Reading Assignment for Section 4.2

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 4.2: Toxicology and Overdose Investigations.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll explore the critical role of forensic toxicology in uncovering the causes of overdose deaths. You’ll learn how advanced testing techniques like GC-MS and LC-MS are used to detect and quantify drugs in biological samples. By the end, you’ll understand the challenges posed by synthetic opioids, polydrug interactions, and evidence handling, as well as the importance of toxicology in supporting interventions and legal proceedings.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 4.2: Toxicology and Overdose Investigations

• SLO 1: Explain the role of forensic toxicology in identifying and quantifying drugs in biological samples to determine their contribution to overdose deaths.
• SLO 2: Describe the process and importance of toxicology testing, including sample collection, preparation, and the use of advanced techniques like GC-MS and LC-MS.
• SLO 3: Analyze how toxicologists interpret drug concentrations, account for polydrug interactions, and address challenges like post-mortem redistribution in overdose investigations.
• SLO 4: Evaluate the specific challenges posed by synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and its analogs, and discuss the role of toxicology in assessing the effectiveness of interventions like naloxone.
• SLO 5: Discuss the significance of maintaining a proper chain of custody for toxicological evidence and the potential legal consequences of breaches in evidence handling during overdose investigations.

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