Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Forensic Science

Drugs & toxicology

NIST scientists develop Standard Reference Materials that forensic science laboratories use to validate the accuracy of their identification and quantification of controlled substances. NIST researchers are also developing methods to help investigators detect drugs at crime scenes, in cargo, and at transit hubs, and they are developing tools to identify emerging synthetic and designer drugs.

Black background. Photo of a penny. Next to the penny is a tiny amount of a white powder.

Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer Drugs

“A new drug might appear, then three or six months later it’s gone, replaced by something new,” said NIST chemist and program manager Marcela Najarro. “It’s a totally different ballgame than 10 or 15 years ago.”

To help with that issue and others, NIST researchers are giving law enforcement and public health experts new tools to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.

Learn more.

The Research

Projects & Programs

Metrology and Standards for Canine Olfactory Detection of Explosives

Completed

Effective and accepted by the public, trained dogs are the most frequently deployed detection systems for identification of explosives threats in mobile applications. In addition to being highly sensitive, dogs can rapidly discriminate the unique profile of an explosive in a presence of a large

Electron Ionization Library Component of the NIST/EPA/NIH Mass Spectral Library and NIST GC Retention Index Database

Ongoing

Intended Impact The speed and accuracy of chemical analyses are vital issues in many areas. Monitoring for explosives, drugs (both legal and illegal), chemical weapons, pollutants, petrochemical processing, food contamination, and health/disease status biomarkers is a challenge with a high reward in

View All Projects/Programs

Additional Resources Links

FORENSIC SCIENCE PROGRAM

Forensic Science Research Focus Areas

Publications

News and Updates

A person wearing a mask and laboratory gloves handles ground plant material inside a metal container.

NIST’s New Hemp Reference Material Will Help Ensure Accurate Cannabis Measurements

A white van with its sliding door open, parked in a lot, with mountains in the background. Decals on the side refer to scientific studies.

Researchers Analyze THC in Breath of Cannabis Smokers

A person in a baseball cap and face mask stands at a computer surrounded by scientific equipment, including a curving black plastic tube.

Animal Tranquilizer Floods Illicit Drug Markets in Maryland

Briana Capistran wears safety glasses as she poses smiling in the lab with computers and other equipment in the background.

Speeding Up the Wheels of Justice: How NIST Resources Can Help Crime Labs Work Faster

NIST Partnership Helps Communities Manage Unknown Dangers in Common Street Drugs

A white telescope dish is surrounded by wooded mountains in autumn colors.

Stay in Touch

Upcoming Events

Building a Path Forward for Meaningful Cannabis Breathalyzer Realization

Wed, Sep 24 - Thu, Sep 25 2025

We are bringing together participants from government, forensic laboratories, industry, academia, law enforcement

Was this page helpful?