Toxicology Study Guide 3/18 Flashcards

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.