Alcohol is a depressant drug and, as such, at high enough blood alcohol concentrations can cause death due to alcohol poisoning by severe depression of the central nervous system, most probably the respiratory center, which causes the poisoned...
Read moreIn many jurisdictions, the use of chewing gum by a drunk driving subject is not allowed for at least 15 minutes prior to a breath alcohol test. Does chewing gum affect breath alcohol tests and, if it does, is 15 minutes sufficient to clear the...
Read moreIt is not uncommon to find high rates of alcohol elimination in drinking drivers with high BACs. This blog is a review of a study published by top forensic alcohol researcher, Wayne Jones, which illustrates several issues that can arise in a...
Read moreIn my 49th blog (posted November 3rd, 2013), the effect of acute tolerance to alcohol (first described by Sir Edward Mellanby in 1919) was discussed. Acute tolerance is the apparent decrease in physical impairment when the BAC is on the declining...
Read moreIn 1919, Sir Edward Mellanby (1884 – 1955) published his monograph, “Alcohol, Its Absorption into and Disappearance from the Blood under Different Conditions.” He instilled various types of alcohol and food into the stomach of dogs and...
Read moreIt will come as no surprise that many victims of trauma are intoxicated by alcohol. Which gives rise to the not insignificant forensic question as to whether the usual alcohol elimination rate will still apply or, does trauma affect the typical...
Read more
