The Barkholtz Research Group conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of forensic toxicology, analytical chemistry, pharmacology, and public health. Our work focuses on understanding how drugs and other psychoactive substances are detected, metabolized, and interpreted in real-world contexts, particularly when public safety, health policy, and legal decision-making are involved.
Our research integrates laboratory method development, controlled human studies, and applied forensic investigation to address critical gaps in how substance use and impairment are measured and understood.
We investigate how cannabinoids – including Δ⁹-THC, Δ⁸-THC, and emerging hemp-derived products – affect human performance, behavior, and impairment. As cannabis legalization and commercialization expand, scientifically rigorous data are needed to inform public safety policy and forensic interpretation.
Our work in this area includes:
- Controlled human studies examining cannabinoid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
- Evaluation of impairment-related outcomes related to driving and safety-sensitive tasks
- Assessment of novel cannabinoid products, including beverages and alternative delivery systems
- Translation of findings to inform regulatory, legal, and public health decision-making
This research directly supports evidence-based approaches to drug-impaired driving and cannabis regulation.
Methamphetamine remains a major contributor to drug-related morbidity and mortality, yet critical gaps persist in how its enantiomers are interpreted in forensic and clinical contexts.
Our laboratory focuses on:
- Enantiomer-specific separation and quantification of methamphetamine and metabolites
- Characterization of pharmacokinetic profiles across biological matrices
- Improving interpretation of toxicology findings in impaired driving and postmortem cases
This work enhances the scientific foundation for distinguishing recreational use, legitimate exposure, and metabolic processes – an essential need in modern forensic toxicology.
We conduct research aimed at improving early detection and understanding of non-fatal overdoses through toxicological and biosurveillance approaches.
Key areas include:
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Analytical strategies for identifying emerging drugs and drug combinations
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Integration of toxicology data with clinical and public health surveillance systems
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Characterization of polysubstance use patterns and risk factors
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Development of data frameworks to inform harm reduction and prevention strategies
This work bridges laboratory science and real-world public health response.
A central focus of the lab is the development of robust, high-throughput analytical methods to support both targeted and untargeted drug detection.
Core areas include:
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LC–MS/MS method development and validation for biological matrices
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QTOF-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) workflows
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Non-targeted screening and molecular networking for compound identification
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Strategies to improve sensitivity, selectivity, and throughput in forensic workflows
These methods support both hypothesis-driven research and exploratory surveillance applications.
We examine the intersection between observed impairment and analytical toxicology by studying real-world DRE evaluations alongside laboratory results.
This work aims to:
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Improve interpretation of behavioral indicators in relation to toxicology findings
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Strengthen scientific underpinnings of DRE assessments
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Support evidence-based training and policy development
This research sits at the interface of toxicology, law enforcement, and public safety.