The Intersection of Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Pathology Relating to Emerging Topics in Drug Death Certification

When:

Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 from 1pm - 3pm ET

Wednesday, June 14th, 2023 from 1pm - 3pm ET

The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) is pleased to offer a thought-provoking five-part series entitled, “The Intersection of Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Pathology Relating to Emerging Topics in Drug Death Certification”.

As the polydrug epidemic rages on, the challenges faced by the medicolegal death investigation continue to evolve and worsen. Novel Psychoactive Substances, such as isotonitazine, metonitazine, and parafluorfentanyl continue to emerge and threaten, while toxic adulterants such as xylazine pose severe public health threats while complicating cause of death determinations.

New novel psychoactive substances sold over the internet combine with fentanyl and toxic adulterants to significantly impact overdose death rates and create new challenges for forensic pathologists and toxicologists. These highly addictive substances can be exceedingly difficult to identify using traditional analytical methods, and the respective polydrug interpretations relating to death certificate accuracy are equally challenging. In addition, the rapid increase in drug-related deaths places a significant strain on resources and infrastructure. While emergent circumstances such as the increase in pediatric poisonings cause public outcry for responses, evidence-based, scientifically proven research, technologies, and interventions must be utilized to inform, educate, and act.

This five-part series will feature presentations from forensic pathology, forensic toxicology, and medical toxicology experts; followed by panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions on emerging topics and challenges in drug toxicity in death in today’s challenging illicit drug environment. The series will involve a multitude of topics relating to drug and substance poisoning deaths that pose complexities and challenges in ensuring we are collecting accurate drug death certification data. Attendees will also gain an understanding of how forensic pathologists use autopsy findings and other evidence to determine the cause and manner of death in drug-related cases. Each webinar in this series will explore the challenges and limitations of drug death certification, including issues related to the interpretation of toxicological results, the identification of drug-related deaths, and the potential for false-positive or false-negative results. We will also be exploring the emerging topics in drug death certification, such as the use of new psychoactive substances and the impact of the opioid epidemic on drug death rates.

Medical and professional continuing education CME credits and approvals will be available for this series through Penn State University!

The content, expert presenters, and presentation dates for the series include:

Webinar 1 - Updates on Trends in Novel Psychoactive Substances Involved in Drug Fatalities: Emergent Substances and Trends, and Resources for Staying Current with New Drug Trends

When: April 26, 2023 from 1 pm - 3 pm ET

Presenters:

Donna Papsun, NMS Labs in Horsham Pennsylvania
Dr. Amanda Hersh, Office of the Medical Examiner in Denver County, Colorado
Dr. Alex Krotulski, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Penn State College of Medicine and The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education. Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Penn State College of Medicine designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Webinar 2 - Drug Trends and Findings in Infant and Teen Drug Related Deaths

When: May 2, 2023 from 1 pm - 3 pm ET

Presenters:

Dr. Jim Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for State of Connecticut
Dr. Candace Schoppe, Medical Examiner, Forensic Pathology Staffing
Dr. Rob Middleberg, Forensic Toxicologist at NMS Labs in Horsham, Pennsylvania

Penn State College of Medicine designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Webinar 3 - Use of On-Site Drug Testing Technologies and Reliance on Toxicology Testing in Lieu of Autopsy in Drug Deaths

When: May 16, 2023 from 1 pm - 3 pm ET

Presenters:

Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, Chief Medical Examiner for Cook County (Chicago), Illinois
Dr. Joyce deJong, Forensic Pathologist, Professor and Chair at WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Michigan
Dr. Nicole Yarid, Forensic Pathologist in King County, Washington
Dr. Barry Logan, Forensic Toxicologist and Executive Director of the CFSRE, Pennsylvania

Webinar 4 - Differences in Laboratory Approaches to Medicolegal Death Investigation Toxicology – Know What your Laboratory is Testing For

When: May 24, 2023 from 1 pm - 3 pm ET

Presenters:

Dr. Bruce Goldberger, Professor and Chief of the Division of Forensic Medicine in the Department of Pathology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Michael Lamb, NMS Labs in Horsham, Pennsylvania
Dr. Veronic Hargrove, Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office in San Antonio, Texas

Webinar 5 - The Poisoned Patient: Perspectives from the Emergency Department, the Toxicology Laboratory, and the Autopsy Suite

When: June 14, 2023 from 1pm – 3pm ET

Presenters:

Dr. Lewis Nelson, Rutgers University School of Medicine in Camden, New Jersey
Dr. Lynda Biedrzycki, Wausheka County Medical Examiner’s Office in Wausheka, Wisconsin
Sara Walton, Center for Forensic Science and Education in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

This five-part panel series which is described in detail below has been designed to complement and supplement the three module series and the Grand Rounds series that was presented in 2022.

Funding for this training was made possible by a cooperative agreement between the National Network of Public Health Institutes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [6NIJ38Ot000303-03-02]. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators in presentations do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Network of Public Health Institutes, and the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the United States government.

*Each webinar completed will have a certificate for download.  Once you have completed all requirements for the webinar you will have access to your certificates for download. You can find your certificates in the Awards tab at the top of the page. The webinar's content has been reviewed by the ABFT and ABC, and determined to be acceptable for submission to the ABFT or ABC for continuing education credit. All content has also bee approved for CME contiuning education credit through Penn State University!

Click the LOGIN button below to register for the five-part webinar series: The Intersection of Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Pathology Relating to Emerging Topics in Drug Death Certification!