The Analysis of Controlled Substances

It is now recognized that to ensure the validity of a forensic science analysis, a number of criteria need to be met, including ensuring that the: * sample is suitable for the analysis * analysis to be undertaken will answer the question being asked * analysis has been correctly carried out * data has been correctly recorded * data has been correctly interpreted * findings are correctly reported The aim of this text is to provide an understanding into the analysis of drugs of abuse within the context of their control, an appreciation of the different methods that can be used for drug analysis and the reasons for their use. The major classes of drugs of abuse are addressed, the analysis of which follows a systematic framework, including description, presumptive testing, thin layer chromatography, instrumental methods and data analysis. Throughout the text, regular questions and answers are used to further develop an understanding of the processes being used. This book will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students of forensic science, and to forensic science practitioners who are new in post or receiving additional or refresher training. It will also appeal to those who are studying controlled substances as broadening courses in other scientific disciplines