Improve forensic drug testing and provide forensic science employee development opportunities.

The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL) is a full service forensic laboratory serving the entire state of Arkansas. Arkansas is experiencing an increase in drug overdose cases due to the opioid epidemic, which is causing a greater demand on analysis in the Toxicology section. In fact, in 2018, drug overdose deaths surpassed homicide death numbers. The goals of this award are to improve the quality of forensic science services, reduce the bottleneck of LC/MS/MS analysis, and expand the testing capabilities of processing toxicology cases. The following objectives will be supported to achieve the goals: 1) Provide necessary equipment to the handle the caseload in the Toxicology Section by purchasing a mass spectrometer (MS/MS) system; 2) Provide professional development opportunities to forensic analysts and Medical Examiner staff; and 3) Continue the ANAB and NAME accreditation programs.

NCA/NCF