Drug Analysis
Katie LeGeyt Period 3
What is drug analysis?
Drug analysis determines the type of drug. Forensic drug tests normally use two steps, screening and confirmation. The drug analysts screen the drugs themselves, then send them to a lab for the confirmation test.
What does a drug analyst do, and how is forensic drug analysis used in forensics?
Drug analysts use a series of tests, to determined the absence or presence of a controlled substance. In a criminal case, the analyst would be called to a scene where drugs were found, and would test them, and identify them.
Requirements to becoming a drug analyst?
*A job as a Drug Analysis Unit Forensic Scientist falls under the broader career category of Forensic Science Technicians. This field requires at least an associates degree at entry level, but finding a job would be way easier with at least a bachelors degree.
The death of Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger, a famous actor, died of a drug overdose. in a statement by the medical examiner, he claims, “Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.” It states definitively: “We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications.”
Forensic Science: analysis of drugs using colour tests