Key terms
A physical process and change in behavior associated with drug use whereby a person craves a drug; failure to take the drug can result in withdrawal symptoms.
What is addiction?
The study of poisons, drugs, and toxins in legal investigations
What is Forensic toxicology
Reduced or discontinued use of an addictive drug results in physical and mental symptoms known as
what is withdrawl
There are 3 questions that need to be answered by toxicologist
what is What substances are there? Might there by any illegal components? How much of each substance is present?
any substance that causes injury or death when a sufficient quantity is absorbed,
what is a poison
: a substance that decreases or inhibits the nervous system, reducing alertness
What is a depressant
Common poisons
arsenic, hemlock, cyanide
the user feeling the same level sensation the next time the drug is used and is required to use more of the drug.
what is tolerance
caused by lower doses over long periods of time, which produces symptoms gradually
what is Chronic symptoms
Heavy Metals
what is Lead, Mercury, Arsenic
A drug that changes a person's perceptions and thinking during intoxication
What is a hallucinogen?
Father of toxicology
who is Mathieu Orfila
Drugs are categorized based on the bodys reaction to the drugs:
what are Stimulants, Narcotics, Depressants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steriods
is usually a multistep process to provide a positive idenfication of the chemical compounds found in a drug sample.
what is Confirmatory testing
Lethal Gases
what is Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide
A substance that affects the nervous system by increasing alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevating blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
What is a stimulant
King of poisons
what is Arsenic
It affect Respiratory Control and its 50 times stronger than heroin and results in in many overdoses and accidental deaths
What is Fentanyl
First responding officers can use this at the crime scene to quickly assess whether drugs are present and to see if the suspect is under the influence
what is preliminary drug testing
Plant Toxins
what are
Plant Toxins
Ricin, Strychnine
A law that reduced the penalties of drug use, possession, and distribution for those already in federal
What is the First step act
allowed reliable arsenic detection
what is the Marsh Test
The toxicity depends on these factors
what is Dosage, Potency of the drug, Duration, Nature of the exposure, Genetic, Interactions with medications or alcohol, and by products formed from a nontoxic substance.
Animal Venoms
Snake venom, Bee stings