Abstract
The analysis of seized drugs is a critical component to combatting illicit drug abuse. From the moment suspected drug evidence is submitted to the laboratory, quality assurance practices are in place to ensure scientifically valid results can be reported. A number of scientific techniques have been applied to the analysis of seized drug evidence. The data generated from these techniques allows the analyst to determine the substance’s identity. With the diffusion of a wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and other emerging drugs, laboratories face numerous challenges, such as complex matrices and similar chemical structures, which are further complicated by the complexity of such an unprecedented phenomenon. Using available resources, the analysis of suspected drug evidence provides support in the areas of law enforcement and drug control policy.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to the members of the DEA Special Testing and Research Laboratory’s Emerging Trends Program—past and present. It has been an inspiration to see your unwavering perseverance in the face of the NPS phenomenon. I am forever grateful for your thoughtful counsel and friendship over the years. DEA PRB 10-15-20-34
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Lockhart, E.D. (2022). Forensic Analysis of Seized Drugs. In: Rabin, O., Corazza, O. (eds) Emerging Drugs in Sport. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79293-0_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79293-0_16
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