Chapter 9: Forensic Toxicology
Student Learning Objectives
Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations, 2nd ed., Bertino & Bertino, 2015
At the conclusion of this chapter, the student should be able to:
Toxicology
_____1. Define toxicology.
_____2. Discuss the role of forensic toxicologist in their efforts to
a. determine the effect of a drug
b. establish a cause and effect of the drug
c. develop treatments
d. develop techniques to detect the drug or toxin
____ 3. Elaborate on how the toxicity of a drug or poison depends on:
a. dose of the drug
b. duration of the dose
c. nature of exposure
d. interaction with other drugs
e. by-products or metabolites of the drug or poison
_____ 4. Provide examples of drugs or poisons administered by
a. inhalation
b. ingestion
c. injection
d. absorption through the skin
____ 5. Differentiate between presumptive testing for a drug and a definitive
(confirmatory) test:
a. expense
b. which one is performed first
c. who performs the test
d. which one identifies the drug
____ 6. Distinguish between qualitative testing versus quantitative testing
____ 7. Describe the following types of presumptive drug tests:
a. color test
b. microscopic examination of plant matter
c. microcrystalline test
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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_____8. Describe the role of each of the following tests performed in confirmatory drug
testing:
a. gas chromatography
b. mass spectrometry
c. capillary electrophoresis
Drug Evidence
____9. Describe the proper method used to collect drug evidence if the evidence is in
a. pills
b. liquids
c. botanical materials such as leaves or mushrooms
d. crystals
e. embedded in food, paper, or candy
f. syringes
____10. Justify why moist drug evidence should be packaged in paper bags and not
plastic bags.
____11. Describe the role of drug-sniffing dogs at airports and their effectiveness at
detecting drug evidence.
Drugs
_____ 12. Define illegal drug.
_____ 13. List examples of illegal drugs.
_____ 14. Define controlled drug.
_____ 15. Support the following claim with evidence from the chapter: "Controlled
drugs are actually legal drugs."
____16. Explain three characteristics that would place a drug on the controlled list of
drugs:
a. effect of the drug
b. potential for abuse
c. degree to which the drug can cause dependency.
____17. Distinguish between drug dependency and drug addiction.
____18. Explain why the following groups of drugs are considered controlled drugs:
a. amphetamines
b. depressants
c. anabolic steroids
d. some narcotics
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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_____19. Prepare a table defining each of the controlled drugs listed below along with
the effects of that drug. Include a third column listing the signs of an overdose
of the drug.
a. narcotics
b. stimulants
c. anabolic steroids
e. depressants
_____ 20. Respond to the following items regarding alcohol,
a. Based on its effect on the central nervous system, is alcohol classified
as a stimulant or a depressant?
b. Relate the concept of drug tolerance to describing how the same amount of
alcohol can affect people in two different ways.
c. What is the relationship of alcohol percentage and proof?
d. Explain why blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can be measured using a
breathalyzer test.
e. Use the following terms to describe the effect of alcohol on the body:
(1) metabolites
(2) liver
f. Describe how someone can die from an overdose of alcohol.
g. How are penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol affected by:
(1) age
(2) blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
(3) whether or not alcohol is combined with another drug
(4) number of times someone was previously arrested for that offense
____ 21. Describe connections between crime and drug abuse. Support your claims with
specific evidence from the chapter.
____ 22. Summarize the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 that established penalties for
the use, possession, and distribution of controlled drugs.
a. Drugs were placed into 5 schedules based on what two conditions?
b. Which drug schedule, I or V, contains the most dangerous drugs?
Toxins/ Heavy Metals/ Poisons
_____ 23. Distinguish between a toxin and a poison.
_____ 24. Describe three heavy metals have been involved in suicides, homicides and
accidental deaths.
_____ 25.Describe three different ways people can be exposed to heavy metals.
_____ 26. Distinguish between acute and chronic poisoning.
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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_____ 27. Relate the effect of the environment on poisonings due to
a. lead
b. arsenic
c. mercury
_____28. Describe which heavy metal toxins are accidentally ingested by:
a. drinking water
b. ingestion of old paint chips
c. ingestion of fish caught in polluted water
_____29. Describe why long-term exposure to low levels of toxic herbicides and
pesticides can produce deadly effects.
_____ 30. Explain characteristics of ricin, a product from castor bean seeds, that make it
attractive as a source of poison.
_____ 31. List examples of gases used as lethal agents.
_____ 32. Describe the toxic effect of carbon monoxide found in automobile exhaust on
the body.
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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