Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis (8780.3)
Level: | Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit |
---|---|
Credit Points: | 3 |
HECS Bands: | Band 2 2013-2020 (Expires 31 Dec 2020) Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Faculty: | Faculty of Science and Technology |
Discipline: | Academic Program Area - Science |
Availability
-
UC - Canberra, Bruce
Year Teaching Period Convener Mode of Delivery 2021 Semester 2 DR Tamsin KELLY (Ph: +61 2 62012590 ) ON-CAMPUS
Possible changes to your unit's learning activities and assessment items
For the remainder of 2020, resulting from Australian Government's directives requiring physical distancing and restrictions on movement because of the COVID-19 pandemic, any exams that are required for assessment in a unit will be online exams. Online exams may also use online proctoring to help assure the academic integrity of those exams. Please contact your unit convener with any questions.
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Unit Outlines
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- Semester 2, 2020, ON-CAMPUS, BRUCE (195729) - View
- Semester 2, 2019, ON-CAMPUS, BRUCE (185500) - View
- Semester 2, 2018, ON-CAMPUS, BRUCE (182333) - View
- Semester 2, 2017, ON-CAMPUS, BRUCE (166205) - View
- Semester 2, 2016, ON-CAMPUS, BRUCE (151112) - View
- Semester 2, 2015, ON-CAMPUS, BRUCE (139216) - View
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Syllabus
This unit provides an introduction to toxicological assays, including presumptive and confirmation testing in a variety of biological matrices, and a comprehensive pharmacological and analytical review of some major drug classes include alcohol, drugs for the treatment of mood disorders (anti-psychotics and anti-depressants), anxiolytics and hypnotics (barbiturates and benzodiazepines), anesthetics, opioids, psychedelic drugs, amphetamine related compounds, cocaine, and cannabinoids. Other topics covered include the clandestine manufacture and profiling of illicit drugs, drug-facilitated sexual assault, and drugs in sport.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Understand the basis of presumptive and confirmation testing, and compare and evaluate the use of a variety of biological matrices in toxicological analysis;
2. Discuss the pharmacological characteristics and analytical considerations of several major drugs classes commonly encountered in forensic toxicology;
3. Explain how pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic parameters can be used to interpret toxicological findings;
4. Summarise the role of forensic toxicology in areas such as sports drug testing and drug-facilitated sexual assault cases;
5. Discuss the clandestine manufacture of illicit drugs and the profiling strategies implemented for different illicit drug classes; and
6. Collate, analyse, evaluate, interpret and present information from toxicological based analysis.
Assessment Items
Contact Hours
5 contact hours per week.
Prerequisites
Must have passed 8043 Analytical Chemistry and 8342 Introduction to Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Corequisites
None.
Assumed Knowledge
General understanding of pharmacology and toxicology (as covered in the pre-requisite unit).
Equivalent Units
None.
Referenced Courses
- 142HG Bachelor of Applied Science in Forensic Studies
- 142JA Bachelor of Applied Science in Forensic Studies
- 762HG Bachelor of Commerce
- NPSC02 Bachelor of Forensic Studies/ Bachelor of Laws
- 194JA Bachelor of Forensic Studies/Bachelor of Laws
- 317JA Bachelor of Health Science
- 248HG Bachelor of Justice Studies
- SCNP01 Bachelor of Justice Studies/Bachelor of Forensic Studies
- 249JA Bachelor of Justice Studies/Bachelor of Forensic Studies
- 660AA Bachelor of Medical Science
- 131JA Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
- 392AB Bachelor of Science
- 195JA Bachelor of Social Science in Justice Studies/Bachelor of Forensic Studies