The Toxpod is a podcast all about forensic toxicology, produced by Tim Scott and Peter Stockham on behalf of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists. The podcast aims to promote conversation among forensic toxicologists everywhere. From cutting-edge research to practical lab tips, Tim and Peter delve into the fascinating (and sometimes mystifying) world of forensic toxicology and seek perspectives from others working in a range of different contexts within the field. With hundreds of listeners from every corner of the world—subscribe to The Toxpod now and join the conversation!
2025
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology.
1. Dietzen, Dennis J., and Connor J. Blair. “Precision Chemotherapy: Optimizing Calibration for Rapid Determination of Blood Methotrexate by Tandem Mass Spectrometry±Liquid Chromatography.” Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 39.14 (2025): e10053.
2. Skjelland, D., Jørgenrud, B. M., Gundersen, K., Bjørnaas, M. A., Brekke, M., Dalaker, V. M., … & Vallersnes, O. M. (2025). Gamma-hydroxybutyrate poisoning: clinical diagnosis versus laboratory findings. Clinical Toxicology, 63(4), 253-260.
3. Guyon, J., Maillot, A., Bastard, S., Weisse, F., Daveluy, A., & Mété, D. (2025). Psychoactive cocktail consumption on Reunion Island: A case report. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, bkaf009
4. Helland, A., Muller, S., Spigset, O., Krabseth, H. M., Hansen, M., & Skråstad, R. B. (2025). Drug detection in oral fluid and urine after single therapeutic doses of dexamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, and methylphenidate in healthy volunteers. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 49(2), 65-72.
5. Liu, C. M., Huang, B. Y., Hua, Z. D., Jia, W., & Zhi‐yu, L. (2025). Characterization of Mass Spectrometry Fragmentation Patterns Under Electron‐Activated Dissociation (EAD) for Rapid Structure Identification of Nitazene Analogs. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 39(12), e10030.
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology.
1. Dietzen, Dennis J., and Connor J. Blair. “Precision Chemotherapy: Optimizing Calibration for Rapid Determination of Blood Methotrexate by Tandem Mass Spectrometry±Liquid Chromatography.” Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 39.14 (2025): e10053.
2. Skjelland, D., Jørgenrud, B. M., Gundersen, K., Bjørnaas, M. A., Brekke, M., Dalaker, V. M., … & Vallersnes, O. M. (2025). Gamma-hydroxybutyrate poisoning: clinical diagnosis versus laboratory findings. Clinical Toxicology, 63(4), 253-260.
3. Guyon, J., Maillot, A., Bastard, S., Weisse, F., Daveluy, A., & Mété, D. (2025). Psychoactive cocktail consumption on Reunion Island: A case report. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, bkaf009
4. Helland, A., Muller, S., Spigset, O., Krabseth, H. M., Hansen, M., & Skråstad, R. B. (2025). Drug detection in oral fluid and urine after single therapeutic doses of dexamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, and methylphenidate in healthy volunteers. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 49(2), 65-72.
5. Liu, C. M., Huang, B. Y., Hua, Z. D., Jia, W., & Zhi‐yu, L. (2025). Characterization of Mass Spectrometry Fragmentation Patterns Under Electron‐Activated Dissociation (EAD) for Rapid Structure Identification of Nitazene Analogs. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 39(12), e10030.
TIAFT NPS Committee Chair, Svante Vikingsson, hosts Michael Evans-Brown (EUDA), Jared Brown (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
This episode features:
- THC-P: fully synthetic or semi-synthetic cannabinoid?
- The emerging etomidate and analogues;
- The intriguing mystery of BTMPS-adulterant or precursor;
- The 1000th NPS reported by EUDA;
- And much more!
Peter is joined by TIAFT Bulletin Editors Rebecca Hartman, Samantha Joubert and Luke Rodda for a rundown of the latest issue.
For more information on the TIAFT Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
2024
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology.
1. Ning He, et al. Contextual bias in forensic toxicology decisions: A follow-up empirical study from China. (2024) Journal of Forensic Sciences, doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15520.
2. Kesmen, E. et al. Bioinformatics-driven untargeted metabolomic profiling for clinical screening of methamphetamine abuse. (2024) Forensic Toxicology, doi: 10.1007/s11419-024-00703-2.
3. Schuller, M. et al. Electromembrane extraction of drugs of abuse and prescription drugs from micropulverized hair. (2024) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, doi: 10.1093/jat/bkae051.
4. Schackmuth, M. et al. Identification of fentanyl analogs and potential biomarkers in urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS). (2024) Journal of Chromatography B, doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124303.
5. Trobbiani, S. et al. Increasing the linear dynamic range in LC-MS: is it valid to use a less abundant isotopologue? (2017) Drug Testing and Analysis, doi: 10.1002/dta.2175
In the final part of the TIAFT St.Gallen Special, The Toxpod speaks with TIAFT President Simon Elliott, Young Scientist Best Paper Award winner Liam Ward and host of TIAFT 2025, Matt Hosking.
Liam Ward’s paper can be found here: Ward, Liam J. et al.Postmortem metabolomics as a high-throughput cause-of-death screening tool for human death investigations, iScience, Volume 27, Issue 5, 109794
Neither Tim nor Peter could make it to the TIAFT Annual Meeting in St.Gallen to get “On the spot” interviews with delegates this year. So we asked TIAFT Past President Dimitri Gerostamoulos to give us a rundown of how the meeting went. Also we have Michael Scholz, who won the Young Scientist’s Best Oral Presentation Award.
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that. TIAFT NPS Committee Chair, Svante Vikingsson, hosts Michael Evans-Brown (EUDA), Jared Brown (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released every few months with the Editors, Jennifer Schumann and Rebecca Hartman.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that. TIAFT NPS Committee Chair, Svante Vikingsson, hosts Michael Evans-Brown (EUDA), Jared Brown (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
Tim is joined by Samantha Tolliver, Chief Toxicologist in the District of Columbia, to discuss the challenges of running a modern forensic toxicology laboratory.
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released every few months, with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Rebecca Hartman.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
Like all classes of drugs, amphetamines have the potential to both help and harm our communities – depending on how and why they are used.
Tim hosted a panel discussion on this topic at the FACTA 2024 conference, featuring A/Prof Rebecca McKetin, Dr Paul Liknaitzky, and Prof Olaf Drummer.
“I used to keep a quadrupole in my pocket…”
Who else can say that? Bryan received the TIAFT Alan Curry Award in 2018 and was present at the “revolt” of 1963 that led to TIAFT’s genesis. Even after 6 decades in toxicology he continues to support the development of our science and our scientists through the Bryan Finkle Visiting Scientists Grant. A true giant of our field. Come along for the ride!
Meet the giants upon whose shoulders modern toxicologist stand upon! In the first of a series on winners of TIAFT’s prestigious Alan Curry Award, Peter is joined by Tony Moffat, 2013 winner. He is still contributing to our field after more than 50 years.
2023
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released every few months, with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Rebecca Hartman.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that: Svante Vikingsson (TIAFT NPS Committee chair), Conor Crean (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
These updates will be a regular part of our podcast schedule, letting you know about recent developments in NPS markets, detection and harms. In this episode we discuss the drop off in new substances compared to last year, the effect of international controls, and how best to gather and then communicate information on NPS to forensic labs.
Tim is joined by Lana Brockbals to discuss her research into a number of interesting areas in forensic toxicology, including postmortem drug changes and metabolomics.
At the TIAFT 2023 conference in Rome, Peter caught up with a few fellow toxicologists to talk about their work.
At the TIAFT 2023 conference in Rome, Peter caught up with a few fellow toxicologists to talk about their work.
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released every few months, with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Rebecca Hartman.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
As forensic scientists, we’re exposed to some pretty awful things during the course of our work. In this episode we talk with psychologist Samantha Schiro about her recent publication, “Occupational exposure to traumatic evidence and posttraumatic stress symptoms in forensic science professionals: Prevalence and patterns“.
Tim is joined by Helena Teixeira, from the National Institute of Legal Medicine in Coimbra, Portugal.
Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming one of the key tools in all fields of science. In this episode we look at how it’s being used in forensic toxicology, and how it might be used in the future. Special thanks to Stephen Trobbiani for participating in this episode. Here is a link to that NPS paper that Pete mentioned.
Did you know that TIAFT presidents have a synergistic effect? Recorded live at the TIAFT 60th Jubilee in London, this panel discussion hosted by Nikolas Lemos features a bunch of former TIAFT presidents giving their perspectives on a wide range of issues facing forensic toxicologists. Thanks to all for participating, and here’s to the next 60 years!
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that: Michael Evans-Brown (EMCDDA), Conor Crean (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
These updates will be a regular part of our podcast schedule, letting you know about recent developments in NPS markets, detection and harms. In this episode we discuss Early Warning Systems and potential changes in the synthetic cannabinoid market. In this episode we discuss an increasing trend of xylazine in fentanyl supplies, the recent scheduling of some NPS by the United Nations, and the emergence of semi-synthetic cannabinoids, including HHC.
We preview the first TIAFT Bulletin issue of 2023 with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Rebecca Hartman.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology.
1. Palm, E. et al. Machine learning for absolute quantification of unidentified compounds in non-targeted LC/HRMS. (2022) Molecules, https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27031013.
2. Bishop-Freeman, S. et al. Melatonin supplementation in undetermined pediatric deaths. (2022) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkac033.
3. Flament, E. et al. Determination of orellanine in human biological matrices using liquid chromatograph with high-resolution mass spectrometry detection: A validated method applied to suspected poisoning cases. (2023) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkac018
4. Wang, Y. et al. Operation of the anti-doping laboratory for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. (2022) Drug Testing and Analysis, DOI: 10.1002/dta.3384.
5. Otsuka, M. et al. Analysis of degradation products of Novichok agents in human urine by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. (2022) Forensic Toxicology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00656-4.
2022
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released each quarter with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Rebecca Hartman.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that: Michael Evans-Brown (EMCDDA), Conor Crean (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
These updates will be a regular part of our podcast schedule, letting you know about recent developments in NPS markets, detection and harms. In this episode we discuss Early Warning Systems and potential changes in the synthetic cannabinoid market.
At the TIAFT 2022 conference in Versailles, Peter caught up with a few fellow toxicologists: Michael Scholz (Switzerland), Brigitte Desharnais (Canada), Svante Vikingsson (USA), and Jean-Claude Alvarez (France).
TIAFT meetings are back! Peter is joined on stage in Versailles by Sarah Wille (Belgium), Rebecca Hartman (USA) and Jennifer Schumann (Australia) to discuss what’s hot and what’s not in the field of toxicology.
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology
1. Huen-Yin Tang M, et al. Ropinirole metabolite mimics a new psychoactive substance (4-HO-MET) in LC-MS/MS. (2022) Forensic Science International, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111151.
2. Shang, Q. et al. Multi-extraction system with identical supported semi-liquid membrane: Enhanced stability for coextraction of acidic and basic drugs. (2022) Talanta, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123485.
3. Khan, T. Kamini, a little recognised source of illicit opioid: A case series of 12 patients. (2022) Drug and Alcohol Review, DOI: 10.1111/dar.13475.
4. Trigg, S. The alprazolam analogue 4’-chloro deschloroalprazolam identified in seized capsules. (2022) Drug Testing and Analysis, DOI: 10.1002/dta.3325.
5. Brooks-Lim, E. Fatal ingestion of Taxus baccata: English yew. (2022) Journal of Forensic Sciences, DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14941.
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released each quarter, with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Sarah Wille.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
Tim chats with Jose Luiz da Costa, Professor of Toxicology at the University of Campinas in Brazil, about his work with NPS and advancements in “Green analytical toxicology”.
At the FACTA 2022 conference, Peter caught up with a few fellow toxicologists: Dimitri Gerostamoulos, Naren Gunja, and Susan Britza.
We continue with another episode recorded live at FACTA 2022 in Brisbane, Australia.
It’s a panel discussion on medicinal cannabis featuring Associate Professor Vicki Kotsirilos, Professor Olaf Drummer, Professor Thomas Kraemer, and Dr. Samuel Banister.
We finally attend a real life conference again, and turn the conference theme, “Fresh approaches to old problems”, on its head! Recorded live at FACTA 2022 in Brisbane, Australia.
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that: Michael Evans-Brown (EMCDDA), Conor Crean (UNODC) and Alex Krotulski (CFSRE).
These updates will be a regular part of our podcast schedule, letting you know about recent developments in NPS markets, detection and harms. In this episode we discuss Early Warning Systems and potential changes in the synthetic cannabinoid market.
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released each quarter, with Editors Jennifer Schumann and Sarah Wille.
For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
We were at the TIAFT Virtual Conference in February! This episode is a recording of a couple of sessions we did there – busting some more myths in forensic toxicology.
Plus we had our first ever competition! Stay tuned until the end to find out who won the prestigious Toxpod mug…
2021
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released each quarter.
Special thanks to Jennifer Schumann and Sarah Wille, editors of the TIAFT Bulletin. For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here.
We tell the story of the TIAFT2020 conference in Capetown, South Africa – a conference that never actually happened.
Thanks to Alicia Evans, Bronwen Davies, Lorna Martin, Marc LeBeau, Simon Elliott, Dimitri Gerostamoulos and Michaela Kenneally for taking part in this episode.
Keeping up to date with New Psychoactive Substances is hard! We’ve assembled a crack team of experts to help us do just that:
- Michael Evans-Brown, EMCDDA
- Conor Crean, UNODC
- Alex Krotulski, CFSRE
These updates will be a regular part of our podcast schedule, letting you know about recent developments in NPS markets, detection and harms. In this episode we discuss Early Warning Systems and potential changes in the synthetic cannabinoid market.
Some info on the new class of OXIZID SCRAs
The UNODC Tox-Portal – get involved!
We’ll be previewing issues of the TIAFT Bulletin as they are released each quarter.
Special thanks to Jennifer Schumann and Sarah Wille, editors of the TIAFT Bulletin. For more information on the Bulletin, including how to submit content, click here. Listen here
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology.
1. Polettini A, et al. LC–QTOF-MS Presumptive Identification of Synthetic Cannabinoids without Reference Chromatographic Retention/Mass Spectral Information. II. Evaluation of a Computational Approach for Predicting and Identifying Unknown High-Resolution Product Ion Mass Spectra. (2021) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 45(5):440-61.
2. Kuwayama, K. et al. Development of the “selective concentration” analytical method for drug-containing hair regions based on micro-segmental analysis to identify a trace amount of drug in hair: hair analysis following single-dose ingestion of midazolam. (2021) Forensic Toxicology, 39(1):156-66.
3. Robin, T. First-Line Toxicological Screening with Fully Automated Extraction. (2021) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 45(3):252-68.
4. Kranenburg, R. Spotting isomer mixtures in forensic illicit drug casework with GC–VUV using automated coelution detection and spectral deconvolution. (2021) Journal of Chromatography B, 1173:122675.
5. Elmsjö, A. Post-Mortem Metabolomics: A Novel Approach in Clinical Biomarker Discovery and a Potential Tool in Death Investigations. (2021) Chemical Research in Toxicology, 34(6):1496-1502.
We chat with Alex Krotulski about his work with CFSRE and NPS Discovery. You can find out more about these initiatives, and access the many resources they produce, at www.npsdiscovery.org. Listen here
Modern forensic toxicologists are able to detect tiny amounts of drugs in a sample. Is it possible we are now too sensitive? Listen here
We chat with Jenny Button, Deputy Director of Chiron, about the use of reference standards in forensic toxicology.
Jenny’s written a book chapter about all this – it’s really good! Here’s a link. Listen here
Tim chats with Marthe Vandeputte about the current and potential uses of activity based assays in forensic toxicology. Listen here
Links to a couple of Marthe’s papers on the topic are below:
In vitro functional characterization of a panel of non-fentanyl opioid new psychoactive substances
We look at 5 recent publications in the field of toxicology. Listen here
1. Karoly, H. et al. Effects of high-potency cannabis on psychomotor performance in frequent cannabis users. (2020) Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, X:X, 1-9
2. Prado, E. et al. Metabolism of synthetic cathinones through the zebrafish water tank model: a promising tool for forensic toxicology laboratories. (2021) Forensic Toxicology, 39: 73-88
3. Chu, M. et al. Time-dependent changes in THC concentrations in deceased persons. (2021) Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 45:1-7
4. Van Schalkwyk, F. et al. Fatal pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning of infants caused by adulterated Senecio coronatus. (2021) Forensic Science International, 320:110680
5. Norman, C. et al. Large-scale evaluation of ion mobility spectrometry for the rapid detection of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in
infused papers in prisons. (2021) Drug Testing and Analysis, 13:644–663
We chat with Hilary Hamnett about the complex issue of cognitive bias in forensic toxicology. You can contact Hilary at HHamnett@lincoln.ac.uk, if you would like to hear more from her about cognitive bias. Listen here
How confident are you that your analytical methods won’t miss a target analyte? In the first episode of season 4, we discuss the potential for false negative results in forensic toxicology. Listen here
Older episodes can be found here.
The Toxpod is produced by:
Tim Scott (Australia)
Tim holds a BSc (Hons) from Flinders University and has worked in the Toxicology section at Forensic Science South Australia since 2002, where his current position is Team Leader. He is an adjunct academic at Flinders University and is a member of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT), the Society of Hair Testing (SOHT), the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS), and is a board member of the Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Association (FACTA). He loves to talk about forensic toxicology any chance he gets—although his wife and four children do not seem particularly keen to listen, which is probably why he started a podcast. His interests include drug screening using HRMS and the interpretation of post-mortem drug concentrations.
e-mail: toxpod@tiaft.org
Peter Stockham (Australia)
After completing his BSc (Hons) in Organic Chemistry at the University of Adelaide, Peter started his scientific career in hospital research and water quality laboratories. He joined Forensic Science South Australia in 2000 and was heavily involved in the lab’s early adoption of innovative LC-MS and LC-HRMS techniques. Besides daily reporting, casework and quality responsibilities, his recent interests include analysis of hospital emergency department samples to monitor drug trends, development of NPS suspect-screening techniques, encouraging sharing of information between toxicology labs, and trying not to take life too seriously. He is a member of FACTA and ANZFSS, and is the Australian Regional Representative for TIAFT. A scientist at heart, Peter is always aware of the rare privilege it is to have a career in a field where science and service are cornerstones, and where innovation and collaboration is the norm, if not a necessity.
e-mail: toxpod@tiaft.org
The Toxpod is a production of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists. The opinions expressed by the hosts are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TIAFT or their employer.