RCMP Fact Sheets

Toxicology Services

QUICK FACTS The Most Common Drugs Identified: • Alcohol • Cannabis & Metabolites • Diazepam • Cocaine • Codeine • Diphenhydramine • methamphetamine / amphetamine The Most Common Exhibits Analyzed • body fluids, such as blood and urine • items from a criminal scene: • drug paraphernalia • foods, feeds • capsules, tablets • tear gas canisters • residues from drinking        glasses • unknowns Training Support • 40 - 50 breath test courses / year • 800 - 1000 police officers trained

Overview
The Toxicology Services Section (TSS) is part of the RCMP’s National Police Services (NPS). Operational sections are located in Halifax, Winnipeg and Vancouver with a satellite section in Edmonton.

Our Value:

• concerned with the detection of drugs and/or poisons, including alcohol
• interpretation of the findings in terms of physiological and behavioral effects in a legal investigation
• training, technical and scientific support to impaired driving investigations

Our Goals:

• assist in establishing a true cause of death
• provide a basis for intoxicated behavior
• provide a clue of clinical history when the subject is unable or unwilling to do so
• assist in establishing the truth of statement, e.g.: “I was high and don’t remember anything”
• support breath test programs for all NPS partners

Our Services:

• analytical casework
• independent opinion
• expert testimony
• training - e.g. Alcohol Breath Testing Program, Drug Recognition Expert Program, etc.

Our Cases:

• homicide, manslaughter, suspected homicide, attempted homicide
• assault (e.g. aggravated, bodily harm, sexual assault, child abuse, etc.).
• assistance to other agencies where there is a threat to life (e.g. hospital emergencies, military, jails).
• impaired driving
• interpretive cases related to criminal charges (Opinion Letters)
• possession of, or administering, a noxious substance (e.g. tear gas).
• other criminal cases under police investigation (e.g. poisoning, anti-terrorism investigations involving chemical, biological, radioactive/nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) related materials).