Challenges in forensic toxicology

ABSTRACT

The scope of forensic toxicology has expanded tremendously over the past 40 years. As the field of forensic toxicology expands and improves, forensic toxicologists continue to face multiple challenges, such as the emergence of new drugs, different standards among laboratories, and discrepancies in the interpretation of toxicological findings. New psychoactive substances (NPS) have been the centre of attention since 2009 in all areas of forensic toxicology, including drug testing. Owing to the constant influx of new drugs and the lack of reference standards, the detection and quantification of NPSs in biological fluids are significant challenges for forensic toxicologists. Furthermore, forensic toxicologists aspire to attain the highest analytical standard in each laboratory. However, there are limited resources for adequate staffing, technology, and training. Experience and expertise, and the availability of high-end instruments, have vital impacts on the quality of a laboratory. The interpretation of post-mortem toxicological data is another major challenge. Determination of the level of a drug in post-mortem specimens, post-mortem redistribution and the influence of putrefaction on drug disposition are jobs for forensic toxicologists. In conclusion, forensic toxicologists should collaborate, coordinate, communicate with colleagues, investigators, pathologists, judges, persecutors, and defence lawyers to ensure justice for all.

KEYWORDS:

• Forensic toxicology
• New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
• laboratory standards
• interpretation of toxicological results

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (NRF-2016M3A9E1918321).