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Seized drugs

Understanding the Impact of Drug Background Levels in Forensic Laboratories

August 2019

This webinar will present a recent study investigating drug background levels in forensic laboratories and its implications on data quality, data integrity, and laboratory staff safety as well as strategies for reducing background and self-monitoring.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 13, 2019. 
 

Using ODMAP to Harness Data and Accelerate Action

July 2019

By combining the data in ODMAP with collaborative partnerships which span different disciplines, localities can develop and deploy a real-time plan to reduce both fatal and non-fatal overdoses.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 16, 2019.

Marijuana Analysis in a New Frontier: Two State Laboratory Approaches

March 2020

After the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) was enacted in December 2018, many states rushed to make changes to their own laws to allow the hemp industry to grow and thrive in their jurisdictions. By removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, Cannabis sativa L. plant material with a concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis was no longer considered marijuana.

DART-MS Data Interpretation Tool and Other Resources for Seized Drug Analysis

October 2021

With the increased prevalence of DART-MS in forensic laboratories comes an increased need for tools and resources. This webinar will highlight the new NIST/NIJ DART-MS Data Interpretation Tool (DIT), a freely available software tool that allows users to interpret DART-MS data resulting in improved presumptive screening of seized drug evidence. Other resources to assist with adoption and implementation of the DART-MS DIT will also be discussed.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on October 21, 2021.

Structural Characterization of Emerging Synthetic Drugs by Mass Spectrometry

March 2021

The primary focus of this presentation is to develop a better understanding of the fragmentation behavior of emerging synthetic drugs in different types of mass spectrometers. The goal is to assist practitioners in seized drugs and forensic toxicology with their understanding of current casework, and to help them more-readily identify new drugs as they emerge.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on March 5, 2021.

Novel Synthetic Opioids in Oral Fluid Analytical Methods and Prevalence

February 2021

This webinar will discuss the analytical methodology developed and validated to identify and quantify novel synthetic opioids and traditional opioids in oral fluid. The presenter will also discuss targeted and non-targeted approaches using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for detection of fentanyl- and non-fentanyl related novel synthetic opioids. Additionally, this webinar with cover sample preparation techniques for isolating synthetic opioids with various chemistries and structures.

Preemptive Approach to Combatting and Characterizing Emerging Synthetic Opioids

February 2021

This webinar seeks to describe how preemptive synthesis and characterization of potent psychoactive substances from the literature can aid forensic scientists in the identification of unknowns appearing in samples emerging from illicit markets. Additionally, the presenter seeks to provide understanding of how gaps in pharmacological knowledge of old drugs can be exploited to find new emerging synthetic drugs.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 8, 2021.