A SCIENTIFIC REVIEW ON FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY: CURRENT ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS IN CRIME INVESTIGATION

Abstract

Forensic toxicology occupies a central position at the interface of analytical chemistry, pharmacology, and the law, providing the scientific evidence required to determine whether a drug, poison, or other xenobiotic substance contributed to death, injury, or impaired behaviour. Over the past three decades, the discipline has been transformed by rapid advances in analytical instrumentation, most notably liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), which have dramatically improved the sensitivity, specificity, and scope of substances that can be detected in biological specimens. This review synthesises current knowledge on the historical development, analytical methodologies, biological specimens, and interpretive frameworks used in forensic toxicology, with particular emphasis on its practical applications in criminal investigation, including postmortem toxicology, drug-facilitated crimes, driving under-the-influence (DUI) casework, and the escalating challenge posed by novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Emerging areas such as alternative matrix testing (hair, oral fluid, vitreous humor), pharmacogenomic interpretation of drug toxicity, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence and high-throughput "toxicological -omics" approaches are discussed as frontiers that are reshaping the field. The review further examines quality assurance frameworks, validation requirements, and the legal admissibility standards that govern the use of toxicological evidence in court. Persistent challenges, including postmortem redistribution, interpretation of drug concentrations in the absence of case history, and the continuous emergence of new designer drugs, are critically analysed. The review concludes that continued investment in analytical innovation, harmonised international standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration between toxicologists, pathologists, and law enforcement will be essential to ensure that forensic toxicology continues to deliver accurate, timely, and legally defensible evidence in criminal investigations.