1. Yes, but wait 'til you taste one, dearie.
Like to try one? Go on.
Go on, have a bite.
Attempted Assassination
Intentional Suicide Intentional Homicide
Accidental Overdose

2. Drug Identification and
Toxicology
Pick Your Poison!

3. Accidental Overdose
• On February 9, 2007 it was determined that
tabloid celebrity Anna Nicole Smith had died
from an accidental overdose of prescription
drugs, rather than as the result of foul play or
illegal drug use.
• How did the medical examiner know which
drugs Smith had taken?
• How was it determined that the overdose was
accidental rather than intentional?
• IT’S ALL ABOUT TOXICOLOGY!

4. What is Toxicology?
• Toxicology is the study of the affects that
toxic chemicals have on the body.
• A toxicologist is originally presented with
body fluids and/or organs and is normally
requested to examine them for the
presence of drugs and poisons.

5. Forensic Toxicology
• Forensic toxicology is used to aid in
medical and legal investigations of
poisoning, death, and drug use.
• Involved in Drug Identification

6. Common Chemicals,
Toxins, and Poisons!
• Illegal drugs
• Prescription drugs
• Alcohol
• Poisons
• Metals

7. Controlled Substances
• Drugs or chemical • Include:
compounds whose
manufacture, distribution,
• Hallucinogens
possession, and use is • Narcotics
regulated by the legal
system
• Stimulants
• Anabolic
Steroids
• Depressants

8. Signs and Symptoms
• For Homework: Count off by 5s
• Each of you will fill out ONE section of the
Controlled substances signs and symptoms
CHART
• Instead of Journal tomorrow you will get
into your groups and present your findings
to the rest of the class.
• Resources to use: Textbook,
Internet, other books, etc.

9. How are these
substances identified?
• Without supportive evidence, such as the
victim’s symptoms, a postmortem
pathological examination, or an examination
of the victim’s personal effects, the
toxicologist is forced to use general screening
procedures with the hope of narrowing
thousands of possibilities to one.

10. Common Chemical
Tests
• Gas-liquid chromatography
• Immunoassay
• Thin-layer chromatography
• Spot Tests
Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s in Biology or
Chemistry
After 3 yrs. in the field American Board of Forensic
Toxicology offers certification

11. Challenges of a Forensic
Toxicologist
• A toxicologist is not dealing with drugs at
the concentration levels found in powders
and pills, having been dissipated and
distributed throughout the body.
• Furthermore, the body is an active
chemistry laboratory as few substances
enter and completely leave the body in the
same chemical state.

12. Now YOU will Try it!
URINE OVER YOUR
HEAD!
LAB