Enrichment
Yesterday’s article
 In KY, how many deaths are alcohol related each year?
 What types of people are at risk of alcoholism?
 Do you believe there is a genetic risk?
 Do you believe alcohol is a physical or a psychological
addiction? Or both? Why?
 What do you believe to be the best steps to help people
addicted to alcohol?
 What steps are needed to prevent people from
becoming addicted in the first place?
4/27
Opening Activity
Pre Assessment
 All commercial alcohol beverages (beer, whiskey, rum,
etc.) are all made from the same compound. What is
the chemical name of the alcohol that humans
consume?
 Is it possible to die from drinking alcohol?
 What is the legal limit of alcohol while driving in
Kentucky?
Unit 7 – Alcohol Toxicology
Alcohol Use and Abuse
 Alcohol is the most abused of all drugs.
 35-40% of all traffic deaths are alcohol related.
(completely unacceptable for our society!)
 An estimated 100 million plus people in the U.S. use
alcohol.
 The alcohol industry generates over 50 billion dollars
per year.
 CSI’s will be confronted with cases in which alcohol is
associated with accidents, assaults, and deaths.
Learning to assess the role of alcohol within a criminal
investigation is necessary for the CSI.
Ethyl alcohol….
 Ethyl alcohol is a colorless, odorless liquid in its
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natural form.
Ethyl alcohol is produced by way of the anaerobic
respiration of yeast in plant sugars (fermentation).
By modifying the distillation process and using
different ingredients, different types of alcoholic
beverages are produced.
Ethyl alcohol is normally diluted with water and
served as a beverage (~4% - 45%).
Ethyl alcohol inhibits nerves ability to send and receive
signal impulses throughout the body…
Other “alcohols”
 There are MANY “other” alcohols that people sometimes
drink when ethyl alcohol is not available or too expensive.
 These alcohols can have similar effects of ethyl alcohol, but
can lead to instant blindness, brain damage, and even death.
 Methanol, isopropyl alcohol, propanol, etc.
 Commonly found in hair sprays, hand sanitizers, cleaning
agents, and other random items. Just because the word
“alcohol” is listed as an ingredient, doesn’t mean that it’s
ethyl alcohol.
The short term effects of alcohol…
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1. sensation of relaxation
2. slowing of reaction time (depressant)
3. gradual loss of muscle coordination
4. impaired judgment/aggression
5. impaired speech/vision/hearing
6. inability to concentrate
7. memory loss – short and long term
8. dehydration - leads to hangover symptoms
9. nausea and vomiting
10. loss of consciousness/passing out
11. alcohol poisoning – can lead to death
The Absorption of Alcohol..
 1. Once alcohol is consumed it is absorbed very quickly
by the body tissues. Alcohol absorbs at much higher
rate than even water.
 2. The alcohol diffuses into the blood stream through
the stomach and small intestine.
 3. The alcohol is distributed throughout the body by
way of the circulatory system.
 4. The alcohol is gradually metabolized until
concentration levels are completely eliminated.
1 beer ≈ less than 15 min to diffuse, 1 hour to metabolize.
How is alcohol metabolized/eliminated
from the body?
 1. Oxidation – Takes place in the liver. 95% of the
alcohol a person consumes is eliminated by oxidation.
Alcohol is converted into carbon dioxide and water.
Heavy drinkers of alcohol often have liver issues/
failure/cancer.
 2. Excretion – The remaining alcohol is excreted by
way of urine, sweat, and respiration. The
concentration of alcohol in the breath is directly
proportional to the concentration of alcohol in the
blood (breathalyzer).
Today’s Assignment:
 Tomorrow Officer Jacobs will be presenting on alcohol
and how it relates to law enforcement.
 Based on today’s lesson and general experience/
knowledge, generate FIVE questions regarding alcohol
that you wish to ask him.
 Tomorrow, you will be expected to ask him AT LEAST
ONE of your questions (I will keep tally and assign
points). (He should be answering 30 questions
tomorrow) Be careful of duplicate questions.
Today’s Assignment:
 Read the articles “Caught by a Hair/ Death by Tylenol”
 Write your own 10 question multiple choice (ABC)
quiz over the material.
 When complete, turn in for a classwork grade.
 Do your best!
Unit 7 Quiz
 1. What percentage of traffic deaths are alcohol related?
 2. What is the estimated number of people in the U.S. that
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use alcohol?
3. _________ alcohol is the type served in beverages.
4. List three short term side effects of alcohol use.
5. Once alcohol is consumed it is absorbed into the
bloodstream through the ______ and ________.
6. Where is alcohol oxidized?
7. What % of consumed alcohol is oxidized?
8. In what three ways is alcohol excreted from the body?
 9. List three factors that affect how alcohol is absorbed
into the body.
 10. In what year was the breathalyzer device invented?
 11. Who invented the breathalyzer?
Forensics
Unit 6/7 Assessment Tomorrow
Drugs & Alcohol
Two items not on study guide:
Dr. Hedrick Presentation over the NKY heroin plan
Officer Jacob’s Presentation on DUIs
Factors that influence alcohol
absorption
 1. The size of the person consuming alcohol.
 2. The amount of alcohol consumed.
 3. The alcohol concentration of the beverages
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consumed.
4. The total time taken to consume the alcohol.
5. The quantity and type of food in the stomach at the
time of consumption. (alcohol absorbs faster on empty
stomachs)
6. Hydration levels
7. Age
The Breathalyzer
 The breathalyzer is a useful tool for determining
level of intoxication.
 The breathalyzer was invented in 1954 by an
Indiana state police officer, Robert Borkenstein.
 The electrical current produced by the reduction
of alcohol in the breath to acetic acid and water
is measured and displayed as an approximation of
breath alcohol volume.
 Using pennies, breath mints, or batteries will not
fool the breathalyzer!
Blood analysis for alcohol…
 Drawing blood to test motorists suspected to be under
the influence is neither practical nor convenient,
however it is sometimes necessary.
 Collecting blood for alcohol analysis:
1. apply a non-alcohol disinfectant to the skin.
(iodine)
2. penetrate the skin with a sterile hypodermic needle
or lancet.
3. Add an anticoagulant to prevent clotting.
(potassium oxalate)
4. Add a preservative to prevent infection by microorganisms. (sodium fluoride)
5. Place the blood into an airtight container..
The Legal Limit….
 In Kentucky, a person is legally intoxicated at a blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08.
 Punishments for drunk driving are established by state
laws.
 Kentucky does not have a set punishment for DUI
offenses.
 DUI offenders usually receive one or a combination of:
1. jail time
2. fines
3. license suspension
Factors that influence DUI
sentencing…
 1. The state where the offense occurred.
 2. prior offenses of any kind.
 3. the person’s BAC at the time of arrest.
 4. the presence of children at the time of arrest. (child
endangerment)
 5. additional broken laws. (speeding, fleeing, resisting
arrest, drug possession, etc.)
DUI Penalties in Other Countries.. (1st offense)
Malaysia
Driver and spouse are both jailed together.
South Africa
10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Turkey
Drivers are taken 20 miles from automobile and forced to walk back.
Sweden
One year of hard labor in a maximum security prison camp. (0.02 limit)
Russia
Drivers license revoked for life. (0.02 limit)
England
One year jail, one year license suspension, fine.
France
One year jail, three years license suspension, fine.
Bulgaria
1st offense, jail… 2nd offense, death penalty.
El Salvador
1st offense is the last offense. Death penalty. (firing squad)
The Evolution of the Legal BAC
Limit…
 In 1939, the legal BAC limit in the U.S. was 0.15. (!)
 In 1954, the breathalyzer was invented.
 By 1965, the limit was lowered nationwide to 0.10.
 As of 2004, the limit nationwide is 0.08.
 The limit for those with CDL’s is 0.04.
 A person is 4 times more likely to have an accident at a
BAC of 0.08.
 A person is 25 times more likely to have an accident at
a BAC of 0.15.
Forensics
Unit 6/7 Assessment Tomorrow
Drugs & Alcohol
Two items not on study guide:
Dr. Hedrick Presentation over the NKY heroin plan
Officer Jacob’s Presentation on DUIs
Opening Activity
 If a person over 21 is pulled over having a BAC of 0.10,
what might be their sentencing?
 What factors might influence whether their
sentencing is minor or harsh?
Yesterday’s Notes
 Factors of absorption
 Breathalyzer
 Blood Analysis
 Legal limit and evolution of BAC
 Consequences
 Body mass charts of absorptions
 Chart of behavior and impairments at different BAC.
Recognizing Drug/Alcohol Use..
 In the 1970’s the LAPD developed a system of identifying
suspects under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Today,
all police officers are trained in the components of this
system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHF4B7zDX40
1.
Questioning – Officers will ask questions to determine if
there is a possibility of substance use, or if impairments
are non-drug related.
Example = How much have you had to drink?
When was your last drink?
Do you have any physical problems?
Are you a diabetic?
2. Eye exam – Officers will check for abnormally dilated
(large) or constricted (small) pupils.
3. Psychophysical field testing – Walk and turn, one leg
stand, HGN (horizontal gaze nystagmus) tests.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fQ2Zaiay2U
4. Muscle rigidity – Drugs can cause muscles to become
rigid (tense) or flaccid (loose).
5. Vital signs – blood pressure, pulse rate, body
temperature will often be abnormal under the
influence of drugs/alcohol.
6. Visible injection sites – “Track marks” may be seen on
the hands, arms, and neck of intravenous (IV) drug
users.
7. Toxicology – Breathe, blood and urine samples are
admissible to court.