DEA DEA Drug Chemistry and Identification 3

Question 1

What is the Scott test used to presumptively identify in DEA field operations?

Accepted Answer

Cocaine

Answer

The Scott test uses cobalt thiocyanate reagent that turns blue in the presence of cocaine hydrochloride, providing a field presumptive identification.

Question 2

Which Schedule I drug is derived from the Papaver somniferum plant?

Accepted Answer

Opium and heroin

Answer

The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source of opium, morphine, and by further processing, heroin — all subject to DEA scheduling and control.

Question 3

What are 'designer drugs' or 'novel psychoactive substances (NPS)' as encountered by DEA?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic compounds designed to mimic scheduled drugs while evading existing chemical controls

Answer

NPS are chemically modified substances created to replicate the effects of scheduled drugs while technically not yet being controlled, requiring DEA to use emergency scheduling authority.

Question 4

Xylazine ('tranq') is significant in current DEA enforcement because it is:

Accepted Answer

A veterinary sedative increasingly mixed with illicit fentanyl that is not reversed by naloxone

Answer

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer not controlled under the CSA that is mixed with fentanyl, complicating overdose response because naloxone does not reverse its effects.

Question 5

How does DEA's Diversion Control Division classify a drug as having a high potential for abuse?

Accepted Answer

By evaluating pharmacological effects, actual abuse patterns, historical data, and scientific evidence

Answer

The CSA scheduling process involves an eight-factor analysis including pharmacology, abuse potential, and scientific evidence conducted by DEA and the FDA.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Practice Test

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Practice Test

DEA DEA Drug Chemistry and Identification 3