What is one of the primary purposes of forensic toxicology?

One of the primary purposes of forensic toxicology is to identify and quantify drugs and poisons in biological samples. This field applies toxicological analysis to various specimens such as blood, urine, and tissue to determine the presence of substances that may affect human health or contribute to legal investigations. Forensic toxicologists often work in cases involving overdoses, poisoning, and drug-related incidents, providing crucial information about the substances involved and their potential effects on the body. Understanding the concentration and type of drugs or poisons in a sample can help establish the circumstances surrounding an incident, making it a vital aspect of forensic science.

The other options pertain to different areas of forensic science: analyzing physical fingerprints is related to forensic fingerprint analysis, conducting psychological evaluations of suspects falls under forensic psychology, and determining the cause of death typically involves forensic pathology. Each of these fields contributes to the broader picture of forensic investigations, but they do not focus specifically on the role of forensic toxicology.