Seminar in Forensic Toxicology: Expanding Worlds of Cannabinoids & Polydrug Exposures
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- Non-member - Tier I - $525
- Non-member - Tier II - $475
- Non-member - Tier III - $425
- Non-member - Tier IV - $375
- Member - Tier I - $425
- Member - Tier II - $375
- Member - Tier III - $325
- Member - Tier IV - $275
Overview
The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) present the Seminar in Forensic Toxicology: Expanding Worlds of Cannabinoids & Polydrug Exposures On-Demand course! This self-paced course features lectures by some of the top professionals in forensic science and medicine, harm reduction, and the legal and law enforcement fields from across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The content for this course consists of recordings and slides from the live, virtual 2023 ACMT Seminar in Forensic Toxicology held on December 14-15, 2023. The content has been edited and packaged into this on-demand version featuring 21 asynchronous lectures with expert faculty exploring such topics as cannabis and alternative cannabinoid impairment, medical legal death investigations involving polydrug exposures including fentanyl, xylazine, benzodiazepines, and more.
Registration for this course includes 90 day access to the on-demand material and up to 12.00 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits.
Elevate your professional growth in Forensic Toxicology with ACMT Today!
Target Audience
This on-demand course is tailored to the interests of physicians and professionals of numerous specialties, including medical toxicology, forensics and laboratory medicine, addiction medicine, and the legal community.
Continuing Education
This activity has been approved for Continuing Medical Education credit by Amedco LLC. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. For more information, click here.
CME: 12.00
Length of Activity: ~12 hours
Learner Objectives
After Attending This Program You Should Be Able To:
1. Recognize the historical and legislative drivers of cannabis legalization and cannabinoids.
2. Evaluate laboratory testing challenges and pharmacological mechanisms of cannabinoids.
3. Describe the complexities and challenges of forensic and medical toxicology in cases involving polydrugs.
Lecture Highlights:
During the lecture, the speakers will:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and challenges in forensic toxicology related to polydrug use, including community drug checking, toxicology testing, and drug overdose surveillance.
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different toxicology testing methods and their applications in forensic investigations, considering the evolving drug landscape and the need for accurate and reliable results.
- Analyze the impact of limited resources on addressing the upsurge in opioid and polydrug deaths, and propose effective strategies to confront these challenges while prioritizing public health and safety.
- Assess the role of medical examiners and coroners in drug overdose surveillance and information sharing, emphasizing the importance of accurate data collection in reports to inform public health interventions and policies.
- Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to interpret complex cases involving multiple drugs, integrating perspectives from forensic toxicologists, medical examiners, and clinical toxicologists to ensure comprehensive understanding and effective collaboration in forensic investigations.
- Describe the historical milestones and legislative changes that have shaped the current landscape of cannabis legalization and the expanding world of cannabinoids.
- Analyze the impact of cannabis legalization in Oregon, including the challenges, benefits, and lessons learned from the implementation of cannabis regulations in the state.
- Evaluate the medical toxicology perspective on the rise in cannabis use and associated adverse events, understanding the potential health risks and factors contributing to this increase in incidents.
- Assess the analytical challenges and adoption of new technologies in laboratory testing of cannabinoids, and recognize the importance of accurate and reliable results in ensuring public safety.
- Differentiate between acute and chronic cannabis use, as well as various routes of administration, and comprehend the pharmacological mechanisms underlying driving impairment caused by cannabinoids.
Interested in learning more about the lectures in the course? Check out the course syllabus for additional information:
Syllabus
Total Activity Length: around 12 hours (620+ minutes)
Cannabis and the Expanding World of Cannabinoids
How Did We Get Here? Cannabis Legalization, the Farm Bill, Cannabinoid Analogues, & Chemistry | 30 min
Glen P. Jackson, PhD, Professor of Forensic & Investigative Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Professor of Forensic & Investigative sciences, Dr. Glen Jackson, talks about understanding the discord in technical terms of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. He discusses inconsistent laws and their prosecution, and the historical lack of research in health benefits. He reviews the difficulty and redundancy in resolving acids/neutrals & isomers, and identifies problems with QC botanic standards.
The Oregon Experience - Challenges with Prosecuting Marijuana DUIs and other Legal Questions Post Legalization | 31 min
Deena Ryerson, Sr. Assistant Attorney General, DUII Resource Prosecutor, Oregon Department of Justice, Salem, OR
Oregon DUII Resource Prosecutor Sr. Assistant AG Deena Ryerson, examines the challenges that legalizing cannabis has on the roadways and in the courtroom and discusses how decriminalizing illicit drugs in Oregon must be considered along with the legalization of cannabis.
Medical Toxicology Perspective on the Rise in Use and Adverse Events with Cannabinoid Products | 28 min
Robert G. Hendrickson, MD, FACMT, FACEP, FAACT, Director, Emergency Medicine Toxicology Fellowship; Associate Medical Director, Oregon Poison Center; Professor of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Director of Emergency Medicine Toxicology Fellowship & Associate Medical Director of Oregon Poison Center, Dr. Robert Hendrickson identifies the common symptoms of acute cannabis toxicity in children. He discusses the common symptoms of acute cannabis toxicity in adults, and examines the effect of cannabis legalization on cases of acute cannabis toxicity.
Analytical Perspectives and Challenges for Adoption of Cannabinoid Methodology | 30 min
Ayako Chan-Hosokawa, MS, D-ABFT-FT, Toxicology Team Manager & Forensic Toxicologist, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Ayako Chan-Hosokawa, Forensic Toxicologist & Toxicology Team Manager at NMS Labs, identifies delta-8 THC and other semi-synthetic cannabinoids containing products. She examines the analytical challenges associated with semi-synthetic cannabinoids. She describes the prevalence of delta-8 THC in casework, and discusses the concentrations of delta-8 THC in blood and urine.
Acute vs Chronic Cannabinoid Use and Different Routes of Administration | 28 min
Natalie Desrosiers, PhD, F-ABFT, Forensic Laboratory Team Leader, Services de toxicologie, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Canada
Forensic Laboratory Team Leader of the Services de toxicologie, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Dr. Natalie Desrosiers, examines the difference between occasional and frequent, chronic cannabis users and discusses the impact of the route of administration.
Pharmacological Mechanism Underlying Driving Impairment | 29 min
Jan Ramaekers, PhD, Professor of Psychopharmacology and Behavioral Toxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Dr. Jan Ramaekers, Professor of Psychopharmacology and Behavioral Toxicology at Maastricht University, examines the brain mechanisms underlying cannabis induced impairment during acute exposure to THC.
State-wide Oral Fluid Program and Courtroom Experiences | 31 min
Curt E. Harper, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Chief Toxicologist, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Hoover, AL
Dr. Curt Harper, the Chief Toxicologist at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, discusses the distinct differences between Roadside and Laboratory Oral Fluid Drug Testing. He identifies potential court challenges to oral fluid testing. He examines how to develop an oral fluid drug testing program within your state, city, county, or jurisdiction.
AFMES Experience with Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids: Both Analytical & Interpretative | 29 min
Erin L. Karschner, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Forensic Toxicologist, Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Dover, DE
Forensic Toxicologist in the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Dr. Erin Karschner, discusses how AFMES first encountered delta-8 THC. She examines several topics related to delta-8 THC, including the development and validation of a method, anecdotal cases cases studies, and delta-8 THC's impact on urine drug testing. She discusses other development and validation methods for delta-9 THC and metabolites. She identifies additional semi-synthetic cannabinoids and the development process for a new analytical method in 2023.
The Value of Different Pieces of Toxicology Data for Testimony | 27 min
Bruce Goldberger, PhD, Chief, Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Dr. Bruce Goldberger, the Chief of the Division of Forensic Medicine in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at University of Florida, identifies contextual elements commonly used when providing opinions and testimony. He describes important sources of data for consideration when providing opinions and testimony and discusses investigative resources useful in the establishment of opinions and testimony.
Cannabis Roundtable & Case Discussions | 60 min
Panel
Erin L. Karschner, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Dover, DE
Ayako Chan-Hosokawa, MS, D-ABFT-FT, Toxicology Team Manager & Forensic Toxicologist, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Robert G. Hendrickson, MD, FACMT, FACEP, FAACT, Director, Emergency Medicine Toxicology Fellowship; Associate Medical Director, Oregon Poison Center; Professor of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Charles McKay, MD, FACMT, Associate Medical Director, CT Poison Control Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
Natalie Desrosiers, PhD, F-ABFT, Forensic Laboratory Team Leader, Services de toxicologie, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Canada
Moderator
Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, Forensic Toxicologist & Business Scientist, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Moderated by Donna Papsun, a Forensic Toxicologist & Business scientist, several speakers from previous lectures return to review case discussions. They discuss how to outline a consistent, reliable approach to questions related to clinical impairment and analytical identification of cannabinoid-related compounds and compare and contrast screening and confirmatory techniques for cannabinoid-related compounds. The roundtable also examines ways to be familiar with the evolving scope of cannabinoid-related testing as it relates to questions of drug-induced impairment in the medicolegal realm.
Living in a Poly Drug World - Lab and Medical Complexities
Community Drug Checking in a Polydrug World: Perspective from Field Harm Reduction Specialists | 30 min
Karen McDonald, MPPAL, PMP, Lead, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, Research Program Manager, Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
The Lead of Toronto's Drug Checking Service and Research Program Manager of the Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation at St. Michael's Hospital, Karen McDonald, frames the North America's toxic drug supply crisis and introduce drug checking as a public health response to reduce the harms associated with substance use and prevent overdose and describes the work and findings of Toronto's Drug Checking Service. She also discusses the various impacts of drug checking services.
Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Toxicology Testing | 29 min
James Gill, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Farmington, CT
Dr. James Gill, Chief Medical Examiner, discusses the Strengths and Limitations of Toxicology Testing for the Forensic Pathologist. He examines the circumstances and autopsy findings are important to consider when investigating suspected drug intoxication deaths and the limitations of interpreting a postmortem drug concentration.
Confronting an Upsurge in Opioid and Poly-Drug Deaths With Limited Resources | 30 min
Jennie V. Duval, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Concord, NH
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie Duval explores the the need for autopsy in suspected drug intoxication deaths and the examines repercussions of inaccurate death certification.
Perspective of Medical Toxicologist on Polydrug World and Treatment Strategies | 29 min
Joseph L. D’Orazio, MD, FAAEM, FACMT, FASAM, FCPP, Toxicology Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Toxicology and Addiction Medicine, Cooper Center for Healing, Camden, NJ
Toxicology Consultant at the Cooper Center for Healing in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Joseph D'Orazio, analyzes the concept of polysubstance use and identifies common clinical presentations in polydrug use. He explores the unique challenges posed by polydrug use in diagnosis and treatment from a medical toxicologist's perspective.
NPS - Landscape, Trends, and Current Polydrug Connections | 30 min
Alex Krotulski, PhD, Associate Director of Toxicology & Chemistry, The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Willow Grove, PA
Dr. Alex Krotulski, the Associate Director of Toxicology & Chemistry at CFSRE, discusses the most timely and recent changes among NPS subclasses with an emphasis on detections, trends, and national landscapes. He presents the newest NPS appearing in forensic and clinical toxicology casework, as well as the continued emergence of new nitazene analogue opioids and synthetic cannabinoids and the latest updates on NPS combinations and impacts from authentic casework samples analyzed at the CFSRE through its NPS Discovery program.
Drug Delivery Homicide - History, Survey of State Laws, and Discussion About Legal Process | 30 min
MJ Menendez, JD, Senior Fellow and General Counsel, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Willow Grove, PA
Senior Fellow and General Counsel at CFSRE, MJ Menendez, weighs the different theories of prosecution, legislative trends, and court rulings on Drug-Induced Homicide and Drug Delivery Resulting in Death and why it matters to medical professionals in this course. She discusses the federal Burrage decision and it's potential impacts on state courts. She further elaborates on the different laws between federal and state authorities, and the importance of medical input in laws surrounding medicine.
Drug Delivery Homicide Case Reports (with Focus on Fentanyl Drug Combinations - Benzodiazepines, Xylazine, etc.) | 30 min
Barry Logan, PhD, F-ABFT, Executive Director, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Sr. VP and Chief Scientist, Forensic Sciences, NMS Labs, Willow Grove, PA
Dr. Barry Logan, the Executive Director at CFSRE and Sr. Vice President and Chief Scientist of Forensic Sciences at NMS Labs, examines the role of Toxicologists in answering questions like "but for this specific drug, would the subject have died?" in homicide case reports and how to consider available information in these cases.
Xylazine - Everything to Know About Fentanyl Adulteration | 28 min
Sherri Kacinko, PhD, F-ABFT, Forensic Toxicologist , NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Dr. Sherri Kacinko, a Forensic Toxicologist at NMS Labs, considers the history of xylazine as an adulterant and the the frequency of xylazine detection with other drugs. She discusses how to classify xylazine and describe it’s mechanism of action and how to interpret xylazine concentrations in MDI and DUID cases.
Clinical Toxicology Testing - Methodology, Advancements, and Understanding | 32 min
Andrew Holt, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist & Fellowship Director, Aegis Sciences Corporation, Nashville, TN
Fellowship Director and Clinical Pharmacist at Aegis Sciences Corporation, Dr. Andrew Holt, reviews the common toxicology testing methods used in clinical practice. He discusses the advantages and limitations of these common methodologies and why are they used in certain circumstances. He analyzes how to critically approach toxicology test results and what clarifying questions may assist with interpretation and understanding the differences in toxicology data from various sources.
When Clinical Samples and Results Become of Forensic & Legal Interest | 35 min
Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, Forensic Toxicologist & Business Scientist, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Charles McKay, MD, FACMT, Associate Medical Director, CT Poison Control Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
Donna Papsun, Forensic Toxicologist & Business Scientist at NMS Labs, and Dr. Charles McKay, the Associate Medical Director at the CT Poison Control Center at the University of Connecticut, compare and contrast medical/clinical and forensic/analytical toxicology in terms of approach, expertise, and analysis of available documentation. They identify the limitations of different analytical approaches to a toxicology question and highlight strengths and weaknesses of clinical testing and results in a medicolegal investigation.
Polydrug Roundtable - Interpretation of Cases Involving Multiple Drugs | 52 min
Panel
James Gill, MD, Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Farmington, CT
Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT, Forensic Toxicologist & Business Scientist, NMS Labs, Horsham, PA
Paul Wax, MD, FACMT, Executive Director, American College of Medical Toxicology, Phoenix, AZ
Moderator
Alex Krotulski, PhD, Associate Director of Toxicology & Chemistry, The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, Willow Grove, PA
Moderator and speaker Dr. Alex Krotulski, the Associate Director of Toxicology & Chemistry at CFSRE, bring together several speakers from previous lectures to discuss involving death investigations and potential overdoses involving multiples drugs in toxicology reports.
Ayako Chan-Hosokawa, MS, D-ABFT-FT
Toxicology Team Manager & Forensic Toxicologist
NMS Labs
Ayako (Aya) Chan-Hosokawa is a Forensic Toxicologist and Toxicology Team Manager with NMS Labs in Horsham, PA. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Stockton University and her Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Chan-Hosokawa is also certified as a Diplomate through the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) and is a member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT), International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADT) and National Safety Council (NSC). She currently serves on the SOFT/AAFS Drugs and Driving Committee, the SOFT Finance Committee, and the AAFS Awards Committee.
Ms. Chan-Hosokawa has testified over 130 times in various jurisdictions (for both prosecution and defense) and routinely provides written expert opinion reports. She also serves as a faculty member for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute (PDAI) for their annual training of prosecutors and investigators and was involved in the 2021 updates to the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drugs, & Impairment Division’s recommendations for drug testing in DUID cases. Her recent publications include Emergence of Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-Year Study of Fentanyl in Driving under the Influence of Drugs Casework.
Joseph L. D’Orazio, MD, FAAEM, FACMT, FASAM, FCPP
Toxicology Consultant
Division of Toxicology and Addiction Medicine, Cooper Center for Healing
Dr. Joseph D'Orazio is board certified in Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology, and Addiction Medicine. He practices Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine for the Cooper Center for Healing at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. Dr. D’Orazio cares for patients who are admitted to Cooper University Hospital through the addiction medicine and toxicology inpatient consultative service and through the Cooper Center for Healing outpatient offices. Dr. D’Orazio is a medical toxicologist for the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is regarded as a regional expert in substance use and substance use disorder treatment in the Philadelphia area.
Natalie Desrosiers, PhD, F-ABFT
Forensic Laboratory Team Leader
Services de toxicologie, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Jennie V. Duval, MD
Chief Medical Examiner
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Jennie Duval was appointed Chief Medical Examiner for the State of New Hampshire on October 1, 2017 after serving as the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for over 15 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire and her medical degree from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. She completed pathology residency training at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and forensic pathology fellowship training at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston. She teaches pathology and forensic pathology to medical students, physician assistant students and pathology residents at various institutions in New Hampshire. In addition, she has published several journal articles, presented numerous scientific papers at national professional society meetings and lectures frequently on various topics in forensic pathology including drug related deaths. During her career she has performed over 6,600 autopsies including over 1,700 drug related deaths.
James Gill, MD
Chief Medical Examiner
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
James R. Gill MD is the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut, past Chair of the Forensic Pathology Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and a past President of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). He has faculty medical appointments at Yale, University of Connecticut, and Quinnipiac University. He did his pathology training at Yale and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and his forensic pathology fellowship at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner. Prior to Connecticut, he was the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for Bronx County. He has testified over 450 times in criminal and civil matters in State and Federal courts and has published over 100 scientific articles and book chapters, and two books on a variety of forensic pathology topics. He has particular interests in public health including drug intoxication deaths, infectious disease, fatal complications of therapy, and proper death certification.
Bruce Goldberger, PhD
Chief, Division of Forensic Medicine
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida
Dr. Bruce Goldberger is a Professor in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Dr. Goldberger is the Co-Investigator of the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), a consultant for the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a member of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Evolving and Emerging Threats Committee. Dr. Goldberger is the President of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, the official journal of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists and The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists. Dr. Goldberger is prolific in research and publication in the areas of clinical, medical, and forensic toxicology, as well as in the medicolegal investigation of death including the certification of the cause and manner of death.
Rob Hendrickson, MD
Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical Director, Program Director
Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Poison Center, OHSU Fellowship in Medical Toxicology
Dr. Hendrickson graduated from the State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine, and completed training in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. He is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Oregon Health and Sciences University where he is Chief of the Section of Medical Toxicology, Program Director for the fellowship in medical toxicology, and the Medical Director of the Oregon Poison Center.
Andrew Holt, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist & Fellowship Director
Aegis Sciences Corporation
Dr. Andrew Holt received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is licensed to practice in multiple states. Prior to joining Aegis, Dr. Holt worked for the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy as Executive Director and was Director of Tennessee’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. He holds additional certifications in medical affairs, pharmacogenomics, and drugs in sport. Dr. Holt is an assistant professor for the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, serves as a preceptor for six colleges of pharmacy and is a co-Director of the post-doctoral Fellowship Program, a collaboration with Belmont College of Pharmacy. One of his primary interests is the surveillance and detection of novel psychoactive substances and their role in overdoses.
Glenn P. Jackson, PhD, FRSC, FAAFS
Professor of Forensic and Investigative Science
West Virginia University
Dr. Jackson is the Ming Hsieh Distinguished Professor of Forensic and Investigative Science at West Virginia University, where he also holds a joint appointment in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry. Dr. Jackson earned a BS degree in the UK and MS and PhD degrees in the US, all in analytical chemistry. He is a fellow of the Royal society of Chemistry and of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Dr. Jackson’s research is broadly defined as forensic and biological applications of mass spectrometry. Recent forensic applications include the mass spectral interpretation and identification of seized drugs, a model to understand the evaporation/weathering of ignitable liquids in fire debris, and the chemical analysis of human hair. His group's research has appeared in more than 90 publications, more than 160 conference and university presentations and three issued patents. As a PI or Co-PI at OHIO and WVU, he has helped secure more than $5M in state and federal funding.
Since 2016, Dr. Jackson has served as the Co-Founder and Co Editor-In-Chief of the Elsevier Journal, Forensic Chemistry. He recently served a three-year term on the NIST OSAC subcommittee on Seized Drugs, and he has taught numerous workshops to practicing forensic professionals. He is an active forensic chemistry consultant and has worked on more than three dozen legal cases. His work has appeared on Nancy Grace Live, Forensic Files II, Sundance TV, a WRAL “What Remains” podcast, and Law and Order SVU.
More information on the Jackson group can be found on his website (https://glenjackson.faculty.wvu.edu/).
Erin L. Karschner, PhD, F-ABFT
Forensic Toxicologist
Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System
Dr. Erin L. Karschner is a board-certified Forensic Toxicologist at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) Division of Forensic Toxicology (DFT). The DFT supports the AFMES as the only federal medical examiner’s office in the U.S. and performs all investigative drug testing for the U.S. military and its installations worldwide. As part of her duties, she serves as a laboratory certifying official, expert witness, and subject matter expert. Dr. Karschner is an advisor on technical issues related to research initiatives, analytical challenges, and program development. She monitors emerging drug threats and assists in the implementation of effective analytical countermeasures.
Dr. Karschner received her Ph.D. in Toxicology with a concentration in Forensic and Analytical Toxicology from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She performed her doctoral and post-doctoral research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). During her time at NIDA, Dr. Karschner conducted a clinical research study with cannabinoid pharmaceuticals and studied cannabinoid disposition in chronic cannabis smokers. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at NIDA, she worked as a Research Scientist for a private laboratory where she developed and validated analytical methods for pain management medications, illicit drugs, and emerging designer drugs.
Dr. Karschner has 22 peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at national and international venues. She is a member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), and the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT). Her research was recognized by the SOFT Educational Research Award in 2009, the AAFS Toxicology Section June K. Jones Award in 2010, the AAFS Toxicology Section Irving Sunshine Award in 2018, and the TIAFT Best Bulletin Paper Award in 2021. Dr. Karschner currently serves on the SOFT/AAFS Drugs and Driving Committee and is the Cannabis Section Chair for the National Safety Council’s Alcohol, Drugs, and Impairment Division.
Alex Krotulski, PhD (Moderator)
Associate Director of Toxicology & Chemistry
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education
Dr. Alex Krotulski serves as an Associate Director at CFSRE working in the areas of forensic toxicology and forensic chemistry and is the Program Manager for NPS Discovery. Dr. Krotulski holds faculty appointment and serves as the Assistance Program Director for the Thomas Jefferson University Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology (MSFT) program and was recently appointed as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. Dr. Krotulski received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Analytical Chemistry from Temple University in 2019 following receipt of his Master of Science degree in Forensic Science from Arcadia University in 2015 and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Loyola University New Orleans in 2013.
Barry Logan, PhD, F-ABFT
Executive Director, Sr. VP & Chief Scientist Forensic Sciences
Center for Forensic Science Research and Education & NMS Labs
Dr. Barry Logan is Sr. vice president of Forensic Sciences, and Chief Scientist for NMS Labs. He is also Executive Director at the non-profit Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) at the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Logan is a Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicologists (ABFT), and has over 190 publications in forensic toxicology and chemistry, including work on the effects of illicit and prescription drugs on drivers, and drug caused and related death. His current research priorities are focused on new drug surveillance and trends, the polydrug crisis, and the analytical and interpretive toxicology and chemistry of novel psychoactive substances, founding www.NPSDiscovery.org in 2018.
Dr. Logan’s has academic appointments at Indiana University, Arcadia University and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He serves on the Advisory Board for NIDA’s National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS). In recognition of his work and contributions, Dr. Logan received TIAFT’s Alan Curry Award in 2022, and is a past President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).
Karen McDonald, MPPAL, PMP
Lead
Toronto’s Drug Checking Service
Karen has over fifteen years of public sector experience, where she has informed public policy and contributed to health systems change. She has spent the past five years leading the design and implementation of Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, and is now responsible for the program’s continuation and expansion across Ontario. Karen has received international recognition as a leader in drug checking service provision and unregulated drug market surveillance and education.
Charles McKay, MD, FACMT (Moderator)
Associate Medical Director
CT Poison Control Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Dr. McKay was trained in Anatomic and Surgical Pathology, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology and was a Medical Director of Occupational Health and Medical Review Officer for a hospital system during more than 30 years of clinical practice, during which he provided toxicology consultation at 3 hospitals, directed a medical toxicology fellowship training program, and provided medical oversight of a regional poison control center. He provides medical legal consultation across the country on toxicology-related issues, and has testified in nearly 100 cases, many related to questions of alcohol- and -drug-induced impairment.
MJ Menendez, JD
Senior Fellow and General Counsel
Center for Forensic Science Research and Education
M.J. Menendez, J.D. is Senior Fellow and General Counsel for the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. M.J. served on detail as the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Heroin, Opioid and Fentanyl Special Projects Coordinator from 2015 to 2019. M.J. served 13 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Colorado, 10 years as a state prosecutor in Jefferson County, Colorado, and 3 years as a state court judge in Jefferson County, Colorado. M.J. is passionate about achieving well-resourced excellence in medicolegal death investigations, and she proudly works with the National Association of Medical Examiners as Chair of Strategic Planning and Chair of the Forensic Pathology Shortage / Workforce Remediation Subcommittee.
Donna Papsun, MS, D-ABFT-FT (Moderator)
Forensic Toxicologist & Business Scientist
NMS Labs
Donna Papsun is a forensic toxicologist and business scientist with NMS Labs in Horsham, PA. She has dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Forensic & Investigative Science and a Master of Science degree in Pharmacology. She is also certified as a Diplomate in Forensic Toxicology through the American Board of Forensic Toxicology and is a member of both the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).
Ms. Papsun has been with NMS Labs since 2008, first as a bench analyst before promotion to toxicologist in 2012. Ms. Papsun’s main area of interest is novel psychoactive substances or NPS. As one of the two leaders of NMS’s NPS strategy team, she continuously works to help maintain NMS’s leadership in identifying the newest trends in the changing landscape of the designer drug market and developing tests for their detection in forensic toxicology casework. Ms. Papsun also serves in a secondary role as a business scientist, working to align the technical and scientific expertise of NMS Labs with commercial efforts.
Jan Ramaekers, PhD
Professor of Psychopharmacology and Behavioral Toxicology
Maastricht University
I work as a professor in psychopharmacology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. My research combines methods from psychopharmacology, forensic toxicology and cognitive neuroscience to determine drug induced changes in human performance. In my work, I focus on the impact of different substances of (ab)use, including cannabis, stimulants, opioids, novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and psychedelics on neuronal networks and human cognition. This work bears relevance in the context of drug development and therapeutics and in legal settings when evaluating the impact of drug exposure on human function.
Deena Ryerson
Sr. Assistant Attorney General & Oregon Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor
Oregon Department of Justice
Deena Ryerson is a graduate of the University of Oregon, School of Law in 1998. She was admitted to the bar in 1998 and began working in civil litigation for two years. From there she went to the Washington County District Attorney’s office where she worked as a prosecutor for six years. During that time, she prosecuted countless DUII’s, both alcohol and drug related and helped to begin a county newsletter addressing DUII issues. During Deena’s time with Washington County, she conducted several trainings for law enforcement, junior prosecutors, and law clerks. She was selected as Oregon’s DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force Prosecutor of the Year for 2004. In July 2006, she became Oregon’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor with the Department of Justice.
As a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, she assists prosecutors and law enforcement across the state with questions relating to DUII prosecution. She provides training for new and seasoned prosecutors, including updates to DUII case law and alerts prosecutors to issues that surface through the defense of DUII cases. She is a member of Oregon’s DUII Multidisciplinary Task Force, the DRE Technical Advisory Committee, the Oregon Ignition Interlock Committee, and a liaison to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on DUII. Ms. Ryerson also trains new recruits at Oregon’s Department of Public Safety and Standards Training department and law enforcement across the state about DUII case law. Ms. Ryerson reviews all DUII legislation and is instrumental in drafting and editing proposed DUII legislation. She is a resource to answer any impaired driving related questions for many disciplines. In addition to her work in Oregon, has trained law enforcement officers and prosecutors in other states and has given presentations at several national conferences including Lifesavers and the National DRE Conference. She was named a DRE Ambassador at the National DRE Conference in 2015.
Paul M. Wax, MD, FACMT
Executive Director
American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT)
Dr. Wax is the Executive Director of the American College of Medical Toxicology. He received his B.A from Dartmouth College, his M.D. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, his Emergency Medicine training at the UCLA Hospitals, and his Medical Toxicology training at Bellevue Medicine Center / New York University. He is Board-certified in both Medical Toxicology and Emergency Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology.
Registration Rates
Registration includes:
- 90-day access to all course content
- Access to the Speaker slides
- 12.00 Continuing Medical Education Credits and Certificate upon completion of course
Member Rates
Member Tier I: Full, Affiliate, International, Emeritus |
$425 |
Member Tier II: Fellows |
$375 |
Member Tier III: Residents, International - Developing Country |
$325 |
Member IV: Medical Students |
$275 |
Non-Member Rates
Non-member Tier I: Physicians, Pharmacists, Lawyers, "Other" |
$525 |
Non-member Tier II: Fellows, SPIs, Nurses, etc. |
$475 |
Non-member Tier III: Educators & Emergency Responders |
$425 |
Non-member IV: Residents & Students |
$375 |
ACMT Membership
ACMT Members receive a discounted rate. Interested in becoming an ACMT Member? Contact our Membership Team at membership@acmt.net. Learn more at: www.acmt.net/membership
Refunds and Cancellations
For information on ACMT's Cancellation and refund policy, click here.
Questions?
For any questions, please email us at events@acmt.net.
Disclosures
Activity
American College of Medical Toxicology
2023 ACMT Seminar in Forensic Toxicology: Expanding Worlds of Cannabinoids & Polydrug Exposures
Date of CE Release: 12-14-2023
Date of CE Expiration: 12-15-2024
Location: Online
Acknowledgement of Financial Commercial Support
No financial commercial support was received for this educational activity.
Acknowledgement of In-Kind Commercial Support
No in-kind commercial support was received for this educational activity.
Satisfactory Completion
Learners must complete an evaluation form to receive a certificate of completion. Your chosen sessions must be attended in their entirety. Partial credit of individual sessions is not available. If you are seeking continuing education credit for a specialty not listed below, it is your responsibility to contact your licensing/certification board to determine course eligibility for your licensing/certification requirement.
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and American College of Medical Toxicology. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
ACCME Credit Designation Statement
Amedco LLC designates this material for a maximum of 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM for physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Amedco Joint Accreditation Provider Number: 4008163
This activity is approved for CME credit only. For all other accreditation types, you will need to contact your accrediting body directly to confirm if this course is eligible for continuing education.
Instructions
Once you have completed your registration:
- Click on the Contents tab. This is where you will be able to see all lectures and required content for this course.
- Watch all lectures and case discussion. Learners will be required to watch at least 3/4 of the video before it will be marked as complete.
- Complete the CE Survey. These questions are required to claim your CE certificate.
- Once you have completed all other components, you will be able to claim your CE certificate.
Hardware/Software Requirements
Computer or Other Internet-Enabled Device; Internet Connection; Browser.
Materials
None.
Prerequisites
None.
Format
This is a self-guided course with CME.
Need Assistance or Have Questions?
For assistance logging in, accessing content, purchasing or completing Continuing Education credits, or for other questions, please contact us at events@acmt.net or visit our FAQ page.
If you are in need of accessible learning accommodations, please contact events@acmt.net for additional assistance.
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