Illicit Drugs and Poisons
Illicit drugs represent one of the biggest areas of forensic science by number of cases submitted. What substances and drugs are regulated and controlled varies based on social norms, which change over time. Key factors in determining the legal status of drugs are their potential harm and addiction potential. We will explore what drug are, how they are classified, and how forensic chemists analyze and identify them. We’ll also learn about novel psychoactive substances and clandestine laboratories and how forensic science responds to them.
Learning Objectives
12.1 List factors that are considered when determining the legal status of drugs
12.2 Appreciate different methods of classification of abused drugs
12.3 Describe the general analytical approach for solid dose drug evidence
12.4 Recognize groups and types of novel psychoactive substances and their impact on society, law enforcement, and forensic analysis
12.4 Recognize the challenges presented to forensic science by clandestine drug laboratories.
