The Drug Units of the Michigan State Police Forensic Laboratories analyze approximately 30,000 cases per year, which is 1/3 of the entire Forensic Science Division caseload. This is done using a number of chemical methods, which include classical wet chemical methods as well as modern hi-tech instrumental methods.

The wet chemical methods used include color tests and microcrystal tests. Color tests are done by reacting the suspected drug with chemical reagents, which produces a color which gives the chemist an indication as to what type of drug might be present. Microcrystal tests are done by adding a reagent to a suspected drug and using a microscope to observe the crystals that are formed. Cocaine, for instance, reacts with cobalt thiocyanate to give a bright blue color and with Gold Chloride to give feathery cross-shaped crystals.

The instrumental tests used include gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectrophotometry. The data from these instruments is handled by computers, which not only organize and print hard copies of the data, but also have databases that can be searched and compared to spectra of unknowns in order to aid the chemist in identifying unknown substances.

Using these techniques our chemists can identify drugs accurately and rapidly for law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan.