Postgraduate - UnitFOR5007 - Elements of forensic toxicology

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit	Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
Offered	Southbank First semester 2015 (Online)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Dimitri Gerostamoulos

Quota applies

This unit is quota restricted. Selection is on a first-in, first enrolled basis. For further information please contact the Postgraduate Course Administrator via email postgrad.courses@vifm.org or phone 03 9684 4115.

Synopsis

Teaching in this unit aims to develop students' familiarity with the concepts of clinical and post-mortem toxicology. The unit also focuses on the basic pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties of commonly abused drugs found in forensic medical cases. Emphasis will be on behavioural issues of these drugs and how they relate to forensic practice. Such issues include the effects on cognitive and psychomotor skills in drivers and in the workplace and other adverse reactions attributed to drug misuse.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

demonstrate a familiarity of the technical terms associated with analytical toxicology;
demonstrate a broad understanding of the range of techniques used in forensic toxicology;
demonstrate an awareness of the type of drugs seen in forensic medical cases;
comprehend the main pharmacological effects of alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and cannabis with the emphasis on their effects on behaviours, psychomotor control and cognition;
describe and recognise the relevant behavioural effects of common illicit drug combinations and common adverse illicit drug reactions; and
apply this knowledge to forensic cases for the purpose of preparation and presentation to courts.