Episode 5: Identification of Common Cutting Agents in Latent Fingerprints

Drugs of abuse have a detrimental effect on both society and the individual. Cutting agents are often added to drugs of abuse for a variety of reasons such as increasing the effect of the drug; this can enhance the user's response but can also seriously increase health risks. Contaminants can be introduced to drugs of abuse unintentionally, for example, metal contamination from synthesis apparatus and/or experimental procedures, leaching of materials from storage (containers and 'laboratory' environment) and biological microorganisms. Cutting agents and contaminants are of extreme importance in determining routes of distribution and relationships between drug batches. Dr Trevor Ferris, Manager of the Agilent Measurement Suite, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London. For Forensics Use. RA44295.4940509259