The Science and Technology behind SCRAM

If you’re like most people, when you hear the phrase “alcohol testing,” you probably think of a breathalyzer test. Designed to measure a person’s blood alcohol content via his or her breath, these types of tests are most commonly used to determine whether an individual is driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). However, once a person has been charged and convicted of DUI, part of his or her sentence may include a very different method of testing known as transdermal alcohol monitoring. To understand how this type of test works, it is important to know the science and technology behind SCRAM—the device used to monitor an offender’s alcohol use.

Since the body excretes alcohol through the skin, its presence can be easily detected in a person’s perspiration. In other words, if you consume alcohol, your sweat will contain traces of the substance, and the amount present is what’s known as your transdermal alcohol content (TAC).

The amount of alcohol excreted varies based on the amount of alcohol you drink—consuming several alcoholic beverages, for example, will increase the amount of alcohol in your perspiration. Nevertheless, a single drink can also affect your TAC, and devices such as the SCRAM system will detect even the slightest trace of alcohol.

The process by which alcohol is excreted through the skin is known as pharmacokinetics. As a relatively new science, very little is known about this phenomenon. However, scientists have determined that factors such as the person’s skin type, rate of diffusion, blood alcohol content, and blood flow can greatly affect the process. Research also indicates there is a delay in the time it takes for alcohol to show up in a person’s perspiration.

Because there is still much to learn about pharmacokinetics and transdermal alcohol testing, the SCRAM bracelet is unable to measure the exact amount of alcohol a person has in his or her system. Rather, the device is simply used to determine whether alcohol has been consumed recently.

If you were convicted of DUI, and part of your sentence includes wearing a SCRAM bracelet, you should be aware of the system’s many flaws. The device is not always reliable, and could potentially produce false test results—leading to unwarranted penalties and/or charges in the future. To learn more about the SCRAM system, discuss your case with an experienced DUI attorney in your area today.