How Do Drugs Affect the Skeleton? Implications for Forensic Anthropology

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Pharmacology
• Skeletal Biology

Background:

• Forensic anthropologists use skeletal features to identify the deceased, estimating age, sex, stature, and ancestry.
• Skeletal features can be modified by various factors, including prescription and recreational drug use.
• Limited research exists on the impact of drugs on skeletal analysis from a forensic perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review medical and pharmacological literature on drug side effects impacting bone.
• To assess how drugs may influence estimations of age-at-death, sex, and other biological profile indicators.
• To explore if skeletal alterations due to drug use can aid in narrowing down missing persons lists.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of medical, clinical, and pharmacological literature.
• Extraction of information with a forensic anthropological perspective.
• Analysis of drug mechanisms affecting bone structure and density.

Main Results:

• Opioids, cocaine, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, alcohol, and tobacco demonstrably affect bone.
• Drugs can alter bone mineral density, leading to osteopenia, osteoporosis, and increased fracture risk.
• Drug use can cause osteonecrosis and oral changes, observable in skeletal remains.

Conclusions:

• Drug-induced skeletal changes can influence forensic anthropological interpretations.
• Awareness of drug effects on bone is vital for accurate identification of the deceased.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and apply drug-related skeletal evidence in forensic practice.