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Analysis of Drugs of Abuse pp 13–27Cite as

Illicit and Counterfeit Drug Analysis by Morphologically Directed Raman Spectroscopy

Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB,volume 1810)

Abstract

Morphologically directed Raman spectroscopy (MDRS) is a novel tool for the forensic analysis of illicit and counterfeit drug samples. MDRS combines Raman microspectroscopy with automated particle imaging so that physical and chemical information about the components of a mixture sample can be obtained. Results of automated particle imaging are used to determine samples for Raman analysis. The use of MDRS for these types of samples can be employed for both forensic investigations and adjudications of cases. The method provides insight about the physical and chemical composition of the sample, as well as about manufacturing and sample history. Here, MDRS was used in four different illicit and counterfeit drug analyses: (1) examination of a multicomponent drug mixture where the results could be used for comparative source attribution, (2) the detection of low (or trace) concentration particles in a drug sample, (3) the analysis of synthetic cathinone samples (i.e., bath salts), and (4) a study of counterfeit pharmaceutical products.

Key words

  • Morphologically directed Raman spectroscopy
  • Illicit drug analysis
  • Counterfeit pharmaceuticals
  • Raman spectroscopy
  • Automated particle imaging

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forensic Science Department, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA

    Andrew C. Koutrakos, Pauline E. Leary & Brooke W. Kammrath

Authors
  1. Andrew C. Koutrakos
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  2. Pauline E. Leary
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  3. Brooke W. Kammrath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brooke W. Kammrath .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA

    Ph.D. Rabi A. Musah

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Koutrakos, A.C., Leary, P.E., Kammrath, B.W. (2018). Illicit and Counterfeit Drug Analysis by Morphologically Directed Raman Spectroscopy. In: Musah, R. (eds) Analysis of Drugs of Abuse. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1810. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8579-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8579-1_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8578-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8579-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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