Forensic Toxicology: The Accuracy of Drug and Driving Impairment Measures
Within the field of forensic toxicology, studies can be done on the effect of drug consumption on driving abilities, in order to measure impairment levels. The extent of scientific study on the relationship between drugs and driving impairment is increasing and vast, however, much more research needs to be done!…
Help – I Need An Expert Witness
An important thing any professional learns while studying their field is when to call an expert. Whether you are a doctor, engineer, historian, or architect, there will always be some aspect of your field that you will need to refer to someone else’s better qualified judgement. It is the same…
What Causes a False Positive Drug Test Result
Drug screening results can really affect the lives and circumstances of those it involves. Accuracy in how these drug tests are carried out is of high importance as the results can have long lasting consequences for the individuals involved. False positive drug test results are a real possibility in today’s…
The Accuracy of Alcohol Testing
In the United States of America, a blood alcohol concentrate (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, is considered illegal if you are behind the wheel of a vehicle. Alcohol testing is used to determine if the BAC level is above the legal limits. Main Methods Of Alcohol Testing There are three…
Forensic Toxicology: How Drugs Affect Driving
In many criminal investigations it may be that analytical information is needed or testing required regarding the presence of substances at a crime scene or within a person’s body. This is the purpose of forensic toxicology: to test bodily fluids or other substances for toxic chemicals in order to obtain…
How Doses Influence Drug Toxicology: Pharmacodynamics
Studying the effects drugs have on the body, known as pharmacodynamics, is particularly important to drug toxicologists. In this next article of our Drug Driving series, a drug toxicologist will explain everything you need to know about what drugs do to your body. What Does Pharmacodynamics Mean? Unlike the study…
How Does Pharmacokinetics Influence Drug Toxicology
In this installment of our series on drug driving, we will be investigating the study of pharmacokinetics and how it is used during the drug toxicology process. What Does Pharmacokinetics Mean? Pharmacokinetics is a subcategory of pharmacology that is interested in what the body does to drugs. Like germs or…
How Do Drug Toxicologists Use Pharmacology?
Driving under the influence of drugs is a criminal offence. Often, drug toxicologists are required to use their knowledge of pharmacology to find out what drugs an impaired driver took, as well as the properties and reactions of the drugs. What Is Pharmacology? Pharmacology is often incorrectly used as a…
Drug Trends And Prevalence
Drug trends are strangely similar to fashion trends, with certain drugs being more popular at different times than others (for example increased methamphetamine use of the west coast, while more prevalent oxycodone use on the east coast), experimentation with newer designer drugs and periods of increased abuse. In this chapter,…
What Are Police Field Drug Test Kits
Police Field Drug Test Kits are similar to instant soup; each different drug has its own pre-prepared sachet, all that the officer has to do is to add a small sample of the drug in question to the bag, break the two phials inside and look for a color change….
The Reliability Of Gunshot Residue
Gunshot Residue (GSR) or Firearm Discharge Residue (FDR) is the technical term used for particles that are deposited on the body and clothing of a person who discharges a firearm. It can also be found on surfaces nearby the location of the discharge such as walls or floors. Gunshot residue…
Influencing Factors On Hair Drug Tests
Today, there are tools and technologies that help assess the influence of drugs on the human body. One way to measure the effects of toxicological influences is through hair drug tests. The analysis of biological samples for the presence of toxins, such as hair drug tests, can be used in…
