tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84709179751215228082024-03-18T05:14:01.502-04:00The Dose Makes the PoisonDrugs, poisons, and forensic toxicology in pop culture and the newsForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-58000161977913282812020-12-30T21:54:00.003-05:002020-12-30T22:37:23.663-05:00Dose Makes the Poison: The Toxcast (Year 1)<span style="font-family: georgia;">Dose Makes the Poison: The ToxCast is ending its first year. There'll be more episodes coming soon in 2021. If you're a listener of the show, thank you! It is much appreciated.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy6T6hQcO74bVOLovfy4cJ0qkBC54EYkANMrNbAgNR5FszgPiR2rn_tllaGPsX1-Id4bAKqlKFmGl4MqTCsrMG7yXQryJUgP4dwA8GNP_OILuoJXwbNQRREJ5dwszupa11no3SRMcdPQ/s873/Logo+01.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="873" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy6T6hQcO74bVOLovfy4cJ0qkBC54EYkANMrNbAgNR5FszgPiR2rn_tllaGPsX1-Id4bAKqlKFmGl4MqTCsrMG7yXQryJUgP4dwA8GNP_OILuoJXwbNQRREJ5dwszupa11no3SRMcdPQ/s320/Logo+01.PNG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the meantime, if you want to go back and listen to prior episodes, please do.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 1 - The Background</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 2 - A Brief Introduction to Forensic Toxicology </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 3 - Toxicology in the Movies (Knives Out)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 4 - A Few Drops Will Do Ya (Tetrahydrozoline)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 5 - What's in the Bottle? (Cyanide)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 6 - McGruff the Singing Crime Dog / Drugs in the News</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 7 - Not Your Parent's Heroin (Heroin, Fentanyl, and Fentalogs)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 8 - How to Fix a Drug Scandal (Netflix) with Dr. Justin Brower</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 9 - Headed for a Heartbreak (The Cardiac Glycosides: Digoxin and Convallatoxin)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 10 - A Very Special Toxisode: Yes, Pepper Spray is Tear Gas</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 11 - Quick Bites: The Case of Jagger the Irish Setter</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 12 - What in the Oleander is going on with the Benadryl Challenge?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Episode 13 - Tales on (Un)Poisoned Halloween Candy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Find the show on <a href="https://anchor.fm/the-dose-makes-the-poison-cast" target="_blank">Anchor</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dose-makes-the-poison-the-toxcast/id1493035373?uo=4">Apple Podcasts</a>, and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zmkaj0XoQ1L4p4AhN6vq2">Spotify</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you like what you're hearing, please leave a review for the show over at Apple Podcasts. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Email the show at <a href="mailto:dosemakesthepoisonpodcast@gmail.com">dosemakesthepoisonpodcast@gmail.com</a> if you'd like to contact me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div></div>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-13006663620811793162018-10-02T20:58:00.000-04:002018-10-02T21:02:36.894-04:00ETR - 2018, Quarter 2<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few days ago, the DEA released its <a href="https://ndews.umd.edu/sites/ndews.umd.edu/files/dea-emerging-threat-report-2018-quarter-2.pdf">Emerging Threats Report</a> (ETR) for the second quarter of 2018. The agency touts this report as a "quarterly snapshot of the new psychoactive substance market in the United States". There are some interesting things of note which are included in this report.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two new synthetic cannabinoids were detected for the first time - these were the alphabet soup 5F-EDMB-PINACA and 5F-MDMB-PICA. The top two most prevalent synthetic cannabinoids (which accounted for 50% of all detections) were FUB-AMB and 5F-ADB (also known as 5F-MDMB-PINACA) - both of these compounds have remained in the top two spots since 2016. Interestingly, they both were emergency scheduled by the Federal government in 2017, so I'm not quite sure what to make of their continued stay on the list.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Regarding designer opioids, the market has pretty much shifted back to fentanyl, which made up 75% of all designer opioid detections for the quarter. The compounds 4-ANPP and acetylfentanyl were detected a summed total of 74 times, while 13 other designer opioids (valerylfentanyl, parafluorobutyrylfentanyl, benzylfentanyl, 4'-methylacetylfentanyl, 3-methylfentanyl, U48800, furanylfentanyl, U47700, cyclopropylfentanyl, carfentanil, 4-fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl, butyrylfentanyl, and methoxyacetylfentanyl) accounted for 50 total detections or approximately 10% of all detections. Fentanyl analogs and other designer opioids are still out there in the wild, but they do not seem to be as prevalent as they were for the previous 1-2 years. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl continues to be the top dog in this category - ask any forensic toxicologist and she would tell you the same thing (and do please go talk to us forensic toxicologists, it can be very lonely working in a lab).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">You get fentanyl! And you get fentanyl! We all get fentanyl!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were only a total of 24 cathinones detected, of which 15 were N-ethylpentylone (62.5%). Older compounds such as MDPV, alpha-PVP, methylone, butylone, and ethylone are nowhere to be found.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The only designer benzodiazepine detected for the quarter was one identification of flubromazolam.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Emerging Threats Report for Quarter 2 of 2018 can be found <a href="https://ndews.umd.edu/sites/ndews.umd.edu/files/dea-emerging-threat-report-2018-quarter-2.pdf">here</a>.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-91067331508252682962018-07-11T22:51:00.001-04:002018-07-11T22:56:00.922-04:00Exposure to "Fentanyl" in the Field<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's in the news everywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Fentanyl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Fentanyl and secondary exposure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Here are some of the news headlines from the last few weeks...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From <a href="http://www.kltv.com/story/38515019/sergeant-hospitalized-after-touching-fentanyl-contaminated-flier-on-harris-county-vehicle">KLTV7</a>, a Harris County, TX police officer was hospitalized after coming in contact with a fentanyl-laced paper flyer. The officer "removed the flyer, got into her car and drove away. She soon began feeling lightheaded and had other symptoms". This story was also tweeted by the official handle of the Harris County, TX Sherriff's Office.</span><br />
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@HCSOTexas<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">From <a href="http://www.katc.com/story/38603131/lpso-deputies-exposed-to-fentanyl">KATC3</a>, police officers in Lafayette, LA responded to a call of an unresponsive man at a residence. Upon observing the scene, two officers "showed symptoms of being exposed to the potent drug [fentanyl]". </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">From <a href="http://abc13.com/houston-police-officer-rushed-to-hospital-after-fentanyl-exposure/3744052/">ABC13 Eyewitness News</a>, a Houston, TX police officer checked a person's hotel room and found 50-100 pills in a plastic bag. The officer "put the baggie in the patrol car" and "he started feeling ill, shortness of breath and feeling dizzy, and he was no getting better".</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">From the <a href="http://amp.bnd.com/news/local/article214563715.html">Belleville News Democrat</a>, two police officers were responding to a series of overdoses at a Brooklyn, IL strip club when they came into contact with fentanyl and began to feel ill. "The thing with fentanyl is the smallest amount, like if you put just less than a gram in a room, it can knock out everyone in the room. It's a pretty hardcore substance, and it's happening everywhere."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">There are other stories out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">It goes without saying that fentanyl is a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist substance that produces central nervous system depression. That is true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chemical structure of Fentanyl</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Drawn by Kevin G. Shanks (2017)</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been used as a pharmaceutical in the USA since 1968. Intravenous and intrathecal fentanyl is used for anesthesia and analgesia in a hospital setting. It is also available as a transdermal patch for chronic pain management, or as a lozenge for oral transmucosal absorption which is intended for opioid tolerant people and in the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer. It can also be used intranasally and sublingually.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But can stories like this really happen?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No. Not from dermal absorption of powder. It's not possible. NOT. POSSIBLE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">NOT POSSIBLE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: small;">Let's go to the facts.</span></span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The American College of Medical Toxicology (<a href="https://www.acmt.net/">ACMT</a>) (a really smart group of medical doctors) has issued a position paper on this topic and they brought math, science, and some much needed damned common sense to the table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">You can read their position <a href="http://www.clintox.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Fentanyl_Position_Statement_2017.pdf">here</a> via the Clinical Toxicology journal website.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Go read it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">It's good. I promise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">OK. You read it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Notice the lack of hyperbole and hysteria?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVPdCEdtV-5x59E_Ms4pnvU-VAyQCzvmLmaIhVLocQV4J2Ydnt87BlH94ubPf6qYyQc8VjGIAhgK-l9u77P7wuIQGsTzEoYp07qes7GDNnqco4gN7_kz6nwrhtRC0ekKPWm_rFtCaTSg/s1600/a1a447e887e540c450a86faf8665126c_953x953x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVPdCEdtV-5x59E_Ms4pnvU-VAyQCzvmLmaIhVLocQV4J2Ydnt87BlH94ubPf6qYyQc8VjGIAhgK-l9u77P7wuIQGsTzEoYp07qes7GDNnqco4gN7_kz6nwrhtRC0ekKPWm_rFtCaTSg/s320/a1a447e887e540c450a86faf8665126c_953x953x1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">No. Not that Hysteria.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Notice the logical viewpoints?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Notice the use of math and science?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lots o' numbers! You're making my head explode!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "opensans"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "opensans"; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2017.1373782">http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2017.1373782</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "opensans"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "opensans"; font-size: x-small;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">TL;DR.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">It is impossible to dermally absorb enough powder fentanyl to produce any sort of pharmacological effect. There needs to be some sort of mechanism in place to move that fentanyl through the skin. Pharmaceutical companies invested a large amount of time, effort, and money to develop transdermal delivery systems to administer drug (e.g. transdermal patch to place on the skin). If you were to find yourself in a situation where you had powdered fentanyl on your skin, calmly walk over to the sink and wash your hands with soap and water. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Let's use facts in our discussions about drugs. Hysteria and hyperbole is not helpful to anyone. At all. In fact, it makes things worse. Much worse.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_5S2R-BOx8VcGEsD80CDf3VJyCfNVmazpqhUHWkR5ryLXKHhWYhFFPW_9kfZT-I9pcbFgp_P7FBtPYYvbG4AjyCcTTljtWvS6wfjAqr1IXjrVujjQCY0sOiJHjuetyi_vuZQ-SPUKLc/s1600/thLP8BFCLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="450" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_5S2R-BOx8VcGEsD80CDf3VJyCfNVmazpqhUHWkR5ryLXKHhWYhFFPW_9kfZT-I9pcbFgp_P7FBtPYYvbG4AjyCcTTljtWvS6wfjAqr1IXjrVujjQCY0sOiJHjuetyi_vuZQ-SPUKLc/s400/thLP8BFCLS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">PS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The flyers from Harris County, TX mentioned above were tested in a lab and contained no fentanyl or any other drug. Imagine that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">PPS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Now there's this gem of a story in the news today...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">From the </span><a href="https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/woman-faces-drug-charge-in-connection-with-hobart-paramedic-s/article_70f81da2https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/woman-faces-drug-charge-in-connection-with-hobart-paramedic-s/article_70f81da2-980a-5ef6-a852-333b64867255.html#1-980a-5ef6-a852-333b64867255.html#1"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Northwest Indiana Times</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia";">, a paramedic was attempting to intubate an unresponsive man when the man coughed and snorted in his face. After doing his job and returning to the fire station, the paramedic "began to feel unwell an fell unconscious". The paramedic suspected he "was exposed to a powerful synthetic opioid, such as fentanyl".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Yeah..no.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkAP2IuUU7SCI6t9JaoXFOBXlNbQBJ0H3lTje5eR7RABByHUeE1Swd8Bkuw5Ijg07sIUupLQUcqM-j8UgGuIdICvmeqP1vtqbDzu-yi0lA2f7a-To98QU_swUNsgKeLzRhrrhVEN3xFo/s1600/5J4wBxE.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="650" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkAP2IuUU7SCI6t9JaoXFOBXlNbQBJ0H3lTje5eR7RABByHUeE1Swd8Bkuw5Ijg07sIUupLQUcqM-j8UgGuIdICvmeqP1vtqbDzu-yi0lA2f7a-To98QU_swUNsgKeLzRhrrhVEN3xFo/s400/5J4wBxE.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-10621318342449784802018-06-09T15:00:00.000-04:002018-06-09T15:00:05.647-04:00Semi Charmed Life (1997)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Third Eye Blind's song '</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Semi Charmed Life' debuted as the first single on the band's 1997 self-titled album.</span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Third Eye Blind album cover art (1997)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It quickly became one of the most well known (and most played) songs of the late 90s as it made its way up the charts peaking at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was featured in several movies including Dirty Work (1998), Wild Things (1998), American Pie (1999), and A Lot Like Love (2006). A snippet of it can also be heard in Contact (1997).</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/beINamVRGy4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/beINamVRGy4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Music Video, Semi Charmed Life (1997), YouTube</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s an upbeat catchy song right from the opening line, so much so that I can recognize the song by only 1-2 seconds being played of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo doo... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s a happy song...or is it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have you really listened to the lyrics? Read them below. You'll soon find out that it isn't a happy song after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm packed and I'm holding</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm smiling, she's living, she's golden</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She lives for me, says she lives for me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ovation, her own motivation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She comes round and she goes down on me</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I make her smile, like a drug for you</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do ever what you wanna do, coming over you</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Keep on smiling, what we go through</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One stop to the rhythm that divides you <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I speak to you like the chorus to the verse</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chop another line like a coda with a curse</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Come on like a freak show takes the stage</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We give them the games we play, she said... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want something else, to get me through this</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Semi-charmed kinda life, baby, baby</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want something else, I'm not listening when you say good-bye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo doo...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The sky was gold, it was rose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was taking sips of it through my nose</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I wish I could get back there, someplace back there</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Smiling in the pictures you would take</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Doing crystal meth, will lift you up until you break</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It won't stop, I won't come down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I keep stock with the tick-tock rhythm, I bump for the drop</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then I bumped up, I took the hit that I was given</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then I bumped again, then I bumped again</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I said... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How do I get back there, to the place where I fell asleep inside you</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How do I get myself back to the place where you said...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want something else, to get me through this</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Semi-charmed kinda life, baby, baby</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want something else, I'm not listening when you say good-bye</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I believe in the sand beneath my toes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The beach gives a feeling, an earthy feeling</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I believe in the faith that grows</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And the four right chords can make me cry</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I'm with you I feel like I could die</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And that would be alright, alright</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And when the plane came in, she said she was crashing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The velvet it rips in the city, we tripped on the urge to feel alive</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now I'm struggling to survive, those days you were wearing that velvet
dress</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You're the priestess, I must confess</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those little red panties they pass the test</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Slide up around the belly, face down on the mattress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And you hold me, and we're broken</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Still it's all that I wanna do, just a little now</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Feel myself, heading off the ground</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm scared, I'm not coming down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No, no</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I won't run for my life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She's got her jaws now, locked down in a smile</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But nothing is alright, alright<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I want something else, to get me through this life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Baby, I want something else</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not listening when you say...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye, good-bye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo doo...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The sky was gold, it was rose (Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo doo...)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was taking sips of it through my nose (Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo
doo...)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I wish I could get back there (Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo doo...)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Someplace back there, in the place we used to start (Doo doo doo, doo
doo-doo doo...)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want something else (Doo doo doo, doo doo-doo doo...)</span></div>
</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lyrics as written by Stephan Jenkins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">____________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Semi Charmed Life is the happiest sounding song you'll ever hear about doing
methamphetamine and drug addiction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-19790996323013685922018-06-05T22:06:00.002-04:002020-12-30T22:24:18.164-05:00The beat goes on...<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The US Federal government has moved to control five new synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule I controlled substances. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtZ10BnsmN8UJGMVkuUxPo4l_mGA_F2oS5HWB9NFgubhe4gxcbuDQ_duKKlEujqtDGJW95LLVF2gawaB61jSglAZYoumHHymeTiMsG9zuEtwIco8j3DahtbP5C6eReqEzyC7jAr7-Ics/s1600/SpiceInAJar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1235" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtZ10BnsmN8UJGMVkuUxPo4l_mGA_F2oS5HWB9NFgubhe4gxcbuDQ_duKKlEujqtDGJW95LLVF2gawaB61jSglAZYoumHHymeTiMsG9zuEtwIco8j3DahtbP5C6eReqEzyC7jAr7-Ics/s320/SpiceInAJar.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Synthetic cannabinoid herbal incense</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Image by Kevin G. Shanks (2015)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These newer alphabet soup synthetic cannabinoids include:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4-CN-CUMYL-BUTINACA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1-(4-cyanobutyl)-N-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5F-AB-PINACA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">N-[(1S)-1-(aminocarbonyl)-2-methylpropyl]-1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4-CN-CUMYL-BUT7AICA</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1-(4-cyanobutyl)-N-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxamide</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MMB-CHMICA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Methyl(1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1H-indole-3-carbonyl)-L-valinate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NM2201</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Napthalen-1-yl 1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylate</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwb9PO9j_ov-M2T1GXWGIoL8fx5mLnII9XeVE5PD0ZHNuXAzlsaic9df8_hQrvG9regk38tystkkCyacieZAJIWSY6qW6ONvoRMTU-av5_4XNDxdTahyphenhyphenNJSo36yAkyoAw5xLaGHqmWE/s1600/NewSCs.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZwb9PO9j_ov-M2T1GXWGIoL8fx5mLnII9XeVE5PD0ZHNuXAzlsaic9df8_hQrvG9regk38tystkkCyacieZAJIWSY6qW6ONvoRMTU-av5_4XNDxdTahyphenhyphenNJSo36yAkyoAw5xLaGHqmWE/s640/NewSCs.tif" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Chemical Structures of Newly Controlled Cannabinoids</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Drawn by Kevin G. Shanks (2018)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">With the inclusion of these five substances, the Federal government has now scheduled 38 synthetic cannabinoids since 2011. In case you want to learn more about synthetic cannabinoids, I wrote a 2.5 minute primer on them quite a while ago. It's a quick read and is still more than applicable - you can find it <a href="http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/p/what-are-synthetic-cannabinoid-receptor.html">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Also, there are many posts about these substances on this blog. Please read some of them as these are substances of extreme toxicological importance. These substances are cheap. They are used for convenience and to evade drug tests for THC. They are easy to get ahold of. Yet, they are complete pharmacological and toxicological unknowns. As I usually say, when people consume products containing synthetic cannabinoids, they are ingesting substances of unknown identification with unknown pharmacological and toxicology properties in unknown dosages in unknown combinations. It's a recipe for disaster.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">And the beat goes on...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Stay safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><strong>References</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">United States DEA (2018) Notice of Intent: Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of NM2201, 5F-AB-PINACA, 4-CN-CUMYL-BUTINACA, MMB-CHMICA, and 5F-CUMYL-P7AICA Into Schedule I.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Federal Register, Volume 83, Number 103</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><a href="https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2018/fr0530.htm">https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2018/fr0530.htm</a></span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-23736371637723755012018-04-07T10:30:00.002-04:002018-04-07T10:31:32.737-04:00CDC Warning - Vitamin K Dependent Antagonist Coagulopathy Associated With Synthetic Cannabinoid Use<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Looks like the issue has spread - which isn't all that surprising. But is frightening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCDC/bulletins/1e6dac3">warning</a> regarding the surge in severe bleeding cases associated with synthetic cannabinoid use from Illinois. From March 10 to April 5, 2018, ninety-four (94) people have presented to the hospital with severe bleeding symptoms after exposure to herbal incense/potpourri synthetic cannabinoid products. Eighty nine (89) of the cases are in Illinois, with the remaining five (5) originating in Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Wisconsin. There has been positive analytical confirmation of Brodifacoum in at least eighteen (18) individuals, with two (2) fatalities. Brodifacoum has been identified as a constituent in three (3) synthetic cannabinoid products.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Read <a href="http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html">here</a> and <a href="http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/04/update-of-outbreak-of-severe-bleeding.html">here</a> for previous my updates on this issue as well as a quick explainer as to what Brodifacoum actually is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCihIz43yHx6C2WBeJmMZlPd6BFGB9hFK04OBe-fEqiCPdgk9TpDg0LS_ToAxLJk_MsW4e6gHKT4KTX2Ea9y3tAO2spL_V2ytAerxHbHLflhS47AiPueEUMMCzEPEE_jpnV7Uv887f4Y/s1600/Brodifacoum.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCihIz43yHx6C2WBeJmMZlPd6BFGB9hFK04OBe-fEqiCPdgk9TpDg0LS_ToAxLJk_MsW4e6gHKT4KTX2Ea9y3tAO2spL_V2ytAerxHbHLflhS47AiPueEUMMCzEPEE_jpnV7Uv887f4Y/s320/Brodifacoum.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">If you are on Twitter, check out Dr. Steve Aks <a href="https://twitter.com/ERtox">(@ERtox</a>) and Cook County Medical Examiner's Office <a href="https://twitter.com/cookcountyme">(@CookCountyME</a>) for updates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">References</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Outbreak Alert: Potential Life-Threatening Vitamin K Dependent Antagonist Coagulopathy Associated With Synthetic Cannabinoid Use</span><br />
<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCDC/bulletins/1e6dac3"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCDC/bulletins/1e6dac3</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Accessed: April 7, 2018</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tainted Synthetic Pot Eyed As Cause Of Another Illinois Death As Store Owner Accused Of Selling Substance Held Without Bail</span><br />
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fake-pot-poison-cook-county-20180406-story.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fake-pot-poison-cook-county-20180406-story.html</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Accessed: April 7, 2018</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Bleeding and Coagulopathy Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Products</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html"><span style="color: #0d0d68;">https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Update of an Outbreak of Severe Bleeding Cases / Synthetic Cannabinoid Use </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/04/update-of-outbreak-of-severe-bleeding.html">http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/04/update-of-outbreak-of-severe-bleeding.html</a></span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-45333980291432905902018-04-03T15:30:00.000-04:002018-04-03T15:30:12.826-04:00Update of an Outbreak of Severe Bleeding Cases / Synthetic Cannabinoid Use<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I wrote about the other day, there was a mass outbreak of severe bleeding cases associated with synthetic cannabinoid use in Illinois during March. As of March 29, there were 22 reports of vitamin K dependent severe coagulopathy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Five days later and there have been <a href="http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/second-death-individual-who-used-synthetic-cannabinoids">56 affected individuals</a>. Symptoms include coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, and/or bleeding gums. Nine people have tested positive for the vitamin K antagonist Brodifacoum (see my last <a href="https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html">post</a> for explanation of its effects). Two people have died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Three people have been <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-store-clerks-charged-selling-synthetic-pot-laced/story?id=54197525">arrested</a> in Chicago in connection to selling some herbal incense/potpourri products that (according to police) have detectable amounts of Brodifacoum.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Dump your product if you have any. <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Stay safe out there. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">References</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Bleeding and Coagulopathy Associated with Synthetic Cannabinoid Products</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html">https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2018/03/bleeding-and-coagulopathy-associated.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Second Death of An Individual Who Used Synthetic Cannabinoids</span><br />
<a href="http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/second-death-individual-who-used-synthetic-cannabinoids"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.dph.illinois.gov/news/second-death-individual-who-used-synthetic-cannabinoids</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Accessed April 3, 2018.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3 Chicago Store Clerks Charged With Selling Synthetic Pot Laced With Rat Poison</span><br />
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-store-clerks-charged-selling-synthetic-pot-laced/story?id=54197525"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-store-clerks-charged-selling-synthetic-pot-laced/story?id=54197525</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Accessed April 3, 2018.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-10588968226236858032018-03-29T20:50:00.001-04:002018-03-29T21:08:55.790-04:00Bleeding and Coagulopathy Associated With Synthetic Cannabinoid Products<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There have been warnings out of Chicago over the last couple days regarding users of synthetic cannabinoid products experiencing abnormal bleeding issues especially from the eyes and ears. As of today (Thursday, March 29), there have been 22 reports in the Chicago area since March 7. Vitamin K dependent severe coagulopathy has been observed in several cases which is consistent with exposure to a 4-hydroxycoumarin rodenticide (superwarfarin) such as brodifacoum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fri9i3lsmSUJAxBNfWUUV-EyZF8ghRL2DmAykdkxhzvLDE0yqI-I9VYu6Fc6AMD_D1vQ_ckrYokj9Vuydz3HF_lBArtnIBGWAdfnVItjIw1h2kv7NsFEh9Vfm8UY3BolPsRN1V3yxX8/s1600/Brodifacoum.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="1600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fri9i3lsmSUJAxBNfWUUV-EyZF8ghRL2DmAykdkxhzvLDE0yqI-I9VYu6Fc6AMD_D1vQ_ckrYokj9Vuydz3HF_lBArtnIBGWAdfnVItjIw1h2kv7NsFEh9Vfm8UY3BolPsRN1V3yxX8/s320/Brodifacoum.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chemical Structure of Brodifacoum</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Drawn by Kevin G. Shanks (2018)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A substance such as Brodifacoum inhibits the action of the v<em>itamin K epoxide reductase </em>enzyme<em>.</em> This enzyme inhibition interferes with the recycling of vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K and ultimately results in a steady decrease in blood vitamin K, which is a problem, because vitamin K is a vital part of the synthesis of prothrombin (coagulation factor II). Prothrombin is involved in the blood coagulation cascade, also known as blood clotting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Low vitamin K means severely impacted blood clotting which can result in profuse bleeding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Another effect of Brodifacoum is the increase in permeability of blood capillaries, leading to internal hemorrhaging, or when blood leaks from vessels. An individual can bleed internally progressively with time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Brodifacoum is a highly lipophilic substance and has an extremely slow elimination pathway from the body. Biological half-life of the substance is 20-130 days. LD50 values for mammals are substantially less than 1.0 mg/kg. It is a potent substance with a long duration of action that can result in devastating effects in humans (and animals) - afterall, it's primary (only) use is to kill warfarin-resistant rodents (hence the class name superwarfarins).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Other superwarfarins include Bromadiolone, Coumatetralyl, Difenacoum, Flocoumafen, and Tioclomarol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is not the typical media hysteria/hyperbole that we all have grown accustomed to over the years with reporting on drugs. While no specific products have yet been implicated, my advice is that if you are a synthetic cannabinoid user (or know a user) in the Illinois area (including bordering states), discard your supply. Immediately. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Be safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">References</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Outbreak: severe coagulopathy associated with synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice)</span><br />
<a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Outbreak--Severe-coagulopathy-associated-with-Synthetic-Cannabinoids---K2-Spice--.html?soid=1100929526407&aid=_6hDV-Frs5Q"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Outbreak--Severe-coagulopathy-associated-with-Synthetic-Cannabinoids---K2-Spice--.html?soid=1100929526407&aid=_6hDV-Frs5Q</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">; Accessed March 29, 2018.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Synthetic pot warning issued after 22 people in Illinois report bleeding from eyes, ears</span><br />
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fake-weed-synthetic-cannabis-warning-20180329-story.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fake-weed-synthetic-cannabis-warning-20180329-story.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">; Accessed March 29, 2018.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Illinois health officials warn of synthetic pot after 17 people report of severe bleeding.</span><br />
<a href="http://wgntv.com/2018/03/29/illinois-heath-officials-warn-of-synthetic-pot-after-17-people-report-severe-bleeding/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://wgntv.com/2018/03/29/illinois-heath-officials-warn-of-synthetic-pot-after-17-people-report-severe-bleeding/</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">; Accessed March 29, 2018.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">IDPH issues warning about synthetic cannabinoids.</span><br />
<a href="http://dph.illinois.gov/news/idph-issues-warning-about-synthetic-cannabinoids"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://dph.illinois.gov/news/idph-issues-warning-about-synthetic-cannabinoids</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">; Accessed March 28, 2018.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-50095065776750250132018-03-09T20:39:00.000-05:002018-03-09T20:39:25.452-05:00High Impact Research from JAT<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of my papers from 2014 is listed among the "highly cited articles" in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. It involves the analytical detection of the synthetic cannabinoid 5F-PB-22 in postmortem toxicology and presentation of four deaths that were associated with its use. You can read it, along with other papers, for free at the link below. Have fun reading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jat/pages/IF_top_articles">High-Impact Research from JAT</a></span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-87495694414999319902018-02-14T12:00:00.000-05:002018-02-14T12:00:31.624-05:00Forensic Toxicology Valentines<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Valentine's Day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are a few Valentine's wishes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Roses are CO red.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Violets are cyanotic blue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let's hope you're neither already dead,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nor hypoxic too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Postmortem blood is red.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And sometimes blue,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And oftentimes green.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And maybe black too.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Decomposed liver is brown.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Decomposed liver is too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Decomposed kidney is also brown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why is everything brown?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: georgia;">Postmortem blood is red.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It may also be blue,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Though it can be black.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It smells horrible, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">MDMA and cannabis are Schedule I.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">LSD is too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do they belong?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let me ask you.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-87206093048496123732018-02-11T11:53:00.000-05:002018-02-11T11:55:36.984-05:00NERD and Rihanna - Lemon<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NERD and Rihanna’s song Lemon came across my Spotify list last night. The song came out a few months ago but this was my first time ever hearing it.<br /><br /> "Bath salt...bitin’ speakers in the face..."<br /><br /> Yes, the infamous 2012 Causeway Cannibal bath salts attack is referenced here - the <a href="https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2014/07/never-let-truth-get-in-way-of-good.html">attack </a>that was <strong>not</strong> ever shown to be “bath salt” related, not to mention even drug related at all.<br /><br /> Here’s a link to the song. It's got a nice beat. Enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-40124895970164198842018-02-09T23:30:00.003-05:002018-02-09T23:34:26.848-05:00Kratom Redux<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kratom is back in the news. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Long story short...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">During the summer of 2016, the DEA moved to place kratom (mitragynine/7-hydroxymitragynine) into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Almost immediately there was a massive outcry from advocates of the plant, as well as members of Congress, toxicologists, and physicians. I initially wrote about this <a href="https://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/2016/09/kratom-into-schedule-i.html">here</a>. In an unprecedented move, the DEA rescinded their <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/10/13/2016-24659/withdrawal-of-notice-of-intent-to-temporarily-place-mitragynine-and-7-hydroxymitragynine-into">Notice of Intent</a> in Fall 2016. In the Withdrawal, the DEA stated that they would accept public comment on the scheduling of these substances until December 1, 2016 as well as request a scientific/medical evaluation of the substances from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). During the approximate 2 month comment period, the DEA received around 20,000+ comments, with near 100% having positive comments on the plant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
T<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he FDA has now released their report on Kratom. If you want to read the 164 page document, you can find it <a href="https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/CDERFOIAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM595575.pdf">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not going to go into much here, because other folks have covered it comprehensively.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nick Wing, a senior reporter with the Huffington Post, covered the FDA report and methodically looked at the case reports where Kratom was associated with cause of death that were covered in the FDA report. You can find his article <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kratom-deaths-fda_us_5a7a3549e4b07af4e81eda8b">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dr. David Kroll at Forbes covered it as well and his excellent work can be found <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2018/02/09/fda-weaponizes-opioid-label-against-kratom-consumers/#344890b54536">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kratom researchers in academia from across the USA and Canada also penned a letter to the DEA and the White House's newly established Opioid Commission. The letter can be found <a href="https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/9ba5da_086cf409644547d9b4df864f707e0d92.pdf">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I highly recommend reading the links as they are all spot on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the DEA initially moved to schedule Kratom in summer 2016, I said the move was misguided. And farcical. And that the DEA hadn't thought it completely through. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
And after reading the FDA's report, I <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">still believe that.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-91969345896953475042018-01-30T22:52:00.001-05:002018-01-30T23:00:58.096-05:00Random Observations on the Opioid Epidemic<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stop treating substance use, dependence, and addiction as a crime.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Listen to doctors and nurses. Listen to medical professionals. Listen to toxicologists.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The answer is not always, "Make it illegal!" or "It needs to be a controlled substance."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Stop throwing drug users in jail. Get those folks who are dependent or addicted the treatment they need.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Increase access to medical treatment for drug dependence/addiction.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Expand methadone and buprenorphine maintenance treatment.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Think about the harm reduction potential of safe injection sites and clean needle programs.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Don't conflate the medical use of pharmaceutical opioids with the misuse of pharmaceutical opioids.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Recognize the need for compassionate pain management.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Legalize medical and recreational cannabis.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Naloxone should be available over the counter everywhere.</span></div>
ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-26002031795747910922018-01-28T22:33:00.000-05:002018-01-28T22:33:15.213-05:00Call for Abstracts and Speakers - MATT 2018<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This will be one of the rare times you'll see a work affiliated post on this blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm chairing the scientific program for the Midwest Association of Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (MATT) meeting. The 2018 meeting will be held in Indianapolis, IN on April 12-13th.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The meeting announcement can be found <a href="http://www.midwesttox.org/2018annualMtgSaveTheDate.pdf">here</a>. There will be more information coming very soon.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you have a toxicology topic of interest to present (either poster or oral presentation), please contact me at kshanks@axisfortox.com</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-34748864585007683882018-01-20T14:51:00.002-05:002018-01-20T14:58:09.063-05:00In the News: Tom PettyThe Los Angeles County, California Medical Examiner/Coroner's Office released Tom Petty's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/19/health/tom-petty-cause-of-death/index.html">official cause and manner of death</a> yesterday.<br />
<br />
The cause of death was "multisystem organ failure due to resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrest due to mixed drug toxicity (fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam, citalopram, acetylfentanyl, and despropionylfentanyl).<br />
<br />
Other conditions listed included coronary artery atherosclerosis and emphysema.<br />
<br />
Manner of death was accident.<br />
<br />
Tom Petty's family released a statement on social media and his personal website. The statement can be read <a href="http://www.tompetty.com/statement">here</a>.<br />
<br />
_______________________________<br />
<br />
What were the substances found in his system?<br />
<br />
Several central nervous system depressants or related substances and an antidepressant.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Fentanyl is an synthetic opioid typically prescribed as the pharmaceutical medications Duragesic (transdermal), Actiq (oral transmucosal), or Fentora (buccal). Historically, it has been used to treat breakthrough pain and is used in pre-operation procedures as an analgesic and anesthetic. Fentanyl is a <i>mu</i> opioid receptor agonist that is considered to be approximately 100-200 times as potent as morphine as an analgesic. It is metabolized to norfentanyl. The substance is also illicitly manufactured in clandestine laboratories and has been found as a very common adulterant in street heroin and counterfeit tablets over the last few years. Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance in the USA.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Oxycodone is a semisynthetic opioid that is derived from thebaine. Trade names of the pharmaceutical medication include OxyContin, OxyIR, Roxicodone, Percocet, or Endocet. It is typically used for the relief of moderate to severe pain. It functions as a <i>mu</i> opioid receptor agonist. Oxycodone is metabolized to oxymorphone and noroxycodone. Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance in the USA.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Temazepam is a benzodiazepine routinely prescribed as the brand name Restoril. Chemically, it is a 3-hydroxyl derivative of diazepam (trade name Valium). It is used for the treatment of short term insomnia. It functions as a GABA<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A</span> receptor agonist. Temazepam is metabolized to the oxazepam. Temazepam is also a metabolite of diazepam. Temazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the USA.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Alprazolam is a potent benzodiazepine prescribed as the brand name Xanax. It is typically used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Much like temazepam (and other benzodiazepines), it functions as a GABA<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A</span> receptor agonist. Alprazolam is metabolized to alpha-hydroxyalprazolam. Alprazolam is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the USA.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Citalopram is a drug prescribed as an antidepressant under the brand name Celexa. It functions as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and is approved for treatment of major depressive disorder and is prescribed off-label for a multitude of other conditions including anxiety and panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. From a chemistry standpoint, citalopram is sold as a racemic mixture of the <i>R</i> and <i>S</i> enantiomers, with the <i>S</i> enantiomer having an antidepressant effect. A medication named Lexapro is sold as only the <i>S</i> enantiomer otherwise known as escitalopram. Citalopram is metabolized to desmethylcitalopram and didesmethylcitalopram. Citalopram is not a controlled substance, but is only available via prescription.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Acetylfentanyl is a synthetic fentanyl derivative that is considered to be about fifteen times more potent than morphine as an analgesic. It is not available as a prescription medication and is a true designer/research chemical substance. It functions as a <i>mu</i> opioid receptor agonist, much like fentanyl and oxycodone. Chemically, acetylfentanyl differs from fentanyl by a replacement of the propionyl group with an acetyl group. Acetylfentanyl has been found in the USA since 2013 and has been detected in street heroin and counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets. It was made a Schedule I controlled substance in the USA in 2015.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Despropionylfentanyl is also known as 4-ANPP. It is a very minor metabolite of fentanyl and is a precursor in the illicit (non-pharmaceutical) synthesis of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and related fentanyl analogs. The substance itself has very little pharmacological activity, but its presence in the human body can be used to aid in determining the source of fentanyl used, e.g. consumption of pharmaceutical fentanyl vs. ingestion of illicitly manufactured fentanyl.</blockquote>
My thoughts?<br />
<br />
I won't give many thoughts because I am not privy to the case specifics. I do not know all the details. The only people that know the details are those who investigated his death and formulated the final autopsy report and cause of death certification. Any general comments I make are speculative in nature, but are based on my knowledge and experience in the field.<br />
<br />
From a general forensic toxicology standpoint, the real takeaway is that this is a dangerous combination of substances to use concurrently. He was consuming two powerful opioid and two potent benzodiazepines which when used together can create synergistic effects and exaggerated central nervous system depression. Add that situation to an already compromised cardiovascular and respiratory system, and it's a recipe for disaster. For my own information, I would love to see the full toxicology report with quantitative measures of drug, etc. How much fentanyl was present? How much temazepam and alprazolam were detected? Not that any of that really matters though.<br />
<br />
With the detection of acetylfentanyl and despropionylfentanyl, it <i>seems</i> as if Tom Petty was supplementing his pharmaceutical medications with illicitly manufactured substances. Acetylfentanyl is not a pharmaceutical medication anywhere in the world and is only found as a designer opioid/analog meant to skirt the controlled substances act in the USA. Fentanyl does not metabolize to acetylfentanyl. As despropionylfentanyl is a precursor/intermediate used in the illicit (non-pharmaceutical) synthesis of fentanyl, it generally used as a marker for exposure to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. The presence of this substance has also been associated with the use of various fentanyl analogs including acetylfentanyl, acrylfentanyl, and furanylfentanyl. No one knows if the use of illicit opioid was intentional or not. Remember the situation surrounding Prince's <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2016/08/22/princes-death-from-fentanyl-may-have-been-due-to-counterfeit-generic-drugs/#3fcd56812b17">death</a>. Multiple pills were found in his residence that looked like pharmaceutical hydrocodone/acetaminophen but turned out to be counterfeit tablets containing fentanyl and the opioid research chemical U-47700.<br />
<br />
As a conclusion, I'll say, please do not mix depressant drugs. Do not mix opioids with benzodiazepines. Do not mix either of them with ethanol. Stay safe, folks.<br />
<br />
Addendum:<br />
<br />
I just saw that the great Dr. David Kroll wrote an article on this matter over at Forbes. Go read his work <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2018/01/19/heartbreaker-tom-petty-died-from-an-accidental-overdose-of-medical-opioids/#7da965b171e4">here</a>. He is one of the best writers on these sorts of topics.ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-65324109188326201012018-01-03T21:50:00.001-05:002018-01-03T22:02:17.737-05:00Always confirm presumptive results. Always.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baltimore police raided a grocery store at the beginning of </span><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-store-raid-folo-20171206-story.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">December 2017</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and seized 13.2 pounds of what they suspected was morphine and 16.5 pounds of what they suspected was fentanyl. Two individuals faced distribution of fentanyl and other related drug charges and then were held in jail without bail. Other items seized were vials, containers, tubes, capsules, and plastic bags.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Turns out that the drugs were neither morphine nor fentanyl. As reported by the </span><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-fentanyl-charges-dropped-20180103-story.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Baltimore Sun</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, charges have been dropped in the case as the substances were not identified by the crime laboratory as morphine or fentanyl or illicit drugs or controlled substances. The story seems to still be developing and as reported, the police say they will provide more information Thursday (1/4/2018) as to the substance's identity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thoughts?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, I'm not sure in this case if presumptive field tests were used, but this is a good reminder to always confirm presumptive results prior to making any medical or legal decision. Field tests, color tests, reagent tests, point of care device tests, dipstick tests, laboratory immunoassay tests, and other similar tests are considered presumptive in nature. They are prone to false positive results (and false negative results too). Care must be taken in interpreting a presumptive test and if any important decision is to be made using the result, the result must be confirmed via an alternate more specific confirmatory method such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which is not prone to false positives (or negatives).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, as to what the substance was? Maybe one of the many fentanyl analogs or designer opioids available in the wild these days? That's complete speculation, but if it was an analog, I wouldn't expect the police to drop charges. Maybe flour or sugar? Or some baking powder? This was a corner shop/grocery store after all. Who knows what the substance was. I guess we'll find out when the police let us know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay tuned on this one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">In case you want to read about false positive results for amphetamines by a presumptive immunoassay test, read <a href="http://dosemakespoison.blogspot.com/p/a-little-dittyabout-immunoassays.html">this</a> (a little ditty...about immunoassays).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>References</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-store-raid-folo-20171206-story.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-store-raid-folo-20171206-story.html</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-fentanyl-charges-dropped-20180103-story.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-fentanyl-charges-dropped-20180103-story.html</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-68066023035060978502017-12-13T16:00:00.000-05:002017-12-13T16:00:18.827-05:00More Opioids Scheduled in the USA...<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The United
States Federal government filed a Notice of Intent today to schedule the
following seven fentanyl analog compounds:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cyclopentylfentanyl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isobutyrylfentanyl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ocfentanil</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Parachloroisobutyrylfentanyl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Paramethoxybutyrylfentanyl</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Valerylfentanyl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Interestingly,
Isobutyrylfentanyl was technically already covered as a controlled substance as
the government had previously controlled Butyrylfentanyl (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and its isomers</i>) in March 2016. Also, Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl was
technically covered as the government had previously controlled
Parafluoroisobuyrylfentanyl (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and its
isomers</i>) in March 2017. Maybe this is another sign by the Government that
the Analogue Enforcement Act is neither effective nor efficient in its purpose?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Also
published was a Final Order to control the opioid research chemical MT-45. It seems that
the government skipped filing a Notice of Intent and went directly to Final
Order on this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB5RxYwLeEW2NAyCKg7fC52mgI9K0mI3IiNbRVk-xGFxCeGidAZAbsfz86E4AUMdZLO8YcEAFd2FBCXW0QTh6FeVvaww398KmzmriFjnBgIq50rCcCTRCfJFFMkNbKUSRNl5BcGZNatQ/s1600/168055-004-9B029E10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB5RxYwLeEW2NAyCKg7fC52mgI9K0mI3IiNbRVk-xGFxCeGidAZAbsfz86E4AUMdZLO8YcEAFd2FBCXW0QTh6FeVvaww398KmzmriFjnBgIq50rCcCTRCfJFFMkNbKUSRNl5BcGZNatQ/s320/168055-004-9B029E10.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8pt;">Heracles vs. the Hydra. Southern entrance to the
Hofburg,Vienna, Austria.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8pt;">Image from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hydra-Greek-mythology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
brings the list up to 20 total fentanyl analogs and designer opioids scheduled
by the Federal government since 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2015:
Acetylfentanyl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2016: AH-7921, Betahydroxythiofentanyl,
Butyrylfentanyl, Furanylfentanyl, U47700<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2017: Acrylfentanyl, Cyclopentylfentanyl,
Cyclopropylfentanyl, Isobutyrylfentanyl, Methoxyacetylfentanyl, MT-45, Ocfentanil,
Orthofluorofentanyl, Parachloroisobutyrylfentanyl, Parafluorobutyrylfentanyl,
Parafluoroisobutyrylfentanyl, Paramethoxybutyrylfentanyl, Tetrahydrofuranylfentanyl,
Valerylfentanyl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It is
quite alarming to see that the number of compounds scheduled has rapidly
increased each year since the initial scheduling of Acetylfentanyl in 2015.
Also, don’t forget that the other major fentanyl derivative that has caused
many intoxications and deaths in the USA, Carfentanil, is already Schedule II.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Novel
psychoactive substances (NPS) are like the mythological Hydra. Sever one head,
and two more sprout from the wound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">References<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Schedules
of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of Seven Fentanyl-Related
Substances in Schedule I. 21 CFR Part 1308, Docket No. DEA-475, Federal
Register Volume 82, Number 238 (December 13, 2017) <a href="https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2017/fr1213_2.htm"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2017/fr1213_2.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Schedules
of Controlled Substances: Placement of MT-45 into Schedule I. 21 CFR Part 1308,
Docket No. DEA-451, Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (December 13, 2017)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><a href="https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2017/fr1213_3.htm"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2017/fr1213_3.htm</span></a></span></div>
ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-59242151499207925352017-12-10T19:20:00.002-05:002017-12-10T19:20:28.915-05:00Cyanide: A 2 Minute Primer<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Slobodan
Praljak, formerly a general in the Croatian Army and Croatian Defense Council,
was convicted of crimes against humanity and violations of war/Geneva
Convention during the Croat-Bosniak War (1992-1995). He received a 20-year
prison sentence in 2013. At an appeals hearing in The Hague on November 29,
2017, and upon hearing that his conviction would be upheld, Praljak spoke,
“Judges, Slobodan Praljak is not a war criminal. With disdain, I reject your
verdict!” He then drank from a small bottle and said, “What I am drinking now
is poison.” The judge stopped the hearing and medical professionals were
summoned. He died a short while later.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLi5gckK4c2v8RtmTEp4NsIh-GpBdikLU0bxLS_JiDxacovw6sH7ABoJOqujxHogZ5GaOCx703ZdFpiRorPY3GL0jgw6l7iFMGot67BjAgg8WqPOfLZoizgHqbUE7P8RFnXIiTdsoYlw/s1600/Praljak.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1153" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLi5gckK4c2v8RtmTEp4NsIh-GpBdikLU0bxLS_JiDxacovw6sH7ABoJOqujxHogZ5GaOCx703ZdFpiRorPY3GL0jgw6l7iFMGot67BjAgg8WqPOfLZoizgHqbUE7P8RFnXIiTdsoYlw/s640/Praljak.tif" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image of
Slobodan Praljak in the act of drinking a vial of liquid during his appeals
hearing at The Hague on November 29, 2017. </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image source:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="https://cdn.journalpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Slobodan-Praljak.jpg"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">https://cdn.journalpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Slobodan-Praljak.jpg</span></span></a></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">It has now been
reported by Dutch officials that Slobodan Praljak committed suicide by drinking
cyanide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">What is cyanide?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Cyanide, also
known as hydrocyanic acid, has a molecular formula HCN and its molecular weight
is 27.03 g/mol. HCN’s boiling point is 25.6°C (78.1°F). Hydrogen cyanide was
first isolated from the pigment Prussian blue; hence another alternative name is
prussic acid. In the 1800s, cyanide was given its modern name from the English
word cyan, which means a shade of blue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hydrogen cyanide and its potassium and sodium
salts have been used as fumigants, insecticides, metal polishes, and in
gold/silver electroplating solutions. Cyanide vapor can be detected by a
characteristic almond odor, but it is estimated that up to approximately 50% of
the human population cannot detect this odor due to a recessive genetic trait.
Cyanide can be found in trace levels in the human body as a result of normal
metabolic processes, as well as from eating a diet high in cyanogenic
foodstuffs (e.g. apples, apricots, bitter almonds, and cherries) and smoking
cigarettes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJICsyGgG56By6gpE-eOr1_jYpTUwZ9GOzMFVMSVKn4UY00Xvj7FelmuKIlWhYJT887a1ZKoNVzZLmVNWAYgBAc4ZXSzkjI6460sZk2ZiDfT7KlB98smvu_QmoInJ-AMIjXKwi5sXAB9c/s1600/Cyanide.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="494" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJICsyGgG56By6gpE-eOr1_jYpTUwZ9GOzMFVMSVKn4UY00Xvj7FelmuKIlWhYJT887a1ZKoNVzZLmVNWAYgBAc4ZXSzkjI6460sZk2ZiDfT7KlB98smvu_QmoInJ-AMIjXKwi5sXAB9c/s320/Cyanide.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 8pt;">Chemical structure of Hydrogen Cyanide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 8pt;">Structure drawn by Kevin G. Shanks (2017)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">What does cyanide do to the body?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Cyanide inhibits
cellular respiration by binding to the iron atom in the cytochrome c oxidase
enzyme, an enzyme involved in the last step of the mitochondrial electron
transport chain. Normally, during this step, molecular oxygen is converted into
water. This inhibition causes oxidative phosphorylation to halt and the Kreb’s
cycle is disrupted. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cannot be produced by the
mitochondria. Pyruvic acid, formed during glycolysis, accumulates and is
modified anaerobically to lactic acid. Lactic acid buildup causes metabolic acidosis.
Oxygen also builds up in tissue and alters the gradient for oxygen release from
hemoglobin, which produces cellular hypoxia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The onset of
symptoms of cyanide poisoning is dependent on the route of
exposure/administration. Hydrogen cyanide vapor is rapidly absorbed through
inhalation. Potassium and sodium cyanide salts are more easily absorbed via
oral ingestion, but are absorbed at lower rates and if ingested orally, they
are converted to hydrogen cyanide via gastric acids. The lethal dose of hydrogen
cyanide has been estimated to be 100 mg while sodium/potassium cyanide’s lethal
dose has been estimated to be 200-300 mg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Acute
intoxication symptoms of cyanide poisoning are central nervous system
stimulation, headache, dizziness, tachycardia, shortness of breath, rapid
breathing, and vomiting. Other symptoms that may occur after initial
intoxication include seizure, bradycardia, hypotension, coma, and cardiac arrest.
Chronic administration of cyanide can lead to abnormalities of vitamin B12,
folate, and thyroid function as well as severe longer-term neurological issues.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">What does the body do to cyanide?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Cyanide is biotransformed
to thiocyanate by the hepatic enzymes rhodanese and
beta-mercaptopyruvate-cyanide sulfurtransferase. Thiocyanate is then excreted
into the urine. Other metabolic pathways include trapping of cyanide by
hydroxocobalamin via formation of vitamin B12, oxidation to formic acid and
carbon dioxide, and pulmonary excretion of unchanged substance. The elimination
half-life of cyanide in whole blood is reported as 0.7-2.1 hours. Volume of
distribution is 0.4 L/kg.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Has it been used as a historical poison?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Because of its
ease of use and toxicity, cyanide has appeared throughout history regularly as
a poison, in warfare, suicides, and homicides. Some of the most well-known modern
cases are:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">It is rumored
that cyanide played a role in Grigori Rasputin’s assassination in 1916. He was
allegedly given cyanide-laced cakes and Madeira wine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Hydrogen
cyanide, as the pesticide Zyklon B, was used in gas chambers to murder people
in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In the 1940s,
Erwin Rommel, Eva Braun, and Heinrich Himmler all committed suicide by cyanide
liquid ingestion. The six children of Joseph Goebbels were murdered by being
injected with morphine by Helmut Kunz, an SS dentist, and administered cyanide Ludwig
Stumpfegger, Adolf Hitler’s personal doctor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In 1974, Ronald
Clark O’Bryan gave potassium cyanide laced Pixie Stix to his son, daughter, and
three other children. The son ate the candy, while none of the other children
did. The boy died. During the police investigation it was determined that the
boy had a life insurance policy on him worth a very large amount of money. The
father was convicted of murder in 1975 and was executed via lethal injection in
1984.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In 1978, in
Jonestown, Guyana, 907 people died in a mass suicide event lead by Jim Jones.
Cyanide, alongside diazepam, chloral hydrate, and promethazine, was consumed
via a grape flavored beverage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In 1982, seven
people died from a series of drug tampering cases in Chicago, Illinois. Tylenol
brand acetaminophen had been laced with potassium cyanide by an unknown person.
Several more deaths occurred in copycat crimes. No one was ever convicted of
these homicides.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In 1988, Stella
Nickel was convicted of murdering her husband and another woman with
cyanide-laced Excedrin tablets. She received a 90 year prison sentence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Cyanide has also
been used in capital punishment in the United States, with the last gas chamber
execution via cyanide occurring in Arizona in 1999. It still remains an option
for capital punishment in six states.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In 2012, Wall
Street trader Michael Marin consumed a cyanide tablet while in the courtroom shortly
after a guilty verdict for arson was rendered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In 2015, John
McLemore committed suicide using potassium cyanide. He was currently recording
a narrative for the investigative journalism podcast S-Town.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Conclusion</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Cyanide is a
rapidly acting substance that causes death via disruption of cellular
respiration and results in hypoxia and cardiac arrest. It is found as hydrogen
cyanide or as potassium or sodium salts. It has been effectively used
throughout history as an agent to murder people and has been implicated in
suicides<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">References</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Bosnian war
criminal dies after swallowing poison in court. CNN. November 30, 2017. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/29/europe/slobodan-praljak-hague-sentencing/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/29/europe/slobodan-praljak-hague-sentencing/index.html</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Slobodan Praljak
died after taking cyanide in court. Al Jazeera. December 2, 2017. <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/slobodan-praljak-died-cyanide-court-171202171937067.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/slobodan-praljak-died-cyanide-court-171202171937067.html</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><a href="https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuwsberichten/@101280/voorlopige/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.om.nl/actueel/nieuwsberichten/@101280/voorlopige/</span></a>.
Translated from Dutch to English via Google Translate. 12/03/2017.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baselt, R. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cyanide</i>.
Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. Eleventh Edition. Biomedical
Publications: Seal Beach, CA, 536-539 (2017).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Principles of Forensic Toxicology. Fourth Edition. Barry
Levine. AACC, Inc. (2017).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Poisoned, shot,
and beaten: why cyanide along may have failed to kill Rasputin. The Guardian.
January 13, 2017. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2017/jan/13/poisoned-shot-and-beaten-why-cyanide-may-have-failed-to-kill-rasputin"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2017/jan/13/poisoned-shot-and-beaten-why-cyanide-may-have-failed-to-kill-rasputin</span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The Holocaust: A
Learning Site for Students, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. <a href="https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007714"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007714</span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Candy Man’s
legacy still haunting today. Chron. October 30, 2003. <a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Candy-Man-s-legacy-still-haunting-today-9774087.php"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Candy-Man-s-legacy-still-haunting-today-9774087.php</span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Jones plotted
cyanide deaths years before Jonestown. CNN. November 12, 2008. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/12/jonestown.cyanide/index.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/12/jonestown.cyanide/index.html</span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">How the Tylenol
murders of 1982 changed the way we consume medication. PBS. September 24, 2014.
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/tylenol-murders-1982"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/tylenol-murders-1982</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Bitter Pill: A
Wife on Trial. CBS News: 48 Hours, 2001. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bitter-pill-a-wife-on-trial/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bitter-pill-a-wife-on-trial/</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Michael Marin,
former Wall Street trader, took cyanide after arson conviction, says autopsy.
CBS News. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>July 27, 2012. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-marin-former-wall-street-trader-took-cyanide-after-arson-conviction-says-autopsy/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-marin-former-wall-street-trader-took-cyanide-after-arson-conviction-says-autopsy/</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Woodstock man at
the center<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of “S-Town” podcast .
Tuscaloosa News. March 28, 2017. <a href="http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20170328/woodstock-man-at-center-of-s-town-podcast"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20170328/woodstock-man-at-center-of-s-town-podcast</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Methods of
Execution. Death Penalty Information Center. <a href="https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/methods-execution"><span style="color: blue;">https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/methods-execution</span></a></span></div>
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ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-19943078002391593862017-10-26T22:56:00.002-04:002017-10-26T22:56:36.728-04:00Tales of (Un)Poisoned Halloween Candy<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's Halloween time and stories are starting to emerge (again...groan) about drugs being given out in Halloween candy or candy being poisoned and handed out to the kiddos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Headlines like this...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZUySNrrOFcNfIdv6If7lgjszzfOyk02p-2KQ4nRDBQFDdp0P2dYAY5iqEDo0KSVQ3AYWb_9CqOxGshRrmHHgs_yn7bjX0HcJTrrmXFmlO1SqftFHdk27dvWW2Q32RotUghPMoPYwnrI/s1600/HalloweenCandyDrugs01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="117" data-original-width="1151" height="32" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZUySNrrOFcNfIdv6If7lgjszzfOyk02p-2KQ4nRDBQFDdp0P2dYAY5iqEDo0KSVQ3AYWb_9CqOxGshRrmHHgs_yn7bjX0HcJTrrmXFmlO1SqftFHdk27dvWW2Q32RotUghPMoPYwnrI/s320/HalloweenCandyDrugs01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.littlethings.com/halloween-candy-drugs-beware/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.littlethings.com/halloween-candy-drugs-beware/</span></a></div>
<br />
Or...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny_9Z78eaosYVotp031gZbCyb2IxLfPKiqn0tD3YwhJJbo1FSKv3WlQ-OFYuGQdk4GemPgJZjuVUK994MS22mjcRRkNX4VPpy6Pb2bHNx2sBm_8IJpYDKYD8YJlOEv_hZh8UxjRJAKxY/s1600/HalloweenCandyDrugs02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="838" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjny_9Z78eaosYVotp031gZbCyb2IxLfPKiqn0tD3YwhJJbo1FSKv3WlQ-OFYuGQdk4GemPgJZjuVUK994MS22mjcRRkNX4VPpy6Pb2bHNx2sBm_8IJpYDKYD8YJlOEv_hZh8UxjRJAKxY/s400/HalloweenCandyDrugs02.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fox5dc.com/news/national/police-warn-of-drug-that-resembles-halloween-candy"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.fox5dc.com/news/national/police-warn-of-drug-that-resembles-halloween-candy</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Or...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WCbLefwLoYDdw1xaBpAVrE4dti46FjzXJ1oMP6MsAL2uchEhaFxIMH8vnHEDwI0peY2z997kHcyBMvKRzGlh95Dzuo2XSHMyDrUiqyAdaDM3Szcw6gtEpv8eLATdl-MKa6Yeem9tIcU/s1600/HalloweenCandyDrugs03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="1094" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WCbLefwLoYDdw1xaBpAVrE4dti46FjzXJ1oMP6MsAL2uchEhaFxIMH8vnHEDwI0peY2z997kHcyBMvKRzGlh95Dzuo2XSHMyDrUiqyAdaDM3Szcw6gtEpv8eLATdl-MKa6Yeem9tIcU/s400/HalloweenCandyDrugs03.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wreg.com/2015/10/07/parents-concerned-ecstasy-could-be-disguised-as-halloween-candy/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://wreg.com/2015/10/07/parents-concerned-ecstasy-could-be-disguised-as-halloween-candy/</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">L<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">et me just stop you right there and right now.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Folks are <strong>not</strong> giving out drugs in Halloween candy. They are <strong>not</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Drugs are expensive. <strong>No one</strong> is giving away that stuff. <strong>No one</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's true that drugs can be made to look like candy. Especially marijuana/THC infused edibles. They can look like this...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn7T6WjxTJrAg-JxKznm-R8tHjQDDir3WDuAF3Ce-Pcbj70tVGVEj4DB057CEsLfaMt5yu11Qo6cX8ug_WVRFYwtolD0jk3Fimjj2MNl_BPwj8AGF9_4nPIoBRB0sU6IxB6S0sXty4JQ/s1600/Marijuana_Edibles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn7T6WjxTJrAg-JxKznm-R8tHjQDDir3WDuAF3Ce-Pcbj70tVGVEj4DB057CEsLfaMt5yu11Qo6cX8ug_WVRFYwtolD0jk3Fimjj2MNl_BPwj8AGF9_4nPIoBRB0sU6IxB6S0sXty4JQ/s320/Marijuana_Edibles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/parents-beware-those-gummy-bears-your-child-s-halloween-bag-could-be-edible"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/parents-beware-those-gummy-bears-your-child-s-halloween-bag-could-be-edible</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cute and tasty looking gummy bears! Though each of those bears contains 10 mg of THC, the main psychoactive substance found in cannabis/marijuana. Let me be quite clear again...<strong>no one</strong> is giving these out for free. Edibles are damned expensive. And hard to come by in certain locales. <strong>No one</strong> is giving them out to random children for free.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And of course, Ecstasy tablets look like candy...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN_jEB1KIQ0NUyCMb18qXaxmXCJAPiaDYRtSBxxyqc_ciUnOT8oBfksyNzu5gz3zafhEkGNY4n6Ikozf51nVLkeJSBzoer7faZzoW-nLXqLKCZGGIBdEEGFddUE1EIWVgiQb7KkIp538/s1600/ecstasy-tablets-ravejungle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="862" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTN_jEB1KIQ0NUyCMb18qXaxmXCJAPiaDYRtSBxxyqc_ciUnOT8oBfksyNzu5gz3zafhEkGNY4n6Ikozf51nVLkeJSBzoer7faZzoW-nLXqLKCZGGIBdEEGFddUE1EIWVgiQb7KkIp538/s320/ecstasy-tablets-ravejungle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ravejungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ecstasy-tablets-ravejungle.jpg"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.ravejungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ecstasy-tablets-ravejungle.jpg</span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But Ecstasy is expensive. Drug dealers are <strong>not </strong>just going to give up tablets for free. It makes no sense to think this does happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These headlines pop up every year just before Halloween, but did you know that there has <strong>never</strong> been a single documented case where someone was randomly handing out drugs in Halloween candy or poisoned-laced loot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>None. Zero. Nil. Nada. Zilch</strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's an urban legend. A myth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Now, let's not confuse this with homicide/murder during Halloween times and then blaming it on the "candy was poisoned" myth.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In 1970,<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/07/archives/candy-suspected-in-death-of-boy-5.html"> a 5 year old child in Michigan</a> ate some Halloween candy and died a few days later. Toxicology showed the death was from a heroin overdose. The Halloween candy was analyzed by the lab and heroin was found. The police investigation concluded that the child found a family member's drug stash and consumed some of it. To cover up the death and the family member's involvement, family concocted a scheme to contaminate the Halloween candy with heroin after the boy's death.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In 1974, <a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Candy-Man-s-legacy-still-haunting-today-9774087.php">a Texas father</a> gave potassium cyanide laced Pixie Stix to his son and daughter and three other children. The son ate the candy, while none of the other children did. The boy died. During the police investigation it was determined that the boy had a life insurance policy on him worth a very large amount of money. The father used the poisoned Halloween candy myth (the legend was around back then too) as cover for his plot to kill the boy and collect the life insurance. The father was convicted of murder in 1975 and was executed via lethal injection in 1984.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There have been countless other drugs in Halloween candy scares across the USA since the 1970s and upon investigation, each one has proven to be untrue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, please, go ahead and eat your Halloween candy loot this year without drug worries.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">Happy Halloween!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>References</strong></span><br />
<br />
Candy suspected in death of boy, 5 - 1970<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/07/archives/candy-suspected-in-death-of-boy-5.html">http://www.nytimes.com/1970/11/07/archives/candy-suspected-in-death-of-boy-5.html</a><br />
<br />
Candy Man's legacy still haunting today - 2003<br />
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Candy-Man-s-legacy-still-haunting-today-9774087.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Candy-Man-s-legacy-still-haunting-today-9774087.php</a><br />
<br />
<br />
</span><br />ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-72481211074180303582017-10-02T19:58:00.002-04:002017-10-03T17:51:42.720-04:00Girl on LSD<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is being reported that Tom Petty is in critical condition on life support after being found in cardiac arrest. Some outlets have reported he has passed. I have grown up listening to Petty's music - through high school and college and into adulthood. His music has been a huge part of my music listening life. So many good songs. So many good associations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His most beautiful song? Wildflowers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Best song to drive to? You Wreck Me and Runnin' Down A Dream. Preferably played back to back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the first songs I knew all the words to? Free Fallin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Biggest song memory in junior high/high school? You Don't Know How It Feels</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Song that makes me think about life? Learning to Fly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Coolest music video? Don't Come Around Here No More - I'm a sucker for Alice in Wonderland themes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Song I can't help but sing no matter where I am? Mary Jane's Last Dance, always thought it was neat that it mentioned Indiana, then found out later it was originally titled Indiana Girl and thought that was even more awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But the song I'll never forget is the one song that never made it to an album because it was deemed too controversial at the time by record execs, but was the B side on the 1994 single release of You Don't Know How It Feels...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Girl on LSD.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q-gyHzqKZRU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-gyHzqKZRU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Such a great song from a drug and toxicology perspective.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Marijuana.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cocaine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Crystal meth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Glue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ecstasy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">China White (aka heroin).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Caffeine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Give it a listen. And while you're at it, smile and throw some good thoughts out there. The world needs some positivity these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Update: Tom Petty has passed on. The Rock Band In The Sky added one more member.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-72707324886729208742017-09-23T16:13:00.000-04:002017-09-23T16:16:44.260-04:00Toxicology of Designer Drugs (Lecture 3, Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogs, and Designer Opioids)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The third installment of Toxicology of Designer Drugs focused on the emergence of fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and other designer opioids in modern street heroin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The outline of topics for this lecture included:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogs, and Designer Opioids</span></strong></span><br />
<ul><ul><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sliding scale of harm</span></span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><ul><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Water</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SSRI antidepressants</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Benzodiazepines</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tricyclic antidepressants</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Barbiturates</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opiates / Opioids
</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opioid Deaths in the USA (Pre-2014/2015)</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><ul><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2000 - 2014 data</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opioid analgesic deaths continue to rise</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Surge in deaths, two trends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Double trouble: heroin and fentanyl</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Heroin</span></li>
<ul><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">History</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chemistry</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pharmacology</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Metabolism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Forms of the product</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">NFLIS data, 2001 - 2016</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fentanyl</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">History</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chemistry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pharmacology</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Metabolism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Forms of the product (licit vs. illicit)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Death of Prince</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NFLIS data, 2001 - 2015</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NFLIS data, 2013 - 2015</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NFLIS data, 2016</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NY Times report on trends in US overdose deaths, 2017</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fentanyl Analogs</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are they? Where do they come from?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How many compounds exist?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DEA scheduling actions, 2015 - 2017</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DEA Emerging Threats Reports, 2017</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Overdoses, hospitalizations, and reported deaths in media</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Analyte Specific Looks</span></li>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3-methylfentanyl (cis/trans)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Acetylfentanyl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Furanylfentanyl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Acrylfentanyl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carfentanil</span></li>
</ol>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Designer Opioids</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Opioid research chemicals</span></li>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">U47700</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Death of Prince</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">AH7921</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">MT-45</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Analytical Methods</span></li>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><ul><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Method development</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Method validation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Organic extraction</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instrumental analysis via LC-MS/MS</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prevalence</span></li>
<ul><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What drugs have been detected?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How prevalent are they?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What locations are they found?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Special look at Carfentanil detections</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Postmortem Case Studies</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Case 1 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Case 2 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Case 3 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Case 4 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Case 5
(Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Case 6 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Case 7 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Case 8 (Information Withheld)</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Testing for Fentanyl Analogs and Designer Opioids vs. A Fishing Expedition</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Conclusions</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-68160027026254243882017-09-23T15:34:00.003-04:002017-09-23T15:39:49.416-04:00Toxicology of Designer Drugs (Lecture 2, A Brief History of Designer Drugs)<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is the next installment of my Toxicology of Designer Drugs class - this lecture focused on a high level look at the timeline of designer drugs in the USA.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>A Brief History of Designer Drugs</strong></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">1960s and 1970s</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">LSD</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Mescaline</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">DOM (STP)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">PCP / TCP / PCE</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">1980s</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Fentanyl derivatives (China White)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">MDMA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">MPPP / MPTP</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Methamphetamine / Methcathinone / 4-methylaminorex</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">1990s</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Anabolic steroids</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Research chemicals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">The 2C family and PiHKAL / TiHKAL </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">2000s and 2010s</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Cathinones and designer stimulants</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Synthetic cannabinoids</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Analogs of sildenafil / herbal supplements</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Designer opioids / fentanyl analogs</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Benzodiazepine derivatives</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">NBOMes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Methoxetamine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Nootropics</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-1644992826936103412017-09-23T15:32:00.002-04:002017-09-23T15:32:38.855-04:00Toxicology of Designer Drugs (Lecture 1, Introduction to Forensic Toxicology)<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm teaching a toxicology of designer drugs course at <a href="https://www.iupui.edu/">IUPUI</a> this fall via the <a href="http://forensic.iupui.edu/">Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The outline of topics for the first lecture included:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><strong>Introduction to Forensic Toxicology</strong></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";">The Realms of Forensic Toxicology</span></span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Human Performance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Postmortem</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Drug Facilitated Crimes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Urine Drug Testing</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">The Role of the Forensic Toxicologist</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Analyze specimens</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Analytical instrumentation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Develop and validate testing methods</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Case review and release</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Results interpretation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Education</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Expert and fact witness courtroom testimony</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Research, publish, and present</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Autopsy and <span style="font-family: "georgia";">Toxicology Specimens</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Blood</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Urine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Vitreous Humor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Tissues</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Bile</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Gastric contents</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Alternative matrices</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Toxicological Terms</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Pharmacokinetics</span></li>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Dose</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Dosing interval</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">CMax</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">TMax</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">CMin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Volume of distribution</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Concentration</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Elimination half life</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Elimination rate constant</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Bioavailability</span></li>
</ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Pharmacodynamics</span></li>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Onset vs. Duration of action</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Receptor agonism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Receptor antagonism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Receptor inverse agonism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Catecholamines / Neurotransmitters</span></li>
</ol>
<ul><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Serotonin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Norepinephrine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Dopamine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Histamine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Acetylcholine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia";">GABA</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-23190947111219159262017-09-23T15:00:00.000-04:002017-09-25T09:19:17.984-04:00Forensic and Investigative Sciences (FIS) Program Seminar Series - 2017<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm thrilled to be giving a talk today in the <a href="http://www.iupui.edu/">Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis</a> (IUPUI) Forensic and Investigative Sciences (FIS) Program Seminar Series at 3:30 pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The title of the talk is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">"Not Your Father's Heroin: Forensic Toxicology in the Age of Fentanyl and Fentalogs"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">While you're reading this, why not pop into IUPUI's FIS Program <a href="http://forensic.iupui.edu/">website</a> and have a look around? They've got some really cool things happening.</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470917975121522808.post-19336167617805766762017-09-19T17:33:00.000-04:002017-09-19T17:33:16.093-04:00Visited Purdue University Today<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I visited <a href="http://www.purdue.edu/hhs/psy/directory/faculty/Swithers_Susan.html">Dr. Susie Swithers'</a> Drugs and Behavior class at <a href="http://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a> today and introduced the students to forensic toxicology. Had some good interactions with the students. I have fun with things like this - love outreach and education.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia";">While you're reading this, why not peruse Purdue's <a href="http://www.purdue.edu/hhs/psy/index.html">Psychological Sciences</a> website and learn something new?</span>ForensicToxGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03954762395883955756noreply@blogger.com1