Forensic Toxicology Review

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts in forensic toxicology.

Toxicology

The study of the effects of drugs and poisons on living organisms.

Forensic Toxicology

The application of toxicology to legal cases, particularly to determine the cause and manner of death in suspicious circumstances.

Forensic Toxicologist

A scientist who analyzes bodily fluids and tissues in forensic investigations to determine the presence and quantity of drugs or poisons.

Pharmacology

The science that studies the relationship between drugs and living organisms.

Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, blocking the action of agonists.

Metabolite

A product of metabolism, which is the chemical conversion of substances in the body.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs move through the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.

Synergism

A situation where the combined effect of two or more drugs is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Tolerance

The phenomenon in which the body becomes accustomed to a drug, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect.

Addiction

A state in which an individual experiences cravings for a drug and may suffer withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Elimination

The process by which drugs are removed from the body, primarily through metabolic breakdown and excretion.

Cut-off levels

A threshold concentration used in drug detection, below which a substance is considered not detected.

BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration)

A measurement of the amount of alcohol in a person's blood, expressed in grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.

BrAC (Breath Alcohol Concentration)

A measurement of alcohol concentration in a person's breath, used for determining intoxication levels.