Forensic nurses should understand basic toxicology principles, particularly related to drug-facilitated crimes.
What is Toxicology?
Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms. In forensic settings, toxicology identifies substances in the body that may be relevant to a crime or death.
Forensic toxicology applications: Drug-facilitated sexual assault, driving under the influence, overdose deaths, poisoning, workplace drug testing
Toxicology Sample Collection
| Sample | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Blood | Best for recent drug use; quantitative results | Short detection window; invasive |
| Urine | Longer detection window; non-invasive | Shows presence, not impairment |
| Hair | Long detection window (months) | Doesn’t detect very recent use |
Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA)
Substances used to facilitate sexual assault may include:
- Alcohol (most common)
- Benzodiazepines (Rohypnol, Xanax, Valium)
- GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate)
- Ketamine
- Sleep aids (Ambien, Lunesta)
- Antihistamines
⏱ TIME-SENSITIVE COLLECTION
Many drugs used in DFSA are eliminated rapidly from the body:
- GHB: Undetectable in blood within 8 hours, urine within 12 hours
- Rohypnol: May be detectable in urine for 72+ hours
Best practice: Collect blood AND urine as soon as possible. If patient vomited, collect vomitus if available.