Forensic Toxicology Flashcards
What are standard drinks?
-A standard drink contains equal volumes of alcohol (around 17 mL ethanol)
-One drink doesn’t mean one standard drink
-Size matters
o Bottles: 330,341, 710 mL
o Cans: 355,472,710, 950 mL
o Pint of beer: 12-20 oz
What % alcohol are beer wine and liqueurs ?
➢Beer: 4-7.3% ➢Wine: 10-14% ➢Spirits and Liqueurs -Gin, vodka, Rye, brandy, rum 40% -Baileys 17% -Tia Maria 20% -Amaretto 28% -Sambuca 38%
How many beer does it take to be poisoned?
➢One beer=beverage, BAC- 25 mg/100mL
➢8-14 = toxin, 200-350 mg100/ mL
➢14+= poison, >350 mg/100mL
What are the three processes of alcohol digestion?
absorption, distribution and elimination
Describe absorption
o Rapidly by diffusion
o Stomach (25%) and small intestine (75%)
o Peak BAC reached within 30 minutes of last drink
o Complete absorption may take longer (up to 90 minutes)
o Food does not stop absorption of alcohol, it only slows down absorption by slowing the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine
Describe distribution
o Alcohol distributes thought the body according to water content
o Blood comprises 6% of total body water
o The amount of water depends on weight and gender
o Male 70% water and female 60% water
Describe elimination
o Alcohol is eliminated by the liver (96-96%)
o 2-4% eliminated in breath, urine, sweat
o Range use- 10 to 20 mg/100mL/hr
o Your rate cannot be increased of change by: physical exercise, excessive sweating, drinking lots of water or coffee, taking cold showers, sucking on a penny
o Only thing that will effect the rate of absorption is time
What are factors to consider in an investigation?
Gender, weight, time of last drink, drug use
What testing is done to see if there is alcohol in the system?
➢Breath testing
➢Blood testing
o Blood kits used following a demand
o Analysis of seized blood samples
Describe the mouth alcohol effect
➢If residual amount of alcohol is left in the oral cavity, a false high breath alcohol reading can occur ➢Mouth alcohol may arise from o Rinsing with mouth wash o Recent consumption of alcohol o Asthma inhaler that contains alcohol
What are signs or intoxication?
➢ Red glassy eyes ➢ Flushed face ➢ Slurred speech ➢ Loss of fine motor control ➢ Loss of balance ➢ Staggering gait
What is HGN?
Horizontal Gaze Nystagums: involuntary jerk of the eye
What is WAT?
Walk and Turn: nine steps, heel to toe down a line and turn then nine steps heel to toe, while walking, keep watching feet, arms down at side, count out loud
What is OLS?
One Leg Stand: Stand straight with feet together and keep arms at sides. Maintain position until told otherwise, raise leg of choice, keep raised leg approximately six inches off ground foot pointed out, keep both legs straight, keep eyes on elevated foot, count Out Loud for 30 seconds
What s DEC and DRE?
➢ DEC – Drug Evaluation and Classification program relies on standardized procedures and involves the observation of visual clues, vital signs and questioning for the determination of impairment.
➢ DRE – Drug Recognition Expert determines if the subject is impaired and if the impairment is drug or medically related
