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FORENSIC TOXICOLOGISTS-duties limited to legal issues
• Workplace drug testing
- Postmortem drug testing
Investigation of contraband materials
FOREBRAIN IS AFFECTED
FIRST
• reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement,• emotions, and problem solving
REAR PORTIONSARE AFFECTED
NEXT
movement, orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli perception and recognition of auditory stimuli,
memory, and speech
LOWERS INHIBITIONS
In one study of unplanned
pregnancies in 14-21 year olds,
1/3 of the girls who had
gotten pregnant had been
drinking when they had sex;
91% of them reported that
the sex was unplanned.
Half of all newly-reported AIDS cases are
for young people ages 14-21…
ABSORPTION INTO THE BLOODSTREAM
20% OF ALCOHOL
IS ABSORBED INTO THE BLOODSTREAM ACROSS THE WALLS
OF THESTOMACH
80% IS ABSORBEDACROSS THE WALLS
OF THE SMALL INTESTINE
Maximum blood-alcohol concentrations in the blood may not be reached until
after time of consumption
TO
90 MINIS AVERAGE
Under NORMAL
SOCIAL DRINKING conditions
It takes anywhere
from 30 – 90 minutes
from the time of the final drink
until absorption is complete
Since alcohol is distributed through the watery portions
of the body Other organs may
be tested for alcohol
ELIMINATION OF “BURN-OFF” RATE
0.015% - 0.020% w/v per hour (0.015% is .015 g alcohol per 100 ml blood)
1 – 1½ DRINKS PER HOUR
OXIDATION AROUND 95% OF ALCOHOL THAT ENTERS THE BODY IS OXIDIZED IN THE LIVER
Alcohol → acetaldehyde →
acetic acid→
CO2 + H2O
Measuring Breath for BAC Amount of Alcohol EXHALED
is
DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL
to the Concentration of alcohol
in the BLOOD
DURING ABSORPTION: CONCENTRATION
OF ALCOHOL
IN ARTERIAL BLOOD
WILL BE
CONSIDERABLY HIGHER
THAN VENOUS BLOOD
(dark red color)
During elimination,
venous blood has higher BAC
THE BREATHALYZER
INDIRECTLY MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMED BY MEASURING THE ABSORPTION OF
LIGHT USING
A SPECTROPHOTOMETER
HOW IT WORKS:
16 H+(aq) + Cr2O72-
(aq) + 3 C2H5OH(l) →
(orange) (alcohol)
4 Cr3+(aq) + 3 CH3COOH(aq) + 11 H2O(l)
(green)
UNUSED ORANGE MIXES WITH
GREEN PRODUCED
TO MAKE A BLUE SOLUTION
In other words….
ORANGE + ALCOHOL → GREEN (Cr2O7
2-(aq))
Little or no alcohol: ORANGE
Some alcohol: BLUE (orange + green ) A lot of alcohol: GREEN or GREENISH BLUE
The HIGHER the concentration of alcohol, the LOWER the concentration of potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7)
FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS are performed to find the degree of impairment and whether an evidential test is justified
ALCOHOL GAZE NYSTAGMUS
ALCOHOL GAZE NYSTAGMUS (HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL)
INVOLUNTARY JERKING OF THE EYEAS EYE MOVES FROM LOOKING STRAIGHT
TO LOOKING UP & DOWN OR LOOKING TO THE SIDE
REFUSE TO TAKE A TESTFOR ALCOHOL INTOXICATION
• AUTOMATIC LOSS OF LICENSE FOR ONE YEAR
• AN ADDITIONAL LOSS OF LICENSE
FOR ONE YEAR IF CONVICTED
IMPLIED CONSENT LAW
PA DUI LAWS
Three tiered system:
Fines, jail time depend on the amount of alcohol in the body (BAC) and if there have been any previous convictions
.08
0.1-0.159
0.16 and up
ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
• The ARD program consists of the following:• up to 12-month license suspension • community service • restitution • 6-month court supervision • attendance at Alcohol Highway Safety School and its
costs • CRN evaluation • court and administrative costs • treatment and other conditions that a judge may impose
Persons with any prior convictions are not eligible for ARD
HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Section 3735 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code• Any person who unintentionally causes the
death of another person as the result of… driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and who is convicted of violating [the law regarding driving under the influence] is guilty of a felony of the second degree when the violation is the cause of death.
• The penalty is a mandatory sentence of 3-10 years incarceration and consecutive 3-10 year terms for each victim whose death is a result. The fine may be as high as $25,000 per victim.
25% of teen drivers killed in 2003 had ablood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater. A BAC of .08 is the level which all states define drunk driving.
More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about 4.65 a day—
as a result of alcohol- related injuries.
Alcohol poisoning most often occurs
as a result of the rapid intake of alcohol, also known as binge drinking. This high amount of alcohol can lead to seizures, choking, an irregular heart beat and even death.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning Confusion
Slow reflexes Unable to communicate effectively Slurring in speech Rapid pulse Feeling sick, vomiting Dehydration Unconsciousness Moist, clammy skin Inability to walk Pale, blue colored skin
What are the Effects of Alcohol Poisoning?
• The effects of alcohol poisoning can be devastating, especially if the drinker becomes unconscious. In fact, numerous deaths have occurred as a result of an unconscious person choking on their own vomit or breathing in vomit. Possible effects of alcohol poisoning include:
• Irregular heart beat • Choking (from vomiting) • Coma • Decrease in body temperature (hypothermia) • Brain damage • Seizure • Strange breathing patterns • Inhalation of vomit causing a halt in breathing patterns
(asphyxiation) • Death
5 Steps to Take if Someone You Know Has Alcohol Poisoning
• Call 911 or a local poison control center if you think someone you know has alcohol poisoning.
• Stay with the person. Never leave a severely intoxicated person alone.
• Turn the person onto their side to prevent choking if vomiting occurs.
• Monitor breathing levels. If you know CPR, be prepared to use this skill in case of an emergency.
• Continually try to revive the person if they are passed out.
EXPUNGEMENT
• is a legal process through which an arrest or conviction may be erased from a person's criminal record.