DETAILS ABOUT FORENSIC PHARMACY?

Specific Job Responsibilities
Forensic pharmacists often serve as officers on drug-testing assignments. According to Forensic Nursing Chronicles, some forensic pharmacists serve on drug-testing crews for the Olympics, as safety officers for the FDA or as FBI investigators. Some prisons employ forensic pharmacists to address drug-related problems, often involving hazardous drug combinations or overdoses. In addition, police departments hire forensic pharmacists to work as criminologists, examining drug-related evidence and criminal behavior.

Research
As a forensic pharmacist, you'll likely spend a large amount of time researching hazardous drug combinations, the human body's response to pharmaceuticals and previous scientific findings. Without a strong educational background, usually consisting of an advanced degree in forensic science or pharmaceutical science, you won't have the necessary expertise to analyze drug-related evidence. Forensic pharmacists also spend much of their time in laboratories testing human blood and tissue samples for adverse drug effects. A forensic pharmacist's findings are often valuable to pathologists or medical doctors who perform autopsies.

Salary
Forensic pharmacists fall into the general category of forensic science technicians. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report from May, 2011, forensic technicians have a mean annual wage of $55,700. Those who work for the federal executive branch have the highest average annual salary of $95,200. Technicians who work for private architectural, engineering and related services have an average wage of $62,700 per year