THE VALUE OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO DRUG DEATH INVESTIGATION, INVOLVING A POLICE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR, A MEDICAL EXAMINER'S INVESTIGATOR, A FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST, AND A MEDICAL EXAMINER, IS STRESSED, AND THE ROLE OF EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM IS DESCRIBED. THE FUNCTION OF THE TOXICOLOGIST IN COLLECTING AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS FOR ANALYSIS IS EXAMINED, INCLUDING A DETAILED LISTING OF FLUIDS AND TISSUES MOST OFTEN ANALYZED. FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF DRUGS, METHODS OF ANALYSIS ARE COVERED, AS WELL AS WAYS OF INSURING QUALITY CONTROL OF ANALYSIS. THE PROBLEM OF INTERPRETING TOXICOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND THE SERVICES WHICH THE FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST CAN PROVIDE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER ARE ALSO TREATED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.