THE DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN A HOSPITAL POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION WHICH IS CONDUCTED TO CONFIRM A KNOWN OR SUSPECTED DIAGNOSIS OF THE DISEASE WHICH CAUSED A PATIENT'S DEATH, AND A FORENSIC POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION, WHICH AIMS TO DETERMINE THE DIRECT CAUSE OF DEATH AND TO RECONSTRUCT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVENTS WHICH LED TO THE DEATH. DEATHS INVOLVING PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS MAY BE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES, EACH OF WHICH CALLS FOR A THOROUGH POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION: (1) DEATH DUE TO THE DIRECT TOXIC EFFECT OF A DRUG; (2) DEATH AS A RESULT OF SECONDARY COMPLICATIONS, SUCH AS HEPATITIS AND OTHER INFECTIONS DUE TO THE USE OF CONTAMINATED NEEDLES; AND (3) DEATHS FROM SITUATIONS IN WHICH A PERSON UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A HIGH BUT NONLETHAL DOSE OF A DRUG ACTS IN A LIFE-RISKING MANNER. ELEMENTS OF A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH MEDICAL EXAMINER/CORONER'S POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION INCLUDE A DETAILED STUDY OF THE DEATH SCENE, PRECISE STUDY OF THE TYPE AND EXTENT OF MORPHOLOGICAL DAMAGE, DETERMINATION OF THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE, LABORATORY TESTS, AND ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE DECEASED. THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE MUST BE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, DOCUMENTED, AND MAINTAINED. STEP-BY-STEP OUTLINES OF PROCEDURES FOR A POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION AND AUTOPSY ARE INCLUDED. ALSO IMPORTANT IN DRUG-RELATED DEATHS IS THE FIELD OF INTERPRETIVE FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY.