Steven B. Karch, MD, FFFLM

Steven B. Karch

The Pathology of Drug Abuse, Second Edition is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the pathology, toxicology, and pharmacology of commonly abused drugs. The book also offers detailed information on the origin, history, and production techniques used to make these drugs. As in the first edition, emphasis remains focused on the investigation of drug-related deaths and on practical approaches to the detection of drug abuse. The medical complications associated with each of the abused drugs are discussed in some detail as well. Individual chapters deal with cocaine, other naturally occurring stimulants, synthetic stimulants, hallucinogens, narcotics, anabolic steroids, and solvent abuse. Approximately 800 new references have been added since the publication of the first edition. Numerous new photomicrographs and drawings have been added, and many of the illustrations from the first edition have been redrawn to enhance clarity.

Pathology of Drug Abuse

Extracted from the Drug Abuse Handbook, 2nd edition, to give you just the information you need at an affordable price. Postmortem Toxicology of Abused Drugs considers the role of toxicology in the investigation of homicide, suicide, accident, natural death, and overdose. It gives practical insights and case reviews on conducting toxicology tests and completing toxicology reports. It explains chain of custody; specimen collection and security; sampling of blood, urine, bile, and vitreous humor; and the selection of post-mortem specimens. Analyzing various testing procedures, the book covers simple chemical tests, microdiffusion tests, chromatography, spectroscopy, and more. It also discusses methods and strategies for analysis; and covers quality assurance protocols and controls. To help avoid common pitfalls, the text demonstrates the proper interpretation of postmortem drug levels based on knowledge of pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and pharmacogenetics; post-mortem redistribution and diffusion; and other considerations such as synergistic toxicity, and drug instability. Heavily referenced and containing several tables, figures, and useful appendices, this book is a handy reference for forensic scientists and medical examiners involved with death investigation.

Postmortem Toxicology of Abused Drugs

Following the well-received first edition, the Drug Abuse Handbook, Second Edition is a thorough compendium of the knowledge of the pharmacological, medical, and legal aspects of drugs. The book examines criminalistics, pathology, pharmacokinetics, neurochemistry, treatment, as well as drugs and drug testing in the workplace and in sports, and the ethical, legal, and practical issues involved. Dr. Karch gathers contributions from 80 leading experts in their respective fields to update and revise this second edition with more than 40 percent new material. New topics include genetic testing in drug death investigation, the neurochemistry of nicotine and designer amphetamines, genetic doping in sports, and the implications of the Daubert ruling on the admissibility of scientific evidence in federal court. Packed with the latest information in an easily accessible format, the book includes tables of all Scheduled Drugs, methods of Drug Quantitative Analysis, and a glossary of forensic toxicology terms. Vivid pictures and diagrams illustrate the pathological effects of drugs and the chemical make-up and breakdown of abused drugs. It includes more than 6000 references to the best sources in medicine, pharmacology, and the law. This book addresses specific problems in drug testing, drug-related medical emergencies, and the physical, neurochemical, and sociological phenomenon of addiction. With unparalleled detail and the highest level of authoritative information, The Drug Abuse Handbook, Second Edition is the definitive resource for drug related issues.

Steven B. Karch, MD, FFFLM

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