SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

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REVIEW OF AN UNUSUAL MULTI-DRUG POSITIVE USAF MEMBER CASE
Vincent M.Papa l *, Sarah Ozmene, Timothy Cox 2 , Terence FarreU 2 , Aaron Jacobs 3
I Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory Brooks City-Base, Texas 78235; 2 1 FW/JA LangeJy AFB, Virginia
23655; 3 Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Division of Forensic
Toxicology, Rockville, MD 20850
The Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory (AFDTL) tests approximately 400,000 military specimens/year for
THC, cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, opiates, barbiturates and LSD. Only 88-90 member specimens are
positive for multiple drugs. A case report on specimens positive for mUltiple drugs may have a complex
interpretation. The member underwent on consent urinalysis on late Friday evening/Saturday morning. The
week preceding this positive result, the individual member had an occupational accident where the cleaner
" Googone " was sprayed into his eyes. He was prescribed Tylox for pain resulting from ocular damage.
On the night preceding the drug test, a call was made to 911 after his girlfriend found him unresponsive.
EMTs noted dilated pupils and that he was not cooperative. He was transported exhibiting combative and
belligerent behavior to a local hospital. At the hospital, the member responded to questions but had lapses
in memory. A drug and alcohol screen was performed at the hospital. The alcohol screen was negative but
the drug screen was positive for cocaine and THC as benzoylecognine and I I-nor carboxy THC. A consent
urinalysis was obtained and analyzed at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP). Analysis for THC,
cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, opiates and barbiturates were performed by Axsym screen and GCMS
confirmation. Medical history indicated that he had ingested psilocin mushrooms so an analysis for
psilocyn was accomplished using a gas chromatography (GC) screen and GCMS confirmation. The
following drugs were detected and quantified:
1) Benzoylecognine 3148 ng/ml
2)MDMA
5947 ng/ml
3) Psilocin 6450 ng/ml
4) 11- nor carboxy THC 135 ng/ml
The defense asserted that the individual was not capable of giving consent due to the number of drugs
detected and the fact that he was taking Tylox and drinking heaVily. There were 15 pills missing. His
girlfriend reported that he was dinking beer and mixed drinks. Additional analysis at AFIP revealed the
presence of 165 ng/ml urinary oxycodone. Psychiatric analysis was performed for competency to consent.
At trial, the military judge ruled the member mentally capable. Investigation revealed that the member the
evening of the hospital admission consumed 4-5 caps of psilocyn mushrooms, one MDMA tablet and
smoked a marijuana blunt laced with cocaine. In this case, psilocyn results were approximately 6X higher
than the levels reported by Sticht et.aI.(I). Furthermore, there are reports of smoking marijuana blunts that
have elevated THC percentages. Aggressive and belligerent behavior exhibited in the above report is
consistent with synergistic effects of multiple drug consumptions ofhallucinogens and stimulants.
l.G.Sticht, H.Kaferstein" Detection ofpsilocin in body fluids, Forensic Science International 113 (2000)
403-407.
Keywords: psilocin, marijuana, cocaine, mdma
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