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Drugs & toxicology
Overview
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.
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.
The Research
Additional Resources Links
News
Sneezes, Rain Clouds and Ink Jets: NIST Improves the Ability of Optical Microscopes to Measure the Volume of Microdroplets
Forensic Science Organization to Draft Standards for Sexual Assault Examinations
Spotlight: Understanding the Chemical Compounds in Cannabis
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