Session 3: Seized Drugs and Forensic Toxicology

Session Overview: This session addresses the rapidly evolving landscape of controlled substances and toxic substances. Presentations will focus on emerging synthetic drugs, novel psychoactive substances, analytical challenges in toxicology, and innovative detection methods responding to the changing drug threat landscape.

Goals:

• Present research on identification and analysis of novel psychoactive substances and synthetic opioids
• Demonstrate advances in toxicological testing methods and instrumentation
• Showcase portable and presumptive testing technologies for field applications
• Highlight research addressing drug-facilitated crimes and impaired driving investigations

Expected Outcomes: 

• Drug chemists will learn about validated methods for emerging substance identification
• Toxicologists will gain knowledge of novel analytical approaches and interpretation frameworks
• Law enforcement will understand capabilities and limitations of field-testing technologies
• Enhanced awareness of trends in clandestine laboratory operations and synthetic drug manufacturing

Target Audience: Forensic drug chemists, forensic toxicologists, medical examiners, DUI enforcement officers, clandestine laboratory investigators, and crime laboratory administrators