News

2012 Summer Internship Program

The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is seeking applications from undergraduate students interested in participating in the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Summer Internship Program. This 6 week program allows the student to participate in a discipline specific project in either Forensic Chemistry, Physical Evidence-Trace/Forensic DNA or Firearms/Tool Marks. In addition, the student will have the opportunity to shadow forensic scientists in the other forensic areas. This is an unpaid internship, but the hands-on experience in the forensic laboratory is valuable. It is recommended that the student has completed some chemistry and biology courses. The application materials below must be postmarked by April 6, 2012.

Summer Internship Application

Arkansas Prescription Drug Takeback Initiative - April 28, 2012

On April 28, 2012, citizens will have the opportunity to legally discard their unneeded medications in an environmentally safe manner while keeping them out of the hands of young people and off the streets. By returning expired or unused medications, you help:

1. Take Back Our Health - by preventing youth drug abuse.

2. Take Back Our Environment - by controlling pollution, eliminating contamination and protecting the Natural State.

3. Take Back Our Community - by monitoring, securing and properly disposing of these medications.

Please visit www.artakeback.org to find out more information and site locations in your area.

Q & A's About Bath Salts

What are Bath Salts?

'Bath Salts' have recently emerged as an illicit product of abuse. They are also refered to as 'Ivory Wave', 'plant fertilizer', 'plant food', 'Vanilla Sky' and 'Energy-1'. These products contain compounds such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), methylone, and mephedrone.

Are Bath Salts on the Arkansas Controlled Substances List?

Yes. The following compounds are in Schedule I on the Arkansas Controlled Substances List.

4-Methylmethcathinone (Mephedrone)

methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)

3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone (Methylone)

4-Methoxymethcathinone

3-Fluoromethcathinone

4-Fluoromethcathinone

What are the symptoms of these products?

Please refer to the following link: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/mdpv.pdf

Can the ASCL test these products?

Yes, the ASCL is equipped to analyze and identify the compounds in these products.

Q & A's About K2

What is K2?

K2 is commonly referred to as 'synthetic marihuana' because of its similar physical characteristics and user effects to marihuana. Compounds, such as JWH-018 and JWH-073, are sprayed on a variety of different plant materials.

Is K2 on the Arkansas Controlled Substances List?

Yes, the following compounds are listed in Schedule VI on the Arkansas Controlled Substances List:

JWH-018

JWH-073

JWH-081

JWH-200

JWH-250

CP47, 497

CP47, 497 C8 homologue.

Note: Schedule VI also includes compounds with a similar chemical structure OR similar pharmacological activity to those items listed above.

What are the symptoms of K2 use?

While symptoms will vary from person to person, clinical data suggests that individuals exhibit agitation, increased heart rate, confusion, hallucinations/delusion, nausea, vomiting, listless, and difficultly thinking. It is also indicated that users will exhibit stronger relaxation/sedation effects with K2 than with marihuana use.

What are the dangers of K2 use?

The ASCL tested several K2 products being sold in Arkansas. The results showed that these products are very unpredictable. For example, when testing K2 Summit purchased at different times, one package contained both JWH-018 and JWH-073 while the second package contained only JWH-018. In addition, amounts of the compounds within the package vary greatly. Some parts of the package contain large amounts of JWH-018, commonly referred to as "Hot Spots," while other parts of the package may conain very little JWH-018.

What does this mean? A user doesn't know what he/she is ingesting each time they use the product. There have been 2 confirmed deaths attributed to K2 use in the United States.

Can the ASCL test these products?

Yes, the ASCL is equipped to analyze and identify the compounds in these products.