CHAPTER 6

UNDERSTANDING ALCOHOL:
ALCOHOL TOXICITY
 WHAT IS ALCOHOL?
• Is a class of organic compounds containing hydroxyl
groups such as ethanol.
• Ethanol is a specific kind of alcohol normally diluted
with water and consumed as beverage.
 FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL….

• It is a drug.
• The most widely used drug in
our country and worldwide.
• A social drink
• A person who is involved or who
uses this drug is termed as
alcoholic.
 WHAT IS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES?
• Is a mixture of ethyl alcohol
and water and a small
amount of congeners which
is responsible for its peculiar
odor and taste.
• Congeners are product of
fermentation and distillation
process.
 TYPES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

• Fermented low alcoholic content.

• Beer (4-6%)
• Wine
• Red wine ( 8-14%)
• Distilled High alcoholic content
• 100 proof means 50% ethanol
• 80 proof means 40% ehtanol
• Combination
• Fortified, port and sherry wine
• Others: whisky, brandy, gin, vodka, rum,
tequila (35-45%)
 WHAT IS ALCOHOL INTOXICATION?

•When the quantity of alcohol

consumed exceeds the
individual’s tolerance for
alcohol and produces
behavioral and physical
abnormalities.
 • Enters
alcohol the small
intestine

• 90% of alcohol is
converted into
In the liver acetaldehyde and acetic
acid

METABOLISM Eliminated •90 minutes is

the
via sweat approximate

OF ALCOHOL
time of peak
and urine blood level
 METABOLISM…..
• On empty stomach
• 20% IS ABSORBED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE
WALLS OF AN EMPTY STOMACH AND CAN
REACH THE BRAIN IN
1 MINUTE
• On full stomach
• LESS CHANCE OF COMING IN CONTACT
WITH THE WALL THUS INFLUENCE IN THE
BRAIN IS SLIGHTLY DELAYED.
CARBOHYDRATES SNACKS SLOW THE
ABSORPTION, HIGH FAT SLOW DOWN
PERISTALSIS (RETENTION IN THE STOMACH)
 BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL

• The amount of alcohol in the blood stream

recorded in milligrams of alcohol per 100 mL
of blood.
• It depends on:
• Amt. of blood (which will increase by
weight)
• Amt. of alcohol consumed over time (the
faster you drink, the higher your BAL. (liver
can only handle a drink per hour- the rest
will build up in your blood stream)
level effect

0.02 Mellow feeling, slight body warmth, less inhibited

Noticeable relaxation, less alert, less self focused, coordination

0.05 impairment begins
Drunk driving limit, definite impairment in coordination and
0.08 judgment

0.10 Noisy, possible embarrassing behavior, mood swings

0.15 Impaired balance and movement, clearly drunk

0.20-0.25 Feels sleepy to sleep

0.30 Many loose consciousness

0. 40 Most lose consciousness and some die

0.05 Breathing stops , many die

 ALCOHOL TESTING PROCEDURES

• Testing for alcohol is part of a

process that is followed by forensic
toxicologists:
1. Patient History – a case history of
the deceased patient is collected
which include the following: age,
sex, weight, medical history,
autopsy findings and the time of
death or interval.
ALCOHOL TESTING
PROCEDURES

1. Sample will be taken from the

body of the deceased.
• This may include samples that
came from the gastrointestinal
tract, urine, and blood. The
sooner these sample are taken
the better findings will come
out.
• Other part of the body may also
be taken for testing such as the
kidney and Liver, if the person is
not deceased, a breath alcohol
test may be performed.
 ALCOHOL TESTING PROCEDURES

1. Testing is done from the samples.

• Investigators must always consider the proper
way on how to collect, preserved and must
always follow the Chain of Custody so that the
samples may not be tampered.
• At the Laboratory, different test is done on the
samples to determine the levels of alcohol. This
will determine if there were violations of any
laws. Moreso, interpretation of the test will be
based on the history taken by the investigators.
ALCOHOL TESTING PROCEDURES

• In post-mortem, and or examination of body

after death samples, investigators and
Forensic Toxicologist should consider that
there are factors that may alter the
concentration of alcohol making it less
reliable compared to samples taken from the
suspects who are still alive.
• Also, the time when the sample is taken
should be taken into consideration since
blood concentrations decreases the more
time has passed.
REASONS WHY BLOOD IS LESS
RELIABLE
• Reasons why blood is less reliable in
samples from Post-mortem are as follows:
• (a) Post mortem blood is not sterile and it
may already have high numbers of
bacteria and fungi.
• (b) diffusion from blood from the
gastrointestinal trat can or may falsely
elevate BAC
 TEST FOR ALCOHOL

• FIELD SOBRIETY TEST

• This is performed to ascertain
the degree of the suspects
physical impairment.
• If found positive, requires the
submission of blood of the
suspect
• It consists of psychophysical test
and preliminary breath test.
 TEST FOR ALCOHOL
• PSYCHOPHYSICAL TEST
• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus
• Uncontrollable and unaware that
jerking is happening as the eyes
moves toward the side.
• One leg stand and walk
• The officer shall asks the suspect to
stand on one foot, stand steady
with eyes closed, repeatedly
touching one finger to his nose, or
walk a straight line in the heel to
toe manner.
 TEST FOR ALCOHOL
• BREATH TEST
• Breathalyzers.
• One breath testing
instrument that has
become widely
employed for testing
individuals suspected of
being under the
influence of alcohol.
 TEST FOR ALCOHOL

•BLOOD ALCOHOL
TEST
• Using CONWAY
method and Potassium
dichromate Test – will
give ethanol green
coloration.