| Over the past decades, excessive alcohol | | | | higher consumption increases the chance of |
| consumption is one of the top causes of traffic | | | | detection from alcohol use. |
| fatalities in United States. Incidentally, about a third | | | | Reliability of Alcohol Monitoring Bracelets |
| of these drunk drivers are repeat alcohol | | | | All transdermal monitoring tests may apply the |
| offenders. Since these alcoholic offenders have | | | | same principle in alcohol content detection with |
| higher risk of involvement in traffic accidents, the | | | | significant differences in time delay in absorption, |
| US government is putting its substantial efforts in | | | | peak period and excretion. However, various |
| offender monitoring. Thus, they decided to push | | | | factors such as rate of diffusion, blood alcohol |
| through with the implementation of using | | | | level, amount of eccrine sweating and blood flow |
| monitoring bracelets believing this will eventually | | | | in the skin greatly affect the result of such |
| reduce alcohol-related incidents in the future. | | | | bracelets. Aside from that, only a percentage of |
| What is an Alcohol Monitoring Bracelet? | | | | ingested alcohol passes through the skin. Most of |
| An alcohol monitoring bracelet, also known as | | | | the alcohol content undergoes liver metabolism or |
| ankle monitoring bracelet or house arrest bracelet, | | | | excretion through breathing and urine. Thus, |
| is a non-invasive and passive method of screening | | | | regarding it as a determinant for precise levels of |
| episodes of alcohol consumption. It qualitatively | | | | alcohol in the body is impossible. Instead, it is a |
| measures content through sweat collection | | | | valid way of gauging alcohol consumption of an |
| system. In short, it only determines whether the | | | | individual. |
| individual consumed alcohol whether in small, | | | | Another limitation of such bracelets is that it is |
| moderate or heavy amounts. | | | | non-specific to beverage alcohol. This only means |
| Dynamics of Alcohol Monitoring Bracelets | | | | that it does not exclude irrelevant alcohol and |
| The process behind alcohol monitoring bracelets is | | | | may respond to other alcohol forms besides |
| the same as the theory governing other | | | | ethanol such as methyl, isopropyl or |
| monitoring devices. In scientific explanation, when | | | | acetaldehydes. Thus, its reliability becomes more |
| ingested diffuses throughout the water inside our | | | | questionable. |
| body and eventually attains equilibrium. Then, it | | | | In truth, alcohol monitoring bracelets still has its |
| travels through the blood and excreted via | | | | flaws just like any other newly developed |
| breath, urine or perspiration. Thus, the amount of | | | | measuring devices. Since it is still fresh, it requires |
| consumption is relative to the amount of content | | | | further research for improvement. Despite its |
| in perspiration. | | | | limitations, it is still quite useful. Provided it will |
| In simple terms, as the alcohol monitoring bracelet | | | | serve its purpose in monitoring alcohol |
| is attach at extended periods of time and | | | | consumption, it is a good screening method |
| continues to collect sweat samples, it readily | | | | especially for alcohol repeat offenders. Since |
| analyzes the samples through its electrochemical | | | | monitoring bracelets continuously collects sweat |
| sensor system. This will estimate the | | | | and strapped to the body 24/7, it would be |
| concentration of alcohol present in the body and | | | | difficult for alcoholics to avoid detection for |
| indicates the alcohol use if there is any. Thus, | | | | non-compliance of abstinence. |