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Cocaine Use Can Now Be Tested In Fingerprints Using Ambient Mass Spectrometry
hypnosec writes: A novel technique of detecting cocaine abuse through a simple fingerprint has been developed by researchers from the UK and the Netherlands, paving the way for a secure, non-invasive drug detection method. The research, led by University of Surrey and published in the journal Analyst, demonstrates for the first time that cocaine can be detected by the excreted metabolites – benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine – resulting from abuse of the drug. These chemicals are found in fingerprint residue, which the researchers detect using analytical chemistry technique known as ambient mass spectrometry.
lets spend billions upon billions to stop people from doing things to themselves, not even taking the 4th amendment into consideration
Im not condoning abuse, but im also not condoning the absurd spending that we as a planet have done "for the children"
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
...cocaine can be detected by the excreted metabolites...resulting from abuse of the drug.
What about those that don't abuse cocaine, but use it responsibly?
Your post:
Also to detect anyone who has any money, for confiscation of evidence of course
vs the summary
[...] by the excreted metabolites â" benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine â" resulting from abuse of the drug.
Sure. Unless simply handling money doesn't result in your body absorbing enough cocaine to synthesize and excrete " benzoylecgonine and methylecgonine".
In other words, you are probably entirely wrong.
The abuse of civil forfeiture is well documented; but this test isn't really relevant. If they intend to abuse civil forfeiture to take your stuff, this test isn't going to be their go-to.
And if they don't intend to abuse civil forfeiture, all this test does is establish evidence that you've taken cocaine.
If drug use is detected
They need evidence of drug related crimes. Technically, past drug *use* isn't even illegal.
For drug dealers, perhaps the status quo. But for drug users, perhaps we should focus on reform and helping them. Treat it as a sickness and not necessarily as a crime.
I'd be worried about false positives with this test.
Chemcial tests can't tell whether a person is absuing drugs, only if they are using them. (It is a prohibitionist fiction that the use of certain drugs is inherently abuse.)
If the only way you can tell whether someone is using drugs is through chemical tests, ipso facto it is not affecting their performance on the job.
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood