Breath Alcohol Testing Research Articles

High magnitude of road traffic accident among traumatized patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study

Background: Globally, road traffic accidents cause around 50 million injuries and disabilities and close to 1.35 million deaths every year. In Ethiopia, approximately five thousand deaths are estimated to occur annually due to road traffic accidents. However, there is limited data on the precise burden of the problem in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of road traffic accidents and associated factors among traumatized patients who visited the emergency units of selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 381 trauma patients who visited the emergency department of three public hospitals in Addis Ababa between June 1 and July 12, 2022. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, entered into Epi-data, and exported to SPSS for statistical analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors contributing to road traffic accidents at a significant level of P < 0.05. Results: The majority of participants were males (73.5%), between 20 and 39 years old (65.1%), and married (45.7%). The prevalence of road traffic accidents among traumatized patients was 37.3% (95% CI: 32.5, 42.3) in public hospitals in Addis Ababa. After adjusting for potential confounders, being male [AOR (95% CI) = 2.77 (1.6, 4.8)], traveling in the afternoon [AOR (95% CI) = 0.6 (0.3, 0.9)], and alcohol-drinking before travel [AOR (95% CI) = 2.50 (1.6, 4.0)] were factors contributing to road traffic accidents. Conclusion: The prevalence of road traffic accidents was very high in Addis Ababa public hospitals. Being male, traveling in the afternoon, and drinking alcohol before travel were significantly associated with an increased risk of road traffic accidents. Community awareness creation, strict traffic flow control in the morning, and alcohol breath tests will ultimately decrease road traffic accidents. In the meantime, expansion and strengthening of pre-hospital care and post-crash trauma care services.

The Need for National Standards in Breath Alcohol Testing

The breath alcohol test (BAT) is the most commonly used forensic test to estimate a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the US. Despite individual states adopting per se laws making driving while having ≥0.08% BAC (or ≥0.08 g/210L breath) illegal, the US lacks national standards for breath alcohol testing. The lack of national standards for the BAT reduces confidence in the results. Many states do not implement basic quality assurance standards, such as obtaining duplicate breath samples. One way to overcome this lack of quality assurance is to tie federal funding from the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to quality assurance practices for the BAT.

Linking crash and breathalyzer data in Connecticut

Objectives To document the process of linking breathalyzer and motor vehicle crash (MVC) data for the State of Connecticut using a unique identifier in the place of personal and private information. Methods Deterministic linkage methodologies were utilized in Microsoft SQL Server to join 5,634 (of 6,650) breathalyzer records to corresponding MVC driver records for the period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2022. Differences between the linked and original datasets were documented by comparing the consistency of frequency and proportion distributions of key variables. Results Proportions of annual records, alcohol breath tests, and refusals were nearly unchanged when comparing linked and original breathalyzer data. When examining variables in the original MVC driver records, there were differences in the within-group proportions for sex and age, with an overrepresentation of males and drivers aged 26-to-40 years old. For crash and injury severity, the linked dataset had lower proportions of more severe injury records when compared to the original MVC data. Additionally, 1,007 breathalyzer records were not matched with an associated MVC record. Conclusions Linkage methodology is sound and produced quality matches. The use of a unique identifier provided a strong match qualifier in the absence of personal and private data. Changes in proportions for age, sex, crash and injury severity align with previous research. Potential missed matches may be attributed to several factors outside of the linkage process, including data discrepancies and varied reporting practices. Future studies will further explore these differences and incorporate additional toxicology data as part of a continued effort to fuze crash, citation, toxicology, and public health data. The end result will be a holistic, comprehensive, and multifaceted database for transportation research and education.

Метод определения экспозиции латентного чрезмерного потребления алкоголя в коллективах операторских профессий, влияние этого фактора на сердечно-сосудистую заболеваемость и смертность

Introduction. The problem of latent alcohol consumption in groups of certain professions, in particular among railway engine crews, still exists, despite the fact that admission to train operation is carried out by a medical expert commission and railway engine crews undergo mandatory breath alcohol testing. An association between an excessive alcohol consumption, in the doses exceeding safe limit, and cardiovascular diseases and mortality of this professional group has been established, that is directly related to the safety of train operation. However, the dose of latent excessive alcohol consumption that can cause specific cardiovascular diseases and a fatal outcome remains unknown. Aim. To find out the effect of latent excessive alcohol consumption on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among railway engine crews, determine the exposure to this factor in the observation group. Materials and methods. Based on the material of the 2008-2013 study of a natural group of initially healthy 7,959 male railway engine crew members of the Trans-Baikal Railway aged 18-66 years, predictors of acute coronary syndrome, cerebral stroke, of coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death were established using multivariate statistical analysis. Cardiovascular diseases had a common predictor – latent excessive alcohol consumption, the characteristics of which as a screening tool were assessed using the quality control method of a verifiable diagnostic test with binary outcomes. By determining the sensitivity value of latent excessive alcohol consumption, the exposure of the predictor in the observed group was determined with this method. Results. The latent excessive alcohol consumption determined the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome, of coronary heart disease, cerebral stroke and sudden cardiac death in the 7,959 railway engine crew members, in the exposure of 0.13; 0.03; 0.10 and more than 0.24 respectively of the total population studied. Cardiocerebral morbidity in the railway engine crew members involved in latent excessive alcohol consumption and mortality from all causes constituted 1.6% and 1.2%. Acute cardiovascular diseases – 0.7% Conclusion. It is necessary to monitor latent excessive alcohol consumption determined in railway engine crews. The data obtained can be used in planning the range of preventive measures and medical care among the railway engine crews or in other socially significant groups of the population, as well as in scientific studies aimed to determine the effect of the exposure of excessive alcohol consumption on the formation and development of cardiovascular events.

Storage stability of phosphatidylethanol homologues in whole blood and dried blood spots of nonalcoholics at different temperatures over 60 days.

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) has recently become a popular direct alcohol marker for evaluating drinking behavior. This study aimed at gaining further information on the long-term stability of five PEth homologues (16:0/18:1, 16:0/18:2, 16:0/20:4, 18:0/18:1, 18:0/18:2) in whole blood (WB) and dried blood spots (DBS) stored at -80°C, 4°C, and room temperature (18°C) over a period of 60 days. Venous blood was taken from 10 volunteers (five females and five males, aged 21-40 years) with a moderate drinking behavior and a negative breath alcohol test at the time of collection. 100 μL aliquots of WB were prepared in addition to 20 μL DBS samples. The initial PEth concentrations were determined on the day of the blood collection. On days 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, 40, and 60, DBS were analyzed in triplicate by means of LC-MS/MS. On these days, WB aliquots having been stored until that time were used to create further DBS in triplicate, which were subsequently stored at 18°C and analyzed in a single batch after day 60. All homologues, except PEth 16:0/20:4, were stable at -80°C in DBS and WB for 60 days. The initial PEth 16:0/18:1 concentrations remained stable in both DBS and WB in all but one volunteer's specimen at 4 and 18°C. Apart from this exception, simultaneously detected PEth homologues 16:0/18:2, 18:0/18:1, and 18:0/18:2 remained stable over at least 40 days in DBS. Nevertheless, the storage time between sample collection and analysis should be kept as short as possible if an ethanol-free sample cannot be ensured.

Trend in alcohol-related crashes before and after the introduction of mandatory breath testing among commercial truck drivers.

Since 2011, commercial truck drivers have been required to take alcohol breath tests at the beginning and end of their working hours due to their employers' legal obligations. However, non-commercial truck drivers are not required to do so. We examined whether alcohol-related crashes had decreased after 2011 among commercial truck drivers. Using police data, we conducted a joinpoint regression analysis to examine the trend in the proportion of alcohol-related crashes from 1995 to 2020 caused by commercial truck drivers (who were subjected to alcohol breath testing) and non-commercial truck drivers (who were not subjected to testing). The annual percentage change in this trend was also estimated. During the 26-year study period, truck drivers caused 1,846,321 at-fault crashes, and 0.4% of the crashes involved intoxicated driving. A significant decreasing trend in the proportion of alcohol-related crashes was identified among both commercial and non-commercial truck drivers in the 2000s, during which several legal amendments were made against drunk driving. The annual percentage change was -13.5% from 2001 to 2012 among commercial truck drivers, and -14.9% from 2001 to 2011 among non-commercial truck drivers. No decreasing trend was observed afterwards, despite the introduction of mandatory alcohol breath testing in 2011. The effect of mandatory alcohol breath testing on reducing alcohol-related crashes among commercial truck drivers was not evident.

The self-reported psychosocial and legal factors contributing to drink and drug driving

Drug driving is recognised as a major road safety problem in many countries. In Australia, the primary response to this problem involved the adoption of roadside drug testing (RDT), which was modelled on the policies and practices used to conduct random breath testing (RBT) for alcohol. However, there remain important differences in the way that RDT and RBT are conducted, which might produce differential effects on drug and drink driving behaviour. In addition, various psychosocial factors are known to influence the two behaviours. Thus, there is a need to investigate the relative influence of legal and psychosocial factors on drug driving and explore how they may be similar or different to drink driving. Accordingly, this study utilised Deterrence Theory and Akers' Social Learning Theory, augmented by measures of dependence and a range of psychosocial factors, to examine the factors associated with self-reported drink and drug driving. An online survey was completed by 1394 licensed drivers from the three most populous states in Australia: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Self-reported drink and drug driving became more likely as level of dependence increased. In relation to legal factors, direct experience of avoiding detection was the strongest predictor of self-reported drink and drug driving. Among the psychosocial factors, a significant positive relationship was found between holding favourable attitudes toward both drink driving and drug driving and self-reported behaviours. The findings suggest that applying legal sanctions in isolation without addressing the psychosocial rewards and punishments for the behaviours is not sufficient to reduce drug or drink driving. Future research should identify countermeasures that integrate deterrence and psychosocial principles in order to reduce these risky driving behaviours.

Breath Alcohol Test Results in Equine Veterinarians after Performing an Abdominal Ultrasound with Ethanol

Transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonography using alcohol saturation is used in the diagnostic workup of a variety of conditions in horses. The duration of the examination and the amount of alcohol used in each case may vary depending on several factors. The aim of this study is to describe the breath alcohol test results obtained by veterinarians performing abdominal ultrasound on horses. Six volunteers were enrolled, after written consent, and a Standardbred mare was used for the whole study protocol. Each operator performed a total of 6 ultrasounds by pouring the ethanol solution from a jar or by spray application, for a duration of 10, 30, and 60 min. An infrared breath alcohol analyzer was used immediately after completing the ultrasonography and at 5-min intervals until a negative result was obtained. Positive results were obtained for 0-60 min after the procedure. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups that used more than 1000 mL, 300-1000 mL, and less than 300 mL of ethanol. No significant differences were observed between the type of ethanol administration and the time of exposure. Based on this study, equine vets who perform ultrasound on horses can test positive at the breath alcohol test for up to 60 min following ethanol exposure.

Direct-to-consumer testing- benefits for consumers, people with disease and public health.

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests can be defined as any in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) test or, more broadly, any medical test using an IVD or medical device, that is marketed directly to consumers without involvement of a health care provider (HCP). Examples are pregnancy tests, alcohol breath tests, blood pressure measurements (medical device), coagulation tests (INR), self-monitoring of blood glucose, continuous glucose monitoring (medical device), HIV tests, HPV tests, SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests, or genetic tests. DTC tests fulfil various customer needs such as making rapid decisions (e.g. glucose monitoring for insulin dosing, SARS-CoV-2 antigen test, hormone test identifying fertile days, alcohol test), monitoring chronic conditions between consultations (e.g. diabetes, lipidaemia, hypertension), saving time and reducing consultations (e.g. INR, SARS-CoV-2 antigen test, blood pressure monitoring), screening for disease when no symptoms are present (e.g. occult blood, cholesterol, triglycerides, SARS-CoV2 antigen test), or maintaining privacy (e.g. pregnancy test, HIV test, HPV test, certain genetic tests). Further, DTC tests can reduce cost and expand access to care in countries with limited resources and can support healthcare systems in extraordinary circumstances such asapandemic. Valid concerns about DTC testing need to bedescribed, addressed and resolved with the help of authorities and regulators in collaboration with HCP and should not detract from the advantages DTC tests can provide. HCP should play a more prominent role in educating the public through mass media and social media on the proper use of DTC tests and help to pinpoint problem areas.

Alcohol diagnostic validation for injury-related trauma: Findings from a pilot study.

Alcohol consumption is a key driver of the burden of violence and injury in South Africa (SA). Hence, we aim to validate various alcohol assessment tools against a blood test to assess their utility for improving national health practice and policy. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study from 3 to 19 August 2022 at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, SA. This was to test logistics for the time of venous blood centrifugation and validation of alcohol assessment tools used in injured patients ahead of the main validation study. Adults aged 18 years and older, who were injured <8 h before arrival were included. Consent was obtained for venous blood alcohol testing to validate, as the gold standard, against the following: active- and passive breath alcohol testing, clinical screening and a finger prick test. Descriptive statistics were reported for the pilot study. The active breath alcohol test's digital reading and the passive test's 'yes/no' results corresponded well against the venous blood alcohol results. The average time to centrifugation was within the laboratory's 2-h cut-off requirement to preserve the alcohol in the serum. The pilot study was helpful in identifying challenges with one of the alcohol assessment tools and prevented further costs ahead of the main validation study. We also determined that the selected tertiary hospital site caused a delay in recruiting eligible patients due to other hospital referrals. Hence, the main validation study is in progress at a district-level hospital for a larger sample of eligible patients for testing.

Design of a device for the assessment of dyspnea patients

Dyspnea is a disorder that occurs because of shortness of breath and may lead to multiple complications. Intoxicated dyspnea patients are those who are addicted to alcohol, as well as have breathing problems. Mostly, problems faced by dyspnea patients are inhalation, when they take alcohol with severe concentration. For intoxicated dyspnea patients, there is a continuous need for alcohol breath testing along with breath indicators, since, an individual is prone to alcohol addiction, and faces problems of breathing such as asthma, hypertension, etc. The severe outbreak of dyspnea in these individuals may be deadly. To handle this condition, an alcoholic meter along with an incentive spirometer is designed that helps in the assessment of breathing problems by measuring the alcohol concentration and inhaled air. Several parameters have opted for both inhalation detection and alcohol concentration which include the severity of health problems encompassing asthma, hypertension for the detection of inhaled air, and normal, moderate, severe alcohol concentration. The working of the proposed device is validated through the analysis of these parameters. The results are obtained on the graph as well as on display, which shows a variation in the range among every individual with respect to selected parameters either in incentive spirometer (inhalation detection) or alcoholic meter, and these ranges are also displayed in a numeric form on LCD. The idea is to design an economical and portable device for intoxicated dyspnea patients for emergency conditions which is a combination of an alcoholic meter with an incentive spirometer (IS) for the measurement of alcohol concentration along with breathing problems by making use of sensors. This unique idea of combining an alcoholic meter with an incentive spirometer will aid intoxicated dyspnea patients in case of emergency.

Concurrent use of alcohol and cocaine: which is the best drug choice?

IntroductionPatients with comorbid cocaine and alcohol dependence have a worse prognosis with lack of adherence to follow-up and treatment, frequent psychosocial problems, and higher rates of relapse [1]. Concurrent use of both substances produces cocaethylene, which is associated with more toxicity than cocaine alone [2].ObjectivesTo determine the efficacy of disulfiram compared to nalmefene in the treatment of comorbid cocaine and alcohol use.MethodsA quasi-experimental open study was designed on 41 outpatients, with a follow-up of at least 1 year at the Mental Health Unit, aged between 18 and 65 years, diagnosed with cocaine and alcohol dependence (ICD-10). A minimum simultaneous weekly consumption of 2 grams of cocaine and 12 SD (Standard Drink) of alcohol during the month before, described by self-records was established. Treatment with oral disulfiram 250mg/day was assigned to 21 patients, and with oral nalmefene 18mg/day to 20 individuals. Observation period was for 6 months. Urinalysis and alcohol breath test were carried out twice a week. Abstinence was defined by obtaining negative results for at least 4 consecutive weeks. Statistical analysis were performed using SPSS v21.0 (significance p&lt;0.05).Results61.9% of patients treated with disulfiram achieved a minimum of 4 consecutive weeks of abstinence from cocaine and alcohol, compared to 40% in the nalmefene group (χ²=1.188; gl=1; p=0.276). There were no significant differences.ConclusionsDisulfiram or nalmefene monotherapy seems clinically ineffective or insufficient in reducing the combined use of cocaine and alcohol. Further research is needed to assess the effect of both drugs simultaneously.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Breath alcohol sensor based on hydrogel-gated graphene field-effect transistor

The inspection of drunk driving has become an effective measure to reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents. In this work, we constructed a breath alcohol biosensor based on a hydrogel-gated graphene field-effect transistor (HGGT) with chlorella derived layered carbon nanosheets (CNs) and alcohol oxidase (AOx) embedded in the hydrogel. The sensing mechanism of the AOx/CNs functionalized sensor lies in the oxidation reaction of alcohol by AOx and the electrocatalytic oxidation reaction of the generated H2O2. The HGGT based alcohol sensor exhibited an excellent sensitivity with a very low detection limit down to 1 μM (i.e. 0.046 ppm), and has been successfully applied to breath alcohol test after drinking. Compared with normal solution-gated graphene transistors, employment of hydrogel as a source of electrolytes greatly enhances the portability of the sensor, and facilitates functionalization with enzymes and nanomaterials. Due to the advantages of real-time, high portability and accuracy of the functionalized HGGT sensor, it demonstrates a promising platform for constructing biosensors for many other analytes.

An on-premise study to investigate the effects of mixing alcohol with caffeinated beverages.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this on‐premise study was to determine if mixing alcohol with caffeinated mixers had an impact on objective and subjective intoxication.MethodsThe study was conducted across eight drinking occasions in the City of Bristol, UK. Participants (N = 1041) were recruited outside popular night‐time entertainment venues and interviewed regarding their alcohol consumption for that particular evening, including whether or not they had consumed caffeinated beverages with alcohol. Subjective intoxication was rated on an 11‐point scale and objective intoxication determined with a breath alcohol test. Depending on their consumption on the night of the interview, participants also reported whether they consumed alcohol mixed with caffeinated mixers or alcohol‐only on other consumption occasions.ResultsBetween‐subjects analyses found that alcohol–caffeine consumers consumed more alcohol and had higher objective and subjective intoxication than those who consumed alcohol‐only. These results remained significant regardless of whether or not they mixed alcohol with caffeinated mixers or consumed alcohol‐only on the night of the interview. Within‐subject analyses revealed that alcohol–caffeine consumers drank the same or less alcohol on alcohol–caffeine occasions compared to alcohol‐only occasions.ConclusionsThese findings provide support that alcohol–caffeine use does not increase overall alcohol consumption, and may be one manifestation of a high risk‐taking personality.

Supplementary comparison study - measurement capabilities for the quantification of ethanol in water

Main textThe accurate quantification of ethanol in water is essential for forensic applications such as blood and breath alcohol testing and for commercial applications such as the assessment of alcoholic beverages.The intercomparison EURAMET.QM-S14 is part of a capacity building project named ALCOREF "Certified forensic alcohol reference materials" [1] that is running within the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) [2]. The intercomparison should allow project partners and other interested National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) to benchmark their analytical methods for the quantification of ethanol in water. The study plan was agreed by the European Association of National Metrology Institutes (EURAMET) Subcommittee Bio- and Organic Analysis (SCBOA) and the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière (CCQM) in February and April 2019, respectively. The intercomparison was coordinated by BAM. Two concentration levels relevant for the calibration and verification of evidential breath alcohol analysers were distributed to study participants. Fifteen institutes from 15 countries registered for the intercomparison and returned results. Participants mostly applied gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) or mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), one participant used titrimetry and one participant employed a test bench for breath analyser calibration ("bubble train"). Participants did either in-house purity assessment of their commercial ethanol calibrants by Karl-Fischer titration, chromatographic methods, quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) and/or density measurements; or they used ethanol/water Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) from NMIs/DIs for calibration.CCQM OAWG agreed to use a consensus value from participants' results that utilizes the reported uncertainties as Key Comparison Reference Value (KCRV). The Gaussian Random effects model with Hierarchical Bayesian solution (HB-REM) is a reasonable approach in this case. The KCRVs and Degrees of Equivalence (DoEs) were calculated with the NIST consensus builder version 1.2 Hierarchical Bayes procedure [3].Successful participation in the interlaboratory comparison has demonstrated the capabilities in determining the mass fraction of ethanol in aqueous matrices in the range 0.1 mg/g to 8 mg/g. Fourteen out of 15 participants have successfully quantified both samples, one participant successfully quantified only the lower-level (0.6 mg/g) sample.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Poor correlation between alcohol concentration in oral fluid and breath in subjects consuming beverages immediately before testing.

IntroductionIn previous research projects and clinical settings, alcohol analysis in oral fluid (saliva) has been used as an alternative to breath or blood alcohol testing. In this study we examined whether it is possible to obtain clinically relevant data regarding alcohol consumption in individuals who recently consumed alcohol by analysing oral fluid samples when the recommended rinsing of the mouth is impossible before sample collection.Materials and methodsWe conducted a study of 89 nightclub patrons in Norway. Before collecting oral fluid samples and performing breath alcohol testing, participants were required to drink a glass of water to remove residual alcohol from the mouth. Oral fluid samples were collected with the Quantisal oral fluid collection device and analysed using an enzymatic method for alcohol. The alcohol concentration in the neat (undiluted) oral fluid was then calculated. Breath alcohol testing was performed using Lion Alcolmeter 500 instruments.ResultsNo false-negative or false-positive results for alcohol were detected in the oral fluid when compared with those in the breath. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.40 indicated a poor correlation between alcohol concentrations in the two sample types.ConclusionsThe procedure for collecting oral fluid was suitable for the qualitative determination of alcohol intake but not for quantitative assessment. We recommend that oral fluid samples should not be used for estimating blood or breath alcohol concentrations in people who have recently consumed alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages, as recommended in the instructions for use.

Prevalence and Correlates of Illicit Drug Use among Norwegian Nightlife Patrons

Background Nightclubs and bars are recreational settings with extensive availability and consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs. Objectives This study aims to determine the proportion of nightclub patrons in Norway that tested positive for illicit drugs, moreover, we examined the correlation between positive test results and demographic and substance use characteristics. Methods Patrons were recruited outside nightclubs on Friday and Saturday nights between 10:00 pm and 04:00 am. Substance use was determined by breath testing and oral fluid testing for alcohol and drugs, respectively, using accurate and specific analytical methods. Questionnaires recorded demographic and substance use characteristics. Results Of the 1988 included nightclub patrons, 90% tested positive for alcohol, 14% for illicit drug use, and 3% for two or more illicit drugs. The proportion of patrons who tested positive for illicit drugs was highest in the early hours of the morning. Nine out of ten who tested positive for illicit drugs also consumed alcohol. Testing positive for one or more illicit drugs was most strongly correlated with being male and unemployed, using tobacco or other nicotine products, and early on-set illicit drug use; further the correlations were strongest among those who tested positive for two or more illicit drugs. Conclusions/Importance: Patrons who used illicit drugs before or during nightclub visits most often combined drug use with alcohol consumption. Substituting alcohol with cannabis or other drugs was not common in this cohort. The study results provide evidence to introduce harm-reduction prevention programs to address illicit drug and excessive alcohol consumption.

Can novel 'swift-certain-fair' programs work outside of pioneering jurisdictions? An analysis of 24/7 Sobriety in Montana, USA.

The US state of South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program (24/7) requires individuals charged or convicted of alcohol-involved offenses to avoid alcohol and submit to twice-daily or continuous alcohol testing. We evaluated the impact of the 24/7 program in the US state of Montana. Using data from everyone in Montana who was convicted of their second driving under the influence (DUI) offense from 2009 to August 2013, we described program violations among 24/7 participants and then estimated the effect of 24/7 participation on the probability of DUI re-arrest. To address potential selection issues related to individual-level 24/7 participation, we used an instrumental variables approach that exploits county-level variation in program adoption. Among 2768 people convicted of a second DUI in our analytical sample, 356 participated in 24/7 and were monitored for an average of 173 days (median=112 days). Among the 332 participants monitored by breath test, 95.5% of scheduled alcohol breath tests were completed and did not lead to a program violation. After controlling for individual- and community-level covariates as well as year and county fixed effects, our instrumental variable models suggested that participation in 24/7 reduced the 1-year DUI re-arrest probability by at least 80% (preferred model: 86% decrease; 8.9 percentage points) compared with a counterfactual group of people convicted of a second DUI over the same period but not assigned to the program. South Dakota USA's 24/7 Sobriety Program appears to work in Montana as well. Certain delivery of immediate but modest sanctions for repeat driving under the influence (DUI) arrestees who violate alcohol abstinence orders appears to be able to reduce future DUI arrests.

Smartphone alcohol breath testing devices underestimate BAC

If people, including teens, rely on their phone to tell them if they're safe to drive based on their blood alcohol content (BAC), they may be wrong, a recent study has found. The accuracy of smartphone‐paired devices varies widely, and while some are suitable for both clinical and research purposes, others underestimate the BAC, which creates the potential to mislead intoxicated users.

Alcohol intoxication incidence differences at companies in Lithuania.

Employee alcohol consumption is a major challenge to both the health of the employee and productivity of the company. Our study investigates the overall alcohol intoxication rates of employees at companies in Lithuania, alcohol intoxication incidence rates during the work week and associations between company variables and employee alcohol intoxication at work. Data for our study were collected at 153 different companies in Lithuania during the year 2018. Overall 2 455 997 alcohol breath tests were analysed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis. Descriptive statistics showed that the alcohol intoxication (blood alcohol concentration ≥ 0.01%) incidence rate was 0.31% (n= 7535). Average alcohol intoxication was 0.04%. Furthermore, higher alcohol intoxication incidence rates were found on Mondays and in the morning than at any other day or time. The results of Poisson regression analysis showed that the alcohol intoxication incidence rate ratios were highest among small companies, companies from the farming sector and companies from rural areas. We found a relationship between company variables, testing time and incidence rates of alcohol intoxication. The increased alcohol intoxication at work throughout the weekend and on Monday is consistent with the alcohol consumption patterns in the Lithuanian population. Relatively low alcohol intoxication rate for the majority of the positively tested cases may indicate consumption of small amounts of alcohol just before starting work or excessive alcohol consumption the day before. Our findings could be an indicator of an underlying problem and have implications for alcohol prevention strategies.