Alcohol Toxicology
False. Methanol is a high potency poison and should never be consumed.
Be aware that ethanol from chemical producers is usually mixed with methanol and isopropanol, and is therefore highly toxic.
True or False: A person's body mass influences the amount of alcohol required to arrive at a given BAC.
True. BAC is essentially a concentration. If the same amount of alcohol exists in the blood of two individuals, the individual with more body mass and more blood will have a lower BAC all else equal.
what is the most commonly abused hallucinogen?
marijuana
True or False: It is possible to discern some poisons in ashes derived from cremation.
True. We reviewed a chemical procedure in which arsenic can be tested for in cremated remains.
What does the US EPA’s National Center for Computational Toxicology do?
Analyze chemicals that consumers may come into contact with, so as to reduce the probability of toxic levels of exposure.
What category of drug is alcohol classified as, and why?
It is possible to design a spreadsheet to calculate BAC under a set of scenarios for any input body weight and body weight factor using equations.
True. If you completed the second component of the BAC lab correctly, you did exactly that.
True or False: psychological addiction is predicated on physical withdrawal symptoms
False
What are two different inputs into a "dose" of a poison over time?
frequency and duration of exposures
What major policy suggestion was made by Charles Norris?
To have a medicolegal justice system based on scientific analysis rather than the then existing coroner system which at the time did not require specific pertinent qualifications.
Typically, how many ounces of liquor will contain 0.5 ounces of alcohol?
1.25 ounces of liquor (presuming 80 proof)
If a person drinks to the point of having a BAC of 0.06, then stops drinking, what will their BAC be expected to be 3 hours later?
0.015 (which is the result of 0.06 - (3*0.015))
MDMA (ecstasy) is classified into what drug category?
hallucinogen
What does LD 50 mean?
The dose of a poison that is lethal to 50% of the population
Are all chemicals under the same level of regulatory scrutiny by the EPA
No, chemicals that consumers are most likely to encounter in their daily lives are subject to higher scrutiny.
According to the CDC, what is the definition of binge drinking?
any episode of drinking that brings the BAC to 0.08 or more
BAC is calculated to be 0.07 for an individual who consumed 5 drinks and then waited 3 hours. What will BAC for that person be 2 hours later?
0.04 (0.07 - (2 * 0.015))
Crystal meth is categorized into what drug category? What does this category refer to?
Stimulant. Stimulates the central nervous system functions (faster breathing, heart rate, increased alertness, etc.)
Which is a more potent toxin:
Nicotine with an LD50 of 1mg/kg of body mass, or curare with an LD50 of 0.5 mg/kg of body mass?
curare
True or False: Marijuana distribution is a federal drug crime even if it occurs in the state of NY.
True. Under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, marijuana occupies the same status as cocaine and heroin.
Which of the following has a higher AMOUNT of alcohol:
6 ounces of of 8 proof beer
2 ounces of 18 proof wine
1 ounce of 80 proof whiskey
1 ounce of 80 proof whiskey (which is 0.4 ounces of pure alcohol)
6 * 0.04 ounces of pure alcohol = 0.24 ounces of pure alcohol for the beer
0.09 ounces of pure alcohol * 2 ounces of wine = 0.18 ounces of pure alcohol in the wine
If a person consumes alcohol until their BAC reaches 0.09,
1) should they operate a motor vehicle
2) If they wait 4 hours, should they then be able to operate a motor vehicle?
1) & 2) are both no.
For 2, even though BAC is below 0.08 after 4 hours (0.09 - 0.06 = 0.03), it is still above zero. Any BAC above zero influences reaction time and decision-making negatively, and therefore increases the odds of a motor vehicle accident.
True or False: Whether a drug is derived from a plant makes a difference in terms of the degree of addiction and damage it can do, such that drugs derived from plants are less harmful and less addictive?
False. Heroin is derived from the opium poppy plant. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant. Some of the most addictive and damaging drugs we know of are derived from plants.
which of the following will result in more of the toxin getting into the blood stream in a given amount of time:
IP injection, topical application, or inhalation?
inhalation
True or False: According to the federal government, marijuana use lowers IQ through brain damage.
True