Low-dose benzodiazepines (LDBs) and g-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), often illegally used, have eluded detection in many laboratories because of their low effective dosages and rapid metabolization. In Benzodiazepines and GHB: Detection and Pharmacology prominent experts explain the pharmacology and metabolism of LDBs and GHB and offer powerful and effective methodologies that will enable better detection of these drugs in various body fluids, as well as in hair. The techniques include highly sensitive immunoassay detection of LDBs, the detection of Rohypnol® and other LDBs by mass spectrometry, and the accurate detection of GHB. Each cutting-edge method has been thoroughly tested and is described in step-by-step detail to ensure successful analytical results. In addition, guidance is provided to forensic laboratories on what drugs to look for in evaluating samples from alleged victims based on a three-year nationwide study of drug-facilitated sexual assault.
State-of-the-art and highly practical, Benzodiazepines and GHB: Detection and Pharmacology offers toxicologists, forensic scientists, and clinical chemists today's most effective methods for detecting these widely abused drugs.