Ch 8: Drugs & Substances in Forensic Science
About This Chapter
Drugs & Substances in Forensic Science - Chapter Summary
Simplify the process of studying drugs and substances in forensic science by exploring these bite-sized lessons. Developed by top instructors, these lessons delve into topics like club drugs, chromatography in forensic science and drug tolerance and overdose. Each lesson is accompanied by a multiple-choice quiz you can take to check your knowledge of concepts covered. Our practice exam makes it easy to gauge your overall understanding of this chapter. Study the lessons any time, using any computer, smartphone or tablet with Internet access. When you're finished, you will be able to:
- Detail ways drugs interact with the body
- Describe the relationships between crime, violence and drugs
- Explain how narcotic drugs impact the mind and body
- Differentiate between physical and psychological substance dependence
- Define and list types of spectroscopy
- Discuss the uses of infrared and mass spectroscopy in forensics
- Share the purpose and process of forensic drug analysis

1. Actions of Drugs on the Body: Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics studies the actions of drugs on the body. Learn the difference about agonist and antagonist drugs and how varying concentrations of these have different effects on specific targets within the body.

2. Physical vs Psychological Substance Dependence
Research shows that substance abuse needs to be treated on both the physical and psychological levels as people can experience different kinds of dependence. Learn more about the differences between physical and psychological substance dependencies as well as the impact of developing a tolerance to a drug.

3. Drug Tolerance & Drug Overdose
Drug use is often referred to as a steep slope, where one or two encounters can lead to dependence. In this lesson, learn about how this slope can steepen through the development of drug tolerance, which can lead to overdose and a host of other problems.

4. Relationships Between Drugs, Violence & Crime
The significant relationship between drug usage and violent crimes and incarceration has long been established by criminal scientists and psychologists. Learn more about the connection between illegal drugs and crime, and the importance of addressing mental health issues in users and offenders.

5. Effects of Narcotic Drugs on the Mind & Body
Narcotics is an umbrella term for addictive drugs that affect the mind. In this lesson, understand the dangers of narcotics by exploring their effects on the mind and body.

6. What Are Club Drugs? - Definition & Effects
Club drugs are relatively new forms of recreational drugs which can go by several different names. In this lesson, learn some of the slang names for these drugs, as well as their official scientific names, and examine how they work to alter brain chemistry.

7. Forensic Drug Analysis: Purpose & Process
Forensic drug analysis plays a vital role in criminal investigations. Discover the purpose of drug analysis and the process investigators use for collection, preservation, and analysis of drug evidence.

8. Chromatography in Forensic Science
Chromatography is the study of mixtures by separating them and examining their contents. Learn the processes in thin-layer chromatography, the significance of the retention factor, and how chromatography is used in forensic science.

9. Spectroscopy: Definition and Types
Spectroscopy uses electromagnetic radiation to determine the substance in a sample without destroying it. Learn how forensic labs analyze materials using spectroscopy, and the way spectrometers use radiation to arrive at conclusions about complex substances.

10. Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensics: Definition & Uses
Infrared energy has a longer wavelength than the visible spectrum. Explore how infrared spectroscopy (IR) is used to interpret infrared energy and create an identifiable spectrum and discover its applications in forensic science and homeland security.

11. Mass Spectrometry in Forensics: Definition & Uses
Mass spectrometry is a substance from a crime scene that is analyzed by a mass spectrometer in order to find the molecular makeup. Explore how mass spectrometry can be used to identify all kinds of evidence such as cloths, glass, dyes, metals, and even human tissue.
Earning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 220 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Criminal Justice 106: Forensic Science course
- Introduction to Forensic Science
- Conducting Death Investigations
- Physical Evidence & Crime Scene Reconstruction
- Trace Evidence in Hair & Fibers
- Fingerprint Analysis & Collection
- Types & Uses of Microscopes
- Firearms, Tool Marks & Impression Evidence
- Forensic Toxicology
- Forensic Serology
- Basics of DNA in Forensic Science
- Fire & Explosion Investigations
- Computer & Mobile Device Forensics
- Forensic Document Analysis
- Required Assignment for Criminal Justice 106