Wigmore on Nicotine and Its Drug Delivery Systems

This essential volume completes James G. Wigmore’s trilogy examining the medicolegal aspects of psychoactive substances, focusing on nicotine – the most poisonous, toxic, and addictive of the three legal drugs studied. Maintaining the same rigorous standards as his acclaimed works on alcohol and cannabis, this book provides critical insights for medical and legal professionals.

Key Forensic Findings:

• Documents clear signs of nicotine poisoning, crucial for identifying cases often missed by investigators
• Examines why forensic laboratories and medicolegal professionals have historically overlooked nicotine, despite its association with:
  • Accidental poisonings (particularly from high-potency e-liquids)
  • Driving impairment
  • House fires
  • Suicides
  • Homicides

Drug Delivery Systems Analysis:
The text thoroughly investigates how the tobacco industry promotes nicotine through various delivery methods, including:

• Smokeless tobacco products
• E-cigarettes (with specific focus on JUUL devices)
• Waterpipes and bidis
• IQOS heated tobacco systems

Emerging Threats:

• Warns about the growing danger of high-potency nicotine liquids sold online
• Explains how easy internet access to these products increases nicotine’s medicolegal significance
• Provides forensic protocols for investigating nicotine-related incidents

Professional Applications:

• Offers courtroom-ready scientific data on nicotine’s effects
• Presents case studies demonstrating nicotine’s role in accidental and intentional poisonings
• Includes analysis suitable for expert witness testimony

This authoritative work fills a critical gap in forensic toxicology literature, equipping professionals to properly assess and litigate nicotine-related cases in an era of evolving nicotine products and rising public health concerns. The book’s clear organization and evidence-based approach make complex toxicological information accessible for both legal and medical applications.