73819 - Analytical-Toxicological Approach to Drugs of Abuse

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student possesses an advanced theoretical knowledge referred to the analysis of the main classes of drugs of abuse. In particular, the student learns the analytical characteristics of psychoactive compounds in different types of biological and non biological samples.
Moreover, the student gains the skills to perform a reliable quali-quantitative analysis, by using the most proper techniques and methods applied to illicit substances.

 

 

Course contents

- Principles, aims and issues related to the pharmaco-toxicological analysis applied to the monitoring of drugs of abuse and alcohol.

- Presentation and discussion of the analytical-toxicological aspects of the main classes of drugs of abuse:
- classic drugs of abuse (including alcohol)
- new psychoactive substances (NPS).

- Analytical strategies and approaches for identification and quantitation of the most significant classic drugs of abuse and NPS.

- Techniques and procedures for sampling, pretreatment, transportation and storage of specimens of different type and origin (both biological and non-biological) for the analysis of classic drugs of abuse, alcohol and NPS.

- Method validation aspects referred to the monitoring of drugs of abuse (including alcohol) and their metabolites: evaluations and comparison of the main validation parameters following the international guidelines.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

STUDY MATERIALS:
- Slides discussed during the course
- Papers from the scientific literature discussed during the course
- UNODC reports presented during the course
- EMCDDA reports presented during the course

- Recent Advances in the Science of Cannabis
M.R. Strongin et al.
CRC Press, Taylor & Francis group, 2021

- Critical Issues in Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse Testing
Amitava Dasgupta
Academic Press, Elsevier; second edition 2019

- Challenges in Open Educational Resources: the case of TOX-OER MOOC
Ana Isabel Morales Martin et al.
Amarante; first edition 2018

 

FURTHER MATERIALS:

- Analysis of Drugs of Abuse
Rabi A. Musah
Humana Press; first edition 2018

- Hair Analysis in Clinical and Forensic Toxicology
Pascal Kintz, Alberto Salomone, Marco Vincenti
Academic Press; first edition 2015

- Handbook of Drug Monitoring Methods: Therapeutics and Drugs of Abuse
Amitava Dasgupta
Humana Press; first edition 2007

 

Teaching methods

The course consists of 24 hours of lectures (3 CFU), scheduled in 6lectures of 4 hours each, during which the main chemical-toxicological issues, instrumental techniques, methodologies and procedures related to the pharmaco-toxicological analysis of classic drugs of abuse, alcohol and new psychoactive substances (NPS) in biological and non-biological samples will be discussed.

Some hours will be delivered as an e-learning lecture in the classroom, by using a MOOC (Massive Online Open Courses) approach on the KA2 Erasmus+ Project INES.

 

Assessment methods

Learning is assessed through the evaluation of a written paper on a topic covered in the course. The following aspects will be considered:
- Mastery of theoretical foundations;
- Use of appropriate terminology;
- Knowledge of the chemical and toxicological characteristics of the compounds;
- Critical ability in evaluating related analytical issues.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the University Office in advance: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en. The Office will be responsible for proposing any necessary adaptations to interested students. These adaptations must be submitted to the teacher for approval at least 15 days in advance. The teacher will assess their suitability, also considering the learning objectives of the course.

 

Teaching tools

Lectures are carried out by means of the common electronic media, such as pc, tablet, smartphone and similar devices connected to videoprojector, webcam, microphone, and to the wi-fi.
The e-learning lecture is carried out by using a MOOC (Massive Online Open Courses) approach on INES Moodle, combined to interactive App usage.

 

 

Office hours

See the website of Laura Mercolini