Chapter 12

Question 1

How is most alcohol absorbed into the bloodstream, and where is it primarily metabolized?

Answer 1

Absorbed in the stomach and small intestine.
Primarily metabolized in the liver.

Question 1

What is the most heavily abused drug type in Western countries?

Answer 1

Alcohol.

Question 2

How is alcohol absorption impacted by stomach contents?

Answer 2

Full stomach: Slows absorption.
Empty stomach: Speeds up absorption

Question 3

How is alcohol eliminated from the body?

Answer 3

Oxidation (in the liver, ~90%).
Excretion (through breath, urine, sweat)

Question 4

What factors determine the rate of alcohol absorption into the bloodstream?

Answer 4

Alcohol concentration in the beverage.
Rate of consumption.
Presence of food in the stomach.
Body weight and gender.

Question 5

What is the average elimination, or “burn off,” rate of alcohol?

Answer 5

Approximately 0.015% per hour.

Question 6

If blood is not available, what can be used to determine the body’s alcohol content?

Answer 6

Vitreous humor, urine, or brain tissue.

Question 7

What is the purpose of field sobriety testing, and what tests are used?

Answer 7

Purpose: To assess a person’s level of intoxication.
Tests:
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN).
Walk and Turn.
One-Leg Stand.

Question 8

What is heroin almost immediately metabolized into upon entering the bloodstream?

Answer 8

Morphine.

Question 9

What are the advantages and time frames for analyzing hair for drug use?

Answer 9

Advantages: Long detection window, resistant to tampering.
Time frame: Detects drug use over weeks to months.

Question 10

Why is carbon monoxide toxic?

Answer 10

It binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing oxygen transport and leading to suffocation.

Question 11

What is the blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) for being legally “under the influence” in most states?

Answer 11

0.08%.

Question 12

How is alcohol distributed in the body?

Answer 12

Alcohol is evenly distributed through the water-containing tissues of the body.

Question 13

Which analytical technique is widely used for directly measuring blood alcohol levels?

Answer 13

Gas chromatography.

Question 14

What is a drug recognition expert (DRE), and what do they do?

Answer 14

A trained law enforcement officer who identifies drug-impaired individuals.
Can classify drug influence into seven categories (e.g., CNS depressants, stimulants, narcotics).

Question 15

What is the implied-consent law?

Answer 15

Drivers give implied consent to chemical testing (breath, blood, urine) by operating a vehicle, with refusal resulting in penalties.

Question 16

What is the difference between a screening test and a confirmation test? Why is each important?

Answer 16

Screening test: Preliminary test to identify potential drugs (e.g., immunoassay).
Confirmation test: Definitive test to identify specific substances (e.g., gas chromatography-mass spectrometry).
Both are important for initial detection and legal admissibility of results.