(ISP Press Release, January 9, 2025; Cover Photo Credit: ISP)
MERIDIAN, Idaho — The Idaho State Police Forensic Services (ISPFS) has released its annual Toxicology Report for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024), highlighting trends in toxicology testing and providing valuable insights into substance use in Idaho. The report and extracted fact sheet include data from toxicology cases submitted to ISPFS laboratories in Coeur d’Alene (Northern Idaho), Pocatello (Eastern Idaho), and Meridian (Western Idaho). Both documents are located on the ISPFS toxicology webpage.
The toxicology program is a comprehensive process that meticulously handles cases involving urine or blood samples submitted for drug and/or alcohol analysis, which is one hallmark of our operation. This includes volatiles analysis, which identifies and quantifies ethyl alcohol (commonly known as drinking alcohol) and detects a variety of other alcohols and inhalants.
Select Findings from FY2024:
- 85% of adult alcohol/volatile cases involved a DUI charge.
- 68% of adult toxicology cases involved a DUI charge.
- 88% of toxicology samples tested contained at least one drug.
- Among DUI toxicology cases, 91% of adult cases and 95% of juvenile cases tested positive for at least one drug.
- 60% of the juvenile cases tested for toxicology contained cannabinoids.
- The top three drugs identified in toxicology casework were Amphetamine/Methamphetamine, Cannabinoids, and Fentanyl/Norfentanyl, accounting for over 58% of all drugs reported.
- 76 different drugs were reported in FY2024, ranging from commonly used substances to more obscure drugs, with an average of three drugs confirmed per toxicology case sample. This diversity underscores the complexity of substance use issues in Idaho.
ISPFS Director Matthew Gamette emphasized the laboratory’s work, “The Idaho State Police Forensic Services laboratories play a vital role in supporting law enforcement agencies and ensuring public safety across our state. Our toxicology program provides critical, timely, and accurate analyses, helping investigators address impaired driving and other substance-related incidents. This year’s data underscores the importance of continued vigilance and collaboration to combat the use of illicit substances and their impacts on Idaho communities.”
The data in the report was compiled using the Idaho Laboratory Information Management System (ILIMS), a robust system that tracks evidence submitted to the ISPFS laboratory system. This comprehensive approach ensures accurate and reliable information for law enforcement, policymakers, and to inform the public.
ISPFS remains committed to delivering high-quality forensic services and supporting efforts to reduce impaired driving and substance misuse in Idaho.
