Alcohol

Photo courtesy of DEA photo library

Definition
Alcohol is primarily a social drug and is rarely used therapeutically. It is present in concentrations of three to six percent by volume in beer, 10 to 12 percent in wines, and 20 to 60 percent in distilled beverages. Alcohol is also found in many over-the-counter products such as cough medication and mouthwash.

Usage
Almost half of Americans age 12 years and older are current drinkers of alcohol. Heavy drinking is defined as five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least five different days per month. Heavy drinking is highest in those aged 18 to 25 years old with a peak rate at age 21. The 10 percent of the population that drinks the most heavily consumes half of the alcohol in the United States.

Effects
Alcohol intoxication can produce impaired gait, impaired reflexes, intense mood swings, stupor, slurred speech, and somnolence.

Detection
Alcohol can be detected in blood, breath, saliva, and urine. A breath test reflects the blood concentration of alcohol. A saliva test can be used as a screening tool if a breath test device is unavailable.

Law
Alcohol is regulated at the state level for the operation of private vehicles and regulated at the federal level by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the operation of commercial vehicles. All states have an established numerical value for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to define acute intoxication with alcohol.

One commonly used value to determine intoxication while driving is .08 g/dL. Alcohol is the only drug that can reflect acute impairment at the time of the test. According to DOT regulation, any value of .02 - .039 g/dL warrants the removal of the employee from a safety sensitive position. A value of 0.04 g/dl or greater is considered a violation of DOT regulations and results in mandatory evaluation and follow-up testing.