In 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an all-time historical record of overdose deaths in the United States. Victim toxicology data has shown that increased recreational use of opioid painkillers, including potent synthetics such as fentanyl and carfentanyl, are a driving factor in recent national increases in overdoses due to their extreme toxicity in humans. However, many coroner’s offices do not analyze the drugs found at the scene of the overdoses, instead relying on toxicology data from the deceased. Knowing the correlation between the cause of death and the other materials found on the deceased can provide information about the source, chemical make-up and infiltration of different drugs in the market as well as sociodemographic evidence about the deceased. In this study, drug samples collected at accidental fatal overdose scenes in Marion County, Indiana were tested with an experimental paper test card, and results are compared to LC-MS of the drug samples and toxicology reports from the decedent.<br/>

Analysis of illicit substances found at fatal overdose scenes and their relationship to victim toxicology reports

2019 Spring National Meeting

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