Alcohol Pharmacokinetics: Distribution

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.