Habitual, toxic, and lethal concentrations of 103 drugs of abuse in humans
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2026

Rapid High-throughput Species Identification of Botanical Material Using Direct Analysis in Real Time High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Published on: October 2, 2016
1National Institute of Toxicology, Seville, Spain.
Background:
Poisoning caused by drugs of abuse or commonly used addictive medicines occurs with relative frequency and often leads, either directly or indirectly, to death. The interpretation of the blood and urine concentrations is, however, a complex and difficult problem.
Methods:
We have reviewed the published data and subjected them to selection and unification on the basis of conservative criteria and our own experience.
Results:
A compilation of the concentrations of 103 drugs of abuse in whole blood, serum/plasma, and urine, during habitual or therapeutic use and as found in toxic or lethal poisoning is given.
Conclusions:
The table presented can be helpful in interpretation of the drug concentrations encountered in clinical, toxicological, and forensic cases.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug Concentrations: Measurements
Plasma —...
Drug Toxicity: Overview
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

