WSLH Toxicology: Alcohol and Drug Testing

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The toxicology section provides alcohol and drug testing to coroners / medical examiners and law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin. Testing provided to coroners and medical examiners assists these county officials in routine death investigations. Testing for law enforcement agencies is limited to traffic safety and other motor vehicle (boats, ATVs and snowmobiles) matters, in support of Wisconsin's impaired driving laws. (More information is available on alcohol intoxication). Samples relating to criminal, non-traffic charges may be analyzed at the State Crime Laboratory.

Types of Samples Analyzed 

• For traffic safety testing, blood or urine samples may be analyzed for alcohol content. A blood specimen must be submitted if testing is required for drugs other than alcohol.
• For coroners and/or medical examiners, blood, urine, vitreous humor, gastric contents/pill fragments, bile and liver tissue samples may be analyzed.

Blood / Urine kits are provided free of charge to law enforcement agencies and Coroners / Medical Examiners. For kit or form requests please call 1-800-442-4618.

Toxicology Presentations

2008

Each year scientists in the WSLH Forensic Toxicology Section test blood samples from more than 24,000 drivers suspected of "Operating While Intoxicated" (OWI). While all samples are tested for alcohol, a subset are also tested for drugs. Toxicology Laboratory Director Patrick Harding gave a presentation to the WSLH Board on November 18, 2008, focusing on the increasing rates of drugged driving testing performed by the WSLH.

Warch the Webcast: (Windows Media, 225 kbps)

WSLH Toxicologist Amy Cochems gave the presentation "Inhalants and Driving Impairment" at the 14th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Conference, August 10-12, 2008, in Indianapolis, IN.  Inhalant abuse, or huffing, is the inhalation of household products such as spray paint, glues, nitrous oxide and Dust-Off® compressed air.  The impairing effects caused from inhaling these products can lead to fatal consequences.  This presentation provides an overview of the abuse, driving impairment and actual case studies of inhalants.

Printable slides (PDF, 726 KB)


2007

WSLH Toxicologist Amy Cochems gave the presentation “Dextromethorphan Use and Abuse in DUI Investigations” at the 13th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) Conference, July 31-August 2, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada.Dextromethorphan (DXM), an ingredient found in many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, is quickly becoming one of the most abused psychoactive substances and is being linked to numerous DUI cases.  This presentation provides information on dextromethorphan and its effects on driving including actual case studies.

Printable Slides (PDF, 572 KB)

2005-2006

Toxicology Section staff have made two presentations on Zolpidem (Ambien®) and drivers at national forensic meetings.

Laura Liddicoat's presentation from the February 2006 American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting caught the interest of the national news media, including the New York Times. Laura highlighted six recent cases in her presentation.

• Liddicoat's Presentation (Powerpoint, 316 KB) and Printable Slides (PDF, 268 Kb)

William Johnson presented a well-received paper at the Society of Forensic Toxicologists annual meeting in October 2005. His presentation focused on cumulative data on Zolpidem in Wisconsin drivers over a six-year period, with illustrative case studies.

• Johnson's Presentation (Powerpoint, 292 KB) and Printable Slides (PDF, 280 Kb)

Last Modified : 12/02/2008