Alcohol Pharmacokinetics: Distribution

Course Description:

This is the second course in our Alcohol Essentials Series, which provides a comprehensive education on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and chemical testing of alcohol.

Building upon the foundational knowledge of alcohol absorption from the first course, we now delve into the complex topic of alcohol distribution. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how alcohol distributes throughout the body after absorption, focusing on the one-compartment model and the factors influencing total body water.

Substantial focus is placed on defensibly estimating an individual’s volume of distribution, a critical parameter in alcohol calculations. Attendees will learn about best practices, including relevant elements of the ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 122: Best Practice Recommendation for Performing Alcohol Calculations in Forensic Toxicology. Various estimation models are discussed, along with their accuracy across different BMI ranges and how to apply them in alcohol calculations with appropriate uncertainty levels.

The course also addresses considerations for cases where only serum or plasma alcohol concentrations are available, and how to accurately estimate whole blood alcohol levels from these results.

Upon completion of this course, participants will have a strong grasp of the principles governing alcohol distribution in the human body. This course is ideal for forensic toxicologists, law enforcement, legal professionals, and medical professionals dealing with alcohol-related cases.

Recommended Learners:

LEO
DRE
Toxicologist
Attorney

This course has been reviewed by ABFT and determined to be acceptable for submission to the ABFT for continuing education credit.

Christopher Tilson

Chris Tilson studied biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia where he received a B.S. in chemistry in 1996. He has worked as a forensic toxicologist, toxicology section technical leader, and breath alcohol program manager throughout his more than 27 years of service with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences. See full bio.

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Course Content

Course materials are available exclusively to enrolled students.

Enrollment includes access to downloadable handouts and a Course Information Packet designed to support your completion certificate and assist in applying for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from organizations that do not automatically pre-approve our courses.

Join now to gain access to all course materials and begin earning credit for your training.

Course Materials

These downloadable resources support your training and assist with documentation for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit.