Current Issues and Research Perspectives in Forensic Toxicology

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive collection of research to advance our understanding of the complex interplay between drugs of abuse, alcohol, and their impact on populations. This Special Issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and expert insights addressing both current challenges and future directions in forensic toxicology.

Forensic toxicology is a critical field that intersects with clinical medicine, public health, and the justice system. As such, this Special Issue will provide a multifaceted exploration of the toxicological and forensic implications of substance abuse. Our focus spans a wide array of substances, with particular attention to the nuances of their effects on vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and those with preexisting health conditions.

One of the core aims of this Special Issue is to highlight the clinical implications of drug and alcohol abuse. Papers will explore the physiological and psychological impacts of substance use, examining how chronic use alters biological systems and contributes to comorbid conditions. We are particularly interested in research that explores novel biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of substance abuse, as well as innovative therapeutic approaches for managing addiction and its health consequences.

From a toxicological perspective, this Special Issue will feature studies on the detection and quantification of drugs and alcohol in biological matrices. Advances in analytical techniques, such as mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography, will be showcased, emphasizing their role in improving accuracy and sensitivity in forensic investigations. Research that addresses the challenges of interpreting toxicological data in the context of postmortem examinations and legal proceedings is also highly encouraged.

The forensic implications of substance abuse are vast and multifaceted. Contributions to this Special Issue will explore the legal ramifications of drug and alcohol use, including impaired driving, drug-facilitated crimes, and workplace substance abuse. Papers will examine how forensic toxicologists contribute to legal processes by providing expert testimony and supporting law enforcement with reliable evidence.

Given the dynamic nature of substance abuse trends, this Special Issue will also look ahead to emerging substances of concern. Research on novel psychoactive substances (NPSs), synthetic opioids, and other rapidly evolving drug markets will be featured, highlighting the need for adaptive forensic strategies and updated regulatory frameworks.

In summary, this Special Issue of Toxics on forensic toxicology research aims to provide a comprehensive resource that addresses the current issues and future research perspectives on drugs of abuse and alcohol. By focusing on clinical, toxicological, and forensic implications, we hope to foster a deeper understanding and spur further innovation in this critical field. We invite researchers, clinicians, and forensic professionals to contribute their findings and insights, helping to shape the future of forensic toxicology. Studies may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Postmortem forensic toxicology;
• Synthetic and natural poisons;
• The interpretation of forensic toxicological data;
• The screening of medicines, drugs of abuse, and alcohol in clinical and forensic specimens;
• Human performance toxicology;
• Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol;
• Workplace drug testing;
• The application of proteomics to forensic toxicology;
• Markers for neurochemical diagnostics;
• Prenatal alcohol exposure and related biomarkers.

Dr. Marek Wiergowski
Dr. Giuseppe Davide Davide Albano
Dr. Claudia Trignano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• forensic toxicology
• forensic analytical chemistry
• postmortem toxicology
• drugs of abuse detection
• forensic alcohology
• drug-impaired driving
• forensic biochemistry
• nanochemistry biomarkers