Drug Identification & Controlled Substances Flashcards

Under Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, which schedule contains substances with the highest abuse potential, no currently accepted medical use, and no accepted safe use even under medical supervision?

Answer: Schedule I

Schedule I controlled substances carry the highest potential for abuse and have no currently accepted medical use in the United States. Examples include heroin, LSD, and MDMA. Pennsylvania's schedule classifications mirror the federal Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II drugs (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone) have high abuse potential but do have accepted medical uses.

An officer conducts a field presumptive color test on a white powder recovered during a vehicle search. The test results are positive for cocaine. This result:

Answer: Is presumptive only — it establishes probable cause for arrest but laboratory confirmation is required for prosecution

Field presumptive tests (reagent color tests) are screening tools — they indicate a likely substance but cannot definitively identify it. They provide probable cause for arrest and seizure. Confirmatory laboratory analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) by a certified crime laboratory is required to identify a controlled substance to the standard of proof needed for conviction.

Which combination of physical signs is most consistent with opioid (heroin or fentanyl) intoxication?

Answer: Constricted (pinpoint) pupils, respiratory depression, drowsiness, and reduced level of consciousness

Opioids depress the central nervous system, causing miosis (constricted/pinpoint pupils), respiratory depression (slow, shallow breathing), and decreased consciousness ranging from drowsiness to coma. These signs contrast sharply with stimulant intoxication (dilated pupils, elevated vitals) and CNS depressant intoxication from alcohol (nystagmus). Recognizing opioid signs is critical for naloxone administration decisions.

Fentanyl presents a greater officer safety risk than many other controlled substances primarily because:

Answer: It is extremely potent and can cause overdose in officers through skin absorption or inhalation of particles

Fentanyl is approximately 50–100 times more potent than morphine. Even microscopic quantities absorbed through mucous membranes or inhaled as airborne particles during evidence handling can cause life-threatening overdose in officers. Officers should use nitrile gloves, a mask, and avoid any action that might aerosolize the powder. Naloxone should be immediately available whenever fentanyl is suspected.

Under Pennsylvania's Drug Act, the severity of the penalty for possession with intent to deliver (PWID) is primarily determined by:

Answer: The schedule classification of the substance and the quantity involved

Under 35 P.S. § 780-113(f), PWID penalties are tiered based on the schedule of the controlled substance and the quantity seized. Higher schedule classifications and larger quantities result in greater mandatory minimum sentences, fines, and periods of incarceration. Officers must accurately identify the substance and document the full quantity seized to ensure appropriate charging.

A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation is designed to:

Answer: Systematically evaluate a subject for impairment caused by categories of drugs other than alcohol

The DRE protocol is a standardized 12-step evaluation conducted by specially trained officers to determine whether a subject is impaired by drugs — and to identify the category of drug (e.g., CNS depressants, stimulants, cannabis, opiates) causing the impairment. It was developed because breathalyzers detect only alcohol, leaving a gap in impaired driving enforcement. DRE evaluations supplement, but do not replace, chemical testing.