Course Objectives

• To understand the significance of toxicological studies in forensic science.
• To know classification of poisons and their modes of actions.
• To gain knowledge about absorption of poisons in body fluids.
• To know about the forensic identification of illicit liquors.
• To gain knowledge about classification and characteristics of the narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.
• To understand the menace of designer drugs.

Learning Outcomes

After studying this paper the students will know –

• The significance of toxicological studies in forensic science.
• The classification of poisons and their modes of actions.
• The absorption of poisons in body fluids.
• The forensic identification of illicit liquors.
• The classification and characteristics of the narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.
• The menace of designer drugs.

Course Syllabus

Unit 1: Basics of Toxicology

Significance of toxicological findings. Techniques used in toxicology. Toxicological analysis and chemical intoxication tests.
Postmortem Toxicology. Human performance toxicology.
Dose-response relationship. Lethal dose 50 and effective dose 50.

Unit 2: Poisons

Classification of poisons. Physico-chemical characteristics and mode of action of poisons. Accidental, suicidal and homicidal poisonings.
Signs and symptoms of common poisoning and their antidotes. Collection and preservation of viscera, blood and urine for various poison cases.
Identification of biocides and metal salts in body fluids. Metabolism and excretion of poisons. Application of immunoassays in forensic work.
Animal poisons. Snake venom. Mode of action. Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Vegetable poisons. Poisonous seeds, fruits, roots and mushrooms.

Unit 3: Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

Definition of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances. Broad classification – Narcotics, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens. General characteristics and common example of each classification. Natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.
Designer drugs. Tolerance, addiction and withdrawal symptoms of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances
Crime scene search for narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances – searching a suspect, searching a dwelling, searching a vehicle.
Clandestine drug laboratories. Collection and preservation of drug evidence. Testing of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.
Presumptive and screening tests for narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances. Microcrystalline testing of drugs of abuse.
Drugs and driving. Dope tests.

List of Practicals : Credits: 2

1. To identify biocides.
2. To identify metallic poisons.
3. To identify organic poisons.
4. To identify drugs of abuse by spot tests.
5. To perform color tests for barbiturates.
6. To separate drugs of abuse by thin layer chromatography.

Suggested Readings
1. R. Saferstein, Criminalistics, 8th Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (2004).
2. F.G. Hofmann, A Handbook on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, New York (1983).
3. S.B. Karch, The Pathology of Drug Abuse, CRC Press, Boca Raton (1996).
4. A. Poklis, Forensic toxicology in, Introduction to Forensic Sciences, 2nd Edition, W.G. Eckert (Ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton (1997).
5. A.W. Jones, Enforcement of drink-driving laws by use of per se legal alcohol limits: Blood and/or breath concentration as evidence of impairment, Alcohol, Drug and Driving, 4, 99 (1988).
6. W.J. Tilstone, M.L. Hastrup and C. Hald, Fisher’s, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, CRC Press, Boca Raton (2013).

Session Plan

Session 1

Unit 1: Basics of Toxicology

Significance of toxicological findings. Techniques used in toxicology

Session 2

Toxicological analysis and chemical intoxication tests.

Session 3

Postmortem Toxicology.

Session 4

Human performance toxicology.

Session 5

Dose-response relationship.

Session 6

Lethal dose 50 and effective dose 50.

Session 7

Unit 2: Poisons

Classification of poisons.

Session 8

Physico-chemical characteristics and mode of action of poisons.

Session 9

Accidental, suicidal and homicidal poisonings.

Session 10

Signs and symptoms of common poisoning and their antidotes.

Session 11

Collection and preservation of viscera, blood and urine for various poison cases.

Collection and preservation of blood evidence

Session 12

Identification of biocides and metal salts in body fluids.

Session 13

Metabolism and excretion of poisons

Session 14

Metabolism and excretion of poisons

Session 15

Application of immunoassays in forensic work.

Session 16

Animal poisons.

Session 17

Snake venom. Mode of action.

Session 18

Carbon monoxide poisoning.

Session 19

Vegetable poisons.

Session 20

Vegetable poisons.

Session 21

Poisonous seeds, fruits, roots and mushrooms.

Session 22

Definition of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances. Broad classification – Narcotics, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens.

Session 23

General characteristics and common example of each classification. Natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.

Session 24

Designer drugs.

Session 25

Tolerance, addiction and withdrawal symptoms of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances

Session 26

Crime scene search for narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances – searching a suspect, searching a dwelling, searching a vehicle.

Session 27

Clandestine drug laboratories. Collection and preservation of drug evidence.

Session 28

Testing of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.

Session 29

Presumptive and screening tests for narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances.

Session 30

Microcrystalline testing of drugs of abuse.

Session 31

Drugs and driving.

Session 32

Dope tests.

Case Studies

Case Studies