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What is the study of drugs and poisons called?
Laboratory analysis
Toxicology
Pharmacology
Forensic chemistry
The correct answer is: Toxicology
The study of drugs and poisons is called toxicology. Toxicology is a specialized area that focuses on understanding the effects of chemical substances on living organisms, including the mechanisms of their action, their detection in biological systems, and the interpretation of their toxic effects. This field is crucial in various applications, such as forensic investigations, where determining the presence and impact of drugs or poisons can be instrumental in unraveling cases of accidental poisoning, overdose, or intentional harm. Pharmacology, while related, specifically studies the effects and mechanisms of drugs used for therapeutic purposes, rather than focusing on their harmful effects or their identification following toxic exposure. Laboratory analysis and forensic chemistry involve broader scientific techniques and methodologies for analyzing substances but do not specifically emphasize the study of poisons and their effects as toxicology does.