Would you like to learn about fentanyl and designer opioids/fentanyl analogs via discussion of their pharmacology and toxicology? Do you need to discover an analytical method for the detection of these compounds in post-mortem human blood and find out more about the role of these compounds in intoxications and fatalities in the USA in 2016-2017? If so, this presentation will offer an interesting insight into these areas.
Introduction
Opioids are substances that were synthesized to act as agonists at the opioid receptors. In the last few years, fentanyl and designer opioids, such as acetylfentanyl, carfentanil, cyclopropyfentanyl, furanylfentanyl, and U47700, quickly emerged on the illicit drug market and ultimately found their way into the heroin drug supply. Fentanyl is considered to be approximately 40 times more potent than heroin and designer opioids may be hundreds to thousands more times as potent as heroin. Due to this high potency, the risk of intoxication, overdose, and even death is high. Several outbreaks of fentanyl and designer opioid–related hospitalizations have occurred over the last few years and many fatalities have been reported. From a toxicological perspective, the detection of these substances in post-mortem blood or urine is crucial for any cause of death determination.
Learn more
To find out more Separation Science is hosting a presentation by Kevin G. Shanks of AXIS Forensic Toxicology, Indianapolis, USA who will be speaking about the forensic toxicology in the age of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs as part of its upcoming 'Advances in Forensics & Toxicology' eSeminar this month. Simply register for the eSeminar to access the presentation.
About the presenter
Kevin Shanks has been with Axis Forensic Toxicology (formerly the forensic business division of AIT Laboratories) since 2003. He has extensive experience in research and development as well as laboratory supervision and management. His areas of expertise include liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and the analytical detection and toxicology of new psychoactive substances (NPS) such as substituted cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, NBOME hallucinogens, fentanyl analogs, and opioid research chemicals. Kevin oversees all method development and validation of analytical methods for NPS and other esoteric substances at Axis. He has provided fact and expert witness testimony in drug chemistry, human performance toxicology, and postmortem toxicology matters in numerous states across the USA.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana and a Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida. He is certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology in forensic toxicology (D-ABFT-FT) and holds regular membership with the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT). He is a member of SOFT’s Young Forensic Toxicologist committee and SOFT’s Designer Drugs committee. Kevin has published papers on new psychoactive substances in journals such as Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT) and Forensic Science International (FSI) and presented research at national meetings such as the SOFT annual conference.
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