Citation

Teotia AK, Pal R. J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 2009; 26(1): 49-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Department of Forensic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Widespread misuse of poisons like pesticide, insecticide, hazardous chemicals and most importantly various drugs like barbiturates, amphetamines, cocaine, methadone and morphine and other opiates are increased globally. Drugs and their metabolites are extracted from the body fluids like urine blood, saliva, and visceral organs like liver, kidney, intestine and stomach content of the victims / deceased in the medico legal cases. The designer drugs like GHB (gama hydroxy butyrate) Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam, Ketamine) are used usually through alcoholic drinks prior to sexual assault. The main type of drugs of abuse like cannabis, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, heroin and cocaine are used by drug addicts. These drugs are found in sub gram quantities called as "street seizures". Some time it is difficult to identify the cause of death especially in case of suicide / homicide. So, there is a need to review the current methodology used for analysis of drugs and poisons in forensic toxicology/ analytical chemistry. The present review discussed the current methods for analysis of drugs and poisons.

Language: en

Keywords

Poisons; ketamine; cannabis; Cannabis; cause of death; Screening; forensic toxicology; amphetamine; cocaine; Drugs; review; barbituric acid derivative; high performance liquid chromatography; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; sexual crime; pesticide; insecticide; poison; drug dependence; benzodiazepine derivative; opiate derivative; gas chromatography; diamorphine; methadone; drug screening; illicit drug; thin layer chromatography; flunitrazepam; acute toxicity; toxin analysis; Identification; extraction; HPLC; dangerous goods; 4 hydroxybutyric acid; GC-MS; LC-MC etc.; poison analysis; TLC