Variability in antemortem and postmortem blood alcohol concentration levels among fatally injured adults

In Finnish data from 1995 / 2000, 1006 fatal poisonings due to alcohol (ethanol), a single drug or both were statistically analysed in retrospect to evaluate the interaction between alcohol and drugs. In 53% of these cases, low concentrations of some common benzodiazepines were present. The median postmortem blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 3.3 (w/w) in the 615 alcohol poisonings, but significantly lower, ranging from 1.3 to 1.7, when promazine, doxepin, amitriptyline or propoxyphene were found together with alcohol. When levomepromazine, temazepam or zopiclone were present, the median BAC was also significantly lower, 2.5 trations of a drug (excluding citalopram), suggesting a positive concentration / effect relationship. Fatal toxicity indices (FTIs) were calculated by relating the number of deaths caused by a drug to the corresponding sales figures. Promazine had an extremely high FTI, followed by levomepromazine, propoxyphene, doxepin and amitriptyline. The other drugs had relatively low FTIs. The results reflect not only the acute toxicity of a given drug / alcohol combination but also the manners of use and abuse of these drugs.

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Illegal substance use among 1,309 music festival attendees: An investigation using oral fluid sample drug tests, breathalysers and questionnaires

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494818821481 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 400-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Linn Gjersing ◽

Anne Line Bretteville-Jensen ◽

Håvard Furuhaugen ◽

Hallvard Gjerde

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Oral Fluid ◽

Alcohol Intoxication ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Dance Music ◽

Electronic Dance Music ◽

Music Festivals ◽

Concentration Levels

Aims: Illegal substance use at music festivals is less documented than it is in nightlife and electronic dance music settings. This study investigated such use through questionnaires, breathalysers and oral fluid drug testing. We also examined the associations between testing positive for illegal substances and demographics, self-reported substance use and measured blood alcohol concentration levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,309 festival attendees from six Norwegian music festivals taking place between July and August 2016. Logistic regression models estimated the likelihood of a positive oral fluid drug test. Covariates were male, age, education, employment, smoking status, early age for alcohol intoxication, alcohol intoxication ⩾2 times a week, past-month and past-year illegal substance use, blood alcohol concentration levels and festivals. Results: Overall, 12% reported illegal substance use in the past 30 days and 11% tested positive for illegal substances. Cannabis (6%), cocaine (3%) and MDMA/ecstasy (2%) were most commonly detected. One-third had a blood alcohol concentration ⩾0.10%. Of those with a positive test result ( n=146), 95% had detectable alcohol levels and 41% had a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10%. Those studying or working part-time were less likely to test positive compared to those who were not employed. Furthermore, those reporting daily smoking and past-year cannabis or MDMA/ecstasy use were more likely to test positive, compared to those not reporting such use. Conclusions: Illegal substance use was less prevalent than in previous nightlife and electronic dance music studies. Almost all those testing positive for illegal substances had detectable alcohol levels and 41% had a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.10%, possibly indicating combined use.

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Characteristics of individuals who use alcohol at the time of attempting suicide

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.722 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s273-s273

Author(s):

D.U. Jung ◽

S.J. Kim ◽

J.S. Lim ◽

B.G. Kong ◽

J.W. Kang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Apache Ii ◽

Apache Ii Score ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Medical Outcomes ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics ◽

Concentration Levels

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of individuals who used alcohol at the time of attempting suicide.MethodsWe divided 143 individuals who attempted suicide by consuming drugs into two groups on the basis of their blood alcohol concentration level: drinker group (n = 79) and non-drinker group (n = 64). We compared epidemiological characteristics and suicidal behavior between the groups by using the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) and the Risk Rescue Rating Scale (RRRS). In addition, we administered the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation–II (APACHE–II) to evaluate the medical lethality of the individuals who attempted suicide. We used Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression to analyze the data.ResultsThe drinker group scored lower on the SIS's planning subscale than the non-drinker group did (P = 0.022). The drinker group's blood alcohol concentration levels were negatively correlated with the rescue potential of their suicidal attempt (P = 0.031) and the APACHE-II score (P = 0.003). Higher blood alcohol concentration levels predicted poorer medical outcomes measured by the APACHE-II (P = 0.004).ConclusionOur findings support the notion that alcohol use increases suicidal impulsivity, decreases rescue potential, and worsens medical outcomes. Therefore, suicide prevention programs need to include education and counselling about the risks associated with alcohol use.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Alcohol intoxication at Swedish football matches: A study using biological sampling to assess blood alcohol concentration levels among spectators

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0188284 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. e0188284 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Natalie Durbeej ◽

Tobias H. Elgán ◽

Camilla Jalling ◽

Johanna Gripenberg

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Intoxication ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Biological Sampling ◽

Concentration Levels

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Blood Alcohol Concentration Levels Among DUI Arrestees: Are there Differences when Considering Race and Gender?

The Police Journal Theory Practice and Principles ◽

10.1350/pojo.2010.83.0.484 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Robert Moore

Keyword(s):

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Race And Gender ◽

And Gender ◽

Concentration Levels

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Blood Alcohol Concentration Levels among Dui Arrestees: Are There Differences When Considering Race and Gender?

The Police Journal Theory Practice and Principles ◽

10.1350/pojo.2010.83.3.484 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 83 (3) ◽

pp. 250-267

Author(s):

Robert Moore

Keyword(s):

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Race And Gender ◽

And Gender ◽

Concentration Levels

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The Importance of Alcohol Testing by Gas Chromatography vs the Cordebard Classical Method Modified in the Medico Legal Investigation

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.9.6543 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (9) ◽

pp. 2407-2410

Author(s):

Dan Perju Dumbrava ◽

Carmen Corina Radu ◽

Sofia David ◽

Tatiana Iov ◽

Catalin Jan Iov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gas Chromatography ◽

Chromatographic Method ◽

Classical Method ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Technical Details ◽

Gas Chromatographic Method ◽

Alcohol Testing ◽

Living Person

Considering the growing number of requests from the criminal investigations authorities addressed to the institutions of legal medicine, testing of blood alcohol concentration both in the living person and in the corpse, we believe that a presentation of the two methods which are used in our country, is a topic of interest at present. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with the technical details on how blodd alcohol concentration is realised by means of the gas chromatographic method and the classical one, (Cordebard modified by D. Banciu and I. Droc) respectively. Another purpose of this article is to also show, in a comparative way, the elements that make the gas chromatographic method superior to the former one.

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A Driving Simulator Study of the Performance Effects of Low Blood Alcohol Concentration

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129604001817 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 40 (18) ◽

pp. 943-946 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Wade Allen ◽

Zareh Parseghian ◽

Anthony C. Stein

Keyword(s):

Divided Attention ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Large Body ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Performance Effects ◽

Driving Task ◽

Simulator Study ◽

And Performance

There is a large body of research that documents the impairing effect of alcohol on driving behavior and performance. Some of the most significant alcohol influence seems to occur in divided attention situations when the driver must simultaneously attend to several aspects of the driving task. This paper describes a driving simulator study of the effect of a low alcohol dose, .055 BAC (blood alcohol concentration %/wt), on divided attention performance. The simulation was mechanized on a PC and presented visual and auditory feedback in a truck cab surround. Subjects were required to control speed and steering on a rural two lane road while attending to a peripheral secondary task. The subject population was composed of 33 heavy equipment operators who were tested during both placebo and drinking sessions. Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed a significant and practical alcohol effect on a range of variables in the divided attention driving task.

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4. Are a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 256mg/dl and Minimal Signs of Impairment Reliable Indications of Alcohol Dependence?

Medicine Science and the Law ◽

10.1177/002580249403400316 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A W Jones

Keyword(s):

Expert Witness ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Drunk Driving ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Driving Under The Influence ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Lower Court ◽

Dna Profile ◽

Court Of Appeals ◽

Driving Scenario

This article describes a drink-driving scenario where a woman was apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 256mg/dl1 The correctness of this result was vigorously challenged by a medical expert witness for the defence, who was actually a specialist in alcohol diseases. Despite reanalysis to confirm the BAC as well as a DNA profile to prove the identity of the blood specimen, the woman was acquitted of the charge of drunk driving by the lower court. However, she was subsequently found guilty in the High Court of Appeals with a unanimous decision and sentenced to four weeks imprisonment. This case report illustrates some of the problems surrounding the use of expert medical evidence by the defence to challenge the validity of the prosecution evidence based solely on a suspect's BAC. In situations such as these, an expert witness should be called by the prosecution to clarify and, if necessary, rebut medical and/or scientific opinions that might mislead the court and influence the outcome of the trial.

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