Forensic Pharmacology

You are probably among the millions of viewers who have seen a Hollywood or TV production with themes of forensic science. The technology used to solve crimes is truly impressive. This book describes one aspect of forensic science: forensic pharmacology and toxicology of drugs of abuse. The reader is introduced to the daily work of the scientists, the principles of pharmacology and toxicology, the technical analysis of drugs, and the characteristics of eight major categories of drugs of abuse. The text is a handy reference source for people of all ages interested in the solving of drug-related crimes.

Children's Literature

Part of the Chelsea House series, "Inside Forensic Science," this book focuses on what the authors term "drugs of abuse," those substances most likely to be cited in criminal investigations and court cases. They encompass opiods, cannabinoids, anesthetics, inhalants, steroids, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Young readers unfamiliar with those labels may know them as horse, pot, Mary Jane, snow, angel dust, poppers, ecstasy, or a hundred other street names. Whether adults like it or not, illegal drugs are part of American life. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to drug abuse, and perhaps the Zedecks' cool, scientific prose may do more to deter potential users than the melodramatic rhetoric usually employed by anti-drug campaigns. A fairly solid background in chemistry is helpful here, as the authors jump into descriptions of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, meaning the absorption and effect of drugs, early in their text. Sidebars, graphs, and a glossary help illuminate some of the more complicated concepts, and each chapter includes a summary of major points. The book concludes with three hypothetical cases for the reader to solve, a nice interactive feature. The questions are a challenging and engaging way of putting new found knowledge to use. One wishes there could have been more of them, perhaps woven into the body of the book, rather than segregated at the end. Overall, however, the authors present a wealth of information in a well-organized and readable format. This book could provide an excellent starting point for a classroom discussion about drugs and their dangers.