Comparing the Quantitation of Opiates from Possible Drug Overdose
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State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State Forensic Science Theses Chemistry Department 5-2016 Comparing the Quantitation of Opiates from Possible Drug Overdose Cases Using Results of Blood Analysis and Liver Analysis Lee Ann Garozzo State University of New York Buffalo State, [email protected] Advisor Douglas Ridolfi, M.S., Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry First Reader Douglas Ridolfi, M.S., Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry Second Reader Alexander Y. Nazarenko, PhD., D.Sc., Associate Professor of Chemistry Third Reader Kimberly Bagley, PhD., Professor of Chemistry Department Chair M. Scott Goodman, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry To learn more about the Chemistry Department and its educational programs, research, and resources, go to http://chemistry.buffalostate.edu/forensic-science-ms-1. Recommended Citation Garozzo, Lee Ann, "Comparing the Quantitation of Opiates from Possible Drug Overdose Cases Using Results of Blood Analysis and Liver Analysis" (2016). Forensic Science Theses. Paper 9. Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/forensic_science_theses Part of the Analytical Chemistry Commons, Biochemistry Commons, Other Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Pharmacology Commons, and the Toxicology Commons i Comparing the Quantitation of Opiates from Possible Drug Overdose Cases Using Results of Blood Analysis and Liver Analysis by Lee Ann Garozzo An Abstract of a Thesis in Forensic Science Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science May 2016 State University of New York College at Buffalo Department of Chemistry ii ABSTRACT OF THESIS Comparing the Quantitation of Opiates from Possible Drug Overdose Cases Using Results of Blood Analysis and Liver Analysis Currently the quantitation of opiates at the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office Toxicology Laboratory is conducted through whole blood analysis. The objective of this thesis project was to determine if the analysis of opiates could be conducted through liver analysis, and if the analysis of opiates would provide a more accurate quantitation compared to the blood analysis. The quantitation of opiates was conducted from the livers of sixty-four possible overdose cases that were brought into the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office between 2013 and 2015. Results showed that the opiate drugs could successfully be quantitated using the liver analysis. Generally the data showed there to be quantitatively more drugs measured in the liver in comparison to the blood. The liver is the primary site for the metabolism of toxins in the body, and results conclude that opiates are present, generally, in higher levels in the liver than in the blood. iii State University of New York College at Buffalo Department of Chemistry Comparing the Quantitation of Opiates from Possible Drug Overdose Cases Using Results of Blood Analysis and Liver Analysis A Thesis in Chemistry by Lee Ann Garozzo Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science May 2016 Approved by: Douglas Ridolfi Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry Program Chairperson of the Committee/Thesis Advisor M. Scott Goodman, PhD. Chair and Professor of Chemistry Kevin J. Railey, PhD. Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School iv THESIS COMMITTEE Douglas Ridolfi Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry Program Chairperson of the Committee/Thesis Advisor Christine Giffin, M.S. Chief County Toxicologist Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office Alexander Y. Nazarenko, PhD., D.Sc. Associate Professor of Chemistry Kimberly Bagley, PhD. Professor of Chemistry v Acknowledgements Most importantly, I would like to thank my advisor, Mr. Douglas Ridolfi and Chief Toxicologist, Christine Giffin for helping me to develop this project. Completing a research goal and thesis is not an easy task and I have greatly appreciated all of their guidance and expertise. I would also like to thank Dr. Alexander Nazarenko and Dr. Kimberly Bagley for taking the time to be on my committee and critique my thesis. Thirdly, I would like to give recognition to all of the members of the Toxicology lab at the ME office during the time of my internship; Colleen Corcoran, Louis Russo, Larry Perkins, Chris Stokes, and Lindsay Brignon for assisting me during my project. Special thank you to William Kaufman for teaching me to use the instruments necessary for my quantitation analysis, helping me to create the best analytical method for this project, and having the patience to work with me through my data interpretations. Finally, thank you to all of my friends and family for all of their incredible support and understanding the time commitment necessary for completing this memorable project. vi Table of Contents Abstract of Thesis ............................................................................................................... ii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... xii Chapter I Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter II Objective .......................................................................................................... 24 Chapter III Methods and Results ...................................................................................... 25 3.1 Prepare Liver Dilutions and Standards............................................................... 25 3.2 Prepare Blood Standards .................................................................................... 26 3.3 Extraction Procedure .......................................................................................... 27 3.4 Quantitating Results ........................................................................................... 28 3.5 012915 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 28 3.6 021215 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 33 3.7 021315 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 34 3.8 6-MAM Conversion Test; Extraction 021916 ................................................... 49 3.9 030515 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 53 3.10 032015 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 57 3.11 032815 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 60 3.12 041815 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 61 3.13 060915 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 63 3.14 061015 Extraction & Results ............................................................................. 67 Chapter IV Discussion ...................................................................................................... 70 Chapter V Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 124 Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 128 References ....................................................................................................................... 132 Appendix I Procedures Part A ........................................................................................ 139 Appendix II Procedures Part B ....................................................................................... 140 Appendix III Calibration and Extracction Data .............................................................. 157 vii Appendix IV Case History .............................................................................................. 190 Appendix V Backtrack Oxycodone and Hydrocodone in Case #47 and #59 ................. 231 viii List of Figures Figure 1. Displays the daily doses of opioid consumption calculated from countries around the world ................................................................................................................. 4 Figure 2. The comparison of dangerously addictive various drugs are generated from information by medical psychiatrists who specialize in addiction treatment ..................... 6 Figure 3. The chemical structure of morphine, codeine, and heroin ................................. 7 Figure 4. The metabolic pathway of codeine and heroin opiates ..................................... 11 Figure 5. Metabolic pathways for morphine, codeine and heroin ................................... 12 Figure 6. Morphine can become synthesized into hydromorphone ................................. 13 Figure 7. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from codeine ....................... 14 Figure 8. Hydrocodone and its metabolites; hydromorphone, and norhydrocodone, formed from the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme. ........................................................ 14 Figure 9. Procedure for the production of dihydromorphinones ..................................... 15 Figure 10. Synthesis of thebaine .....................................................................................