65545 Forensic Toxicology
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 65409c Analytical Chemistry 2
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
This subject examines the underpinning science of drugs and poisons relevant to matters that arise in judicial proceedings – that is forensic toxicology. The lecture component covers general pharmacology and toxicology. Topics covered include mechanisms of action, the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs and poisons from the body as well as the signs and symptoms associated with the use of common drugs and poisons. The subject also provides an overview of state and federal laws relevant to licit and illicit drugs and poisons and their detection and identification. The practical component is designed to reinforce topics covered in lectures and seeks to give students experience in solving problems associated with the analysis of a wide range of biological matrices relevant to the profession.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Explain the fundamental concepts of forensic toxicology, including its scope, origins and current practice, and apply these to current case studies |
|---|---|
| 2. | Explain the legislation controlling the use of poisons and drugs |
| 3. | Explain the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of toxins |
| 4. | Assess specific types of drugs and poisons, including their detection and identification, toxicity and risk assessment |
| 5. | Conduct accurate laboratory and data analyses in forensic toxicology, interpret and summarise results in an appropriate scientific format |
| 6. | Interpolate analytical results and infer their legal implications |
| 7. | Work collaboratively in a small team and contribute to formal recording of process |
| 8. | Critically evaluate the current scientific literature relating to forensic toxicology and communicate research finding within this context, in written and oral formats |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate a command of forensic science practice, including the detection, collection, and analysis of traces in order to exploit and integrate the results of analyses into investigative, evaluative and intelligence frameworks. (1.1)
- Apply investigative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to forensic science problems and design experimental methods to test hypotheses and critically analyse and interpret data. (2.1)
- Practise safe, ethical, and professional conduct with consideration for the role of forensic science in addressing current and future challenges faced by law enforcement, the legal system, security, and the wider community. (3.1)
- Demonstrate skills in communicating experimental conclusions, expert opinion, and the justification of professional decisions related to forensic science processes effectively to expert, scientific, and non-expert audiences. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. Disciplinary knowledge
The subject aims to introduce students with the fundamentals of forensic toxicology. Both theoretical and practical materials which consolidate knowledge taught in the lecture are provided to develop students’ disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application. Students are assessed based on their performance at the practical classes, mid-term assignment and final exam.
2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking
Students have the opportunity to get hands-on experience in laboratory-based problem-solving, enquiry and conceptual thinking. Students learn to acquire record and interpret scientific data obtained using sample preparation techniques, screening tests and confirmatory tests. In small teams, students will also conduct an investigation into the identification of the active ingredients in an unknown tablet obtained from a mock forensic case. Students will use the scientific data obtained to make judgements beyond the current experiment to the legal implications of quality assurance and experimental uncertainty in Forensic Toxicology. Students will assess and evaluate relevant scientific evidence and literature, and incorporate these into written scientific reports, group presentation in a scientific format and a critical literature review.
3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
Practical classes are constructed to cover some core areas of the subject in an effort to develop students’ professional skills and to enhance students’ employability. These professional skills include logical thought, problem-solving skills, the ability to work in a team and the collection, handling and presentation of quality data. Importantly, students also learn to conduct forensic toxicology investigations in a professional and ethical manner within the legal forensic framework. Assessment is based on the quality of pre-laboratory work, participation in the classroom, post-laboratory reports and group presentation of results.
5. Communication
Students have the opportunity to further develop their written and oral communication skills, particularly in mastering the language of forensic toxicology, through laboratory-based scientific reports, participating in group discussion and presentation, and in the critical literature review.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is delivered through eleven weeks of online lectures and on campus practical laboratory sessions. All learning materials including the lecture and practical notes for Forensic Toxicology are located on Canvas.
Instead of live lecture delivery, all lectures will be either pre-recorded or converted into asynchromous learning materials and arranged in modules on Canvas to facilitate student learning. In each module, the lecture materials are supplemented with learning objectives and lecture slides. For some modules, explanation notes for some complex terms, problem solving, calculations, and analysis of case examples to explore the concepts of forensic toxicology are also provided.
Students also undertake a site visit to the NSW Forensic & Analytical Science Service located in Lidcombe NSW. This gives students the opportunity to connect and link what they have learned in the class room to the real world of the discipline. The visit involves a lecture provided by representative staff from each department in the organization, covering scope and nature of their work, staffing, and relevant laws/legislations governing their practice. Students then take a guided laboratory tour to see the working environment, conditions, resources and facilities. Students are encouraged to actively engage with industry professionals as they prepare themselves to enter into the work force.
In the practical laboratory sessions, students work collaboratively in groups of 3 – 4 throughout the practical sessions to investigate various drugs and poisons, and the analysis of a number of biological matrices including urine. Students are required to complete pre-lab work before the laboratory sessions, which is accessed through the laboratory manual and also online. Written and verbal feedback are provided on the pre-lab work which gives guidance for the experimental work and laboratory reports. In these practical sessions, students will complete a number of experiments designed to replicate the type and standard of work that occurs in a forensic toxicology laboratory. Therefore students get hands-on experience with the techniques, equipment and samples they would encounter in a working laboratory environment. During the classes, students will conduct the experiments and collect, record and interpret data in small teams. Through these practical sessions, students will develop their time management, teamwork and communication skills. Verbal feedback on the progress of the experiments and the students input and performance is provided in class. Students will learn to communicate their experimental results through both the writing of a scientific report and an oral presentation. Detailed feedback on these reports is provided which students can utilise in the preparation of future assessments.
Content (topics)
Lectures:
- Relevant laws, legislations and metrological standards in forensic toxicology
- Absorption, distribution metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics
- Mechanism of drug action, concepts of agonists, antagonists
- Biological matrices and systematic approach in analytical toxicology and interpretation of analytical results
- Common drugs of abuse including stimulants, depressants, alcohol and new psychoactive substances
- Forensic toxicology in practice such as workplace drug testing and drug testing for doping control
Laboratory practicals
- Identification of unknown tablets
- Cyanide detection in cyanogenic food products
- Detection of opiates in biological matrices
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Practical
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical, and social responsibility 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Criteria: | Appropriate presentation and analysis of results |
Assessment task 2: Online Quiz
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Criteria: | Correct responses to questions, |
Minimum requirements
Practical classes in subjects offered by the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences are an essential and integral part of each subject in which they run. In addition to assisting students’ understanding of concepts, practical classes develop important laboratory skills and experience that are desired by employers. Thus students are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled practical classes.
Failure to attend one of these sessions may affect your ability to complete the related assessment task. You should provide an acceptable reason for your absence, supported by relevant evidence.
Recommended texts
- Hardman, J.G., Limbird, L. E. Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 10th Ed., McGraw-Hill (2001).
- Moffat, A. C., Osselton, M. D., Widdop, B. and Galichet, L. Y. Clarke's Analysis of Drugs and Poisons, 3rd Ed. Pharmaceutical Press (2004). This is available online via the library website.
- Merck Index: An Encyclopaedia of Chemicals, Drugs, & Biologicals. Merck & Co, (2001) ISBN: 0-911-91013-1.
Other resources
Other useful references will be posted on UTSOnline.