When you arrive at a crime scene and notice the presence of drugs, this calls for the forensic toxicologist to begin an investigation. Forensic toxicology is examining poisons, drugs, and their metabolites that may have legal ramifications (Fenton & Bell, 2014, p. 256). Forensic toxicology is beneficial to forensic science by identifying the toxins that are present in a victim, the location to obtain the samples, and the amount of drugs that caused the death.
Forensic toxicology is used for postmortem drug testing to determine whether drugs are present in the victim, and if they contributed to their death. Along with the forensic pathologist, who determines the manner of death, the toxicologist will help to identify what toxins are present in the body (Fenton & Bell, 2014, p. 256). To determine what toxins are present, it requires that the blood be withdrawn from the location that has
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From this specialization, one is able to determine how much and what type of a given drug is present in the victims. Although research is still being conducted to determine the best location to take a sample from, currently taking it from peripheral blood or the vitreous humor is encouraged, because these locations are least prone to redistribution of drugs after death. Forensic toxicology is able to aid in the determination of the post mortem interval by identifying the metabolites that are present of various drugs. Lastly, forensic toxicology is able to be used along with other specializations to aid investigations in determining the time of death. This is important in the identification of suspects and where they were at the time of the crime. Forensic toxicology is extremely beneficial to the field of forensic science and will only continue to expand as new technology and resources become available to make the analysis of various substances quicker and more