Reading Assignment for Section 4.1

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 4.1: Drug Identification and Analysis.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll explore the tools and techniques used to identify drugs in both field and laboratory settings. You’ll learn how forensic methods like GC-MS and handheld spectrometers enhance accuracy, especially for detecting cutting agents and new substances. By the end, you’ll understand how forensic analysis supports public health, law enforcement, and legal proceedings by ensuring reliable and admissible evidence.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 4.1: Drug Identification and Analysis

• SLO 1: Describe the purpose and limitations of presumptive field tests and how emerging technologies, such as handheld spectrometers, improve the accuracy of field drug identification.
• SLO 2: Explain the importance of confirmatory laboratory testing methods, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and infrared spectroscopy, in ensuring precise drug identification.
• SLO 3: Analyze the role of forensic analysis in detecting cutting agents and adulterants, and assess their implications for public health and law enforcement.
• SLO 4: Evaluate the challenges posed by new psychoactive substances (NPS) and counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and identify strategies forensic laboratories use to address these issues.
• SLO 5: Discuss the legal implications of forensic drug identification, including its role in meeting the burden of proof and ensuring the admissibility of evidence in court.

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