Toxicology Study Guide 3/18 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the role of a toxicologist?

They investigate substances found or involved in crimes to help solve the crime.

Who might a toxicologist work with when determining cause of death (COD)?

A toxicologist works with the other personnel at the crime scene.

What are the four disciplines of forensic toxicology?

Postmortem forensic toxicology, human performance toxicology, forensic drug testing, and medical toxicology.

What does a toxicologist do after toxins are identified in the body?

They perform certain tests on the toxins found to figure out more information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a Human Performance Toxicologist?

Their role is to figure out what drugs, if any, are in the blood or breath. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a Doping Agent?

Their role is to cause changes in your body, normally relating to electrical or optical properties. Signup and view all the answers

How are drugs classified in the legal system?

They could be considered stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, pain killers, opiates, and opioids. Signup and view all the answers

How might a drug like cocaine affect the human body?

Cocaine is considered a stimulant, causing raised body temperature, dilated pupils, and increased blood pressure. Signup and view all the answers

How does alcohol immediately affect the human body? Over time?

Alcohol impairs judgment, causes drowsiness, and impairs communication and vision immediately. Over time, it can lead to liver disease and cancer. Signup and view all the answers

What does BAC stand for, and how can BAC be determined?

BAC stands for blood alcohol content, determined by milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. Signup and view all the answers

What are the qualifications for being certain substances at each of the 5 schedules?

Schedule 1 is highly abusive; schedules 2, 3, 4 have regular side effects, and schedule 5 drugs are rarely used for abuse/addiction. Signup and view all the answers

Provide a brief description of the case studies researched during this unit.

One case study involved a wife killing her husband using antifreeze, while others involved arsenic poisoning in family members. Signup and view all the answers

What is a controlled substance?

These are medications that can cause physical and mental dependence, regulated by law. Signup and view all the answers

What is a drug?

A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. Signup and view all the answers

What is a narcotic?

A drug that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes, especially sold illegally. Signup and view all the answers

What is a poison?

A substance capable of causing illness or death when introduced or absorbed. Signup and view all the answers

What is toxicity?

The quality of being toxic or poisonous. Signup and view all the answers

What is a toxin?

An antigenic poison or venom of plant or animal origin that causes disease at low concentrations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pesticide?

A substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or animals. Signup and view all the answers

What does blood alcohol content refer to?

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) refers to the percent of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. Signup and view all the answers

What is an overdose?

An excessive and dangerous dose of a drug. Signup and view all the answers

What is a toxicologist?

One who studies the nature and effects of poisons and their treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is bioterrorism?

Terrorism involving the release of toxic biological agents. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Role of a Toxicologist

Investigates substances linked to crimes to assist in solving cases.
Collaborates with crime scene personnel to gather comprehensive evidence and build an understanding of incidents.

Disciplines of Forensic Toxicology

Postmortem forensic toxicology: Analyzes substances after death.
Human performance toxicology: Evaluates how drugs affect physical and cognitive abilities.
Forensic drug testing: Conducts screening for drug usage.
Medical toxicology: Studies effects and treatments for toxin exposure in living patients.

After Identifying Toxins

Conducts tests on identified toxins to gather additional information.

Human Performance Toxicologist

Determines the presence of drugs in blood or breath samples, assessing their impact on performance.

Role of a Doping Agent

Influences physiological changes, particularly in physical or optical properties; e.g., blood doping alters blood flow.

Drug Classification in Legal Context

Drugs are categorized as stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, painkillers, opiates, and opioids.

Effects of Cocaine

A stimulant that raises body temperature, dilates pupils, and increases blood pressure; provides invigorating sensations but has adverse withdrawal effects.

Impact of Alcohol on the Body

Immediate effects include impaired judgment, drowsiness, and impaired vision; chronic use leads to severe health issues like liver disease and cancers.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

BAC measures the amount of alcohol in blood, expressed in milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.

Drug Schedules

Schedule 1 substances are highly abusive, while Schedule 5 drugs have minimal abuse potential and regular side effects diminish as schedule numbers increase.

Case Studies in Toxicology

A case involving a wife poisoning her husband with antifreeze was studied, showcasing the role of toxicology in determining the cause of death.
Another case involved arsenic poisonings in familial contexts, highlighting toxicologists' work in unraveling these mysteries.

Controlled Substances

Medications that can lead to physical or mental dependence; regulated by law regarding their manufacturing, possession, and use.

Definitions

Drug: A substance causing physiological effects when ingested.
Narcotic: Drugs affecting mood and behavior, often consumed illegally.
Poison: A substance that can cause significant illness or death.
Toxicity: Measures how poisonous a substance is.
Toxin: Antigenic poison from biological origins, harmful at low concentrations.
Pesticide: Used to eliminate harmful organisms in agriculture or animal health.
Overdose: A dangerous excess of a drug.

Blood Alcohol Concentration

Refers to the percentage of ethanol in the bloodstream.

Toxicologist Definition

A professional who studies poisons and their effects and treatments.

Bioterrorism

Involves the use of toxic biological agents to instigate terror.

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Description

This quiz covers important concepts related to toxicology and its role within forensic science. It includes questions about the responsibilities of toxicologists and the collaborative nature of their work with other professionals. Perfect for students preparing for exams in forensic toxicology.