

anesthesia within about one minute after intravenous admin-

istration. The onset of action of the short- and intermediate-

acting barbiturates taken orally for insomnia is from 10 to 60

minutes, and the effects last up to six hours. Barbiturates dis-

tribute to body fat and are found in breast milk. They may cause

drowsiness, slow heartbeat, and shortness of breath in babies of

nursing mothers who are taking these drugs.

Barbiturates are metabolized in the liver via hydroxylation and

glucuronide conjugation. Short-acting barbiturates are excreted

in the urine as metabolites for about one to four days, while long-

acting barbiturates are excreted for two to three weeks.

Barbiturates overdosing may occur readily. Since tolerance

develops to the behavioral effects but not to the respiratory

effects, increasing the dosage may result in death. Also, because

of amnesia-causing effects, people forget that they took their

medication and may proceed to take additional doses, which may

lead to respiratory depression and death.

Benzodiazepines

Trade names of some benzodiazepines are Ativan® (lorazepam),

Dalmane® (flurazepam), Halcion® (triazolam), Klonopin®

(clonazepam), Librium® (chlordiazepoxide), Restoril® (temaze-

pam), Serax® (oxazepam), Valium® (diazepam), Versed®

(midazolam), and Xanax® (alprazolam). Some street names

include benzos, downers, and goofballs. The “date rape drug”

Rohypnol® (flunitrazepam) has its own group of names, includ-

ing forget-me pill, Mexican valium, mind erasers, R2, roches,

roofies, rope, and rophies (Figure 7.2). Except for Rohypnol®,

which cannot be sold in the United States, the benzodiazepines

are listed as Schedule IV drugs.

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