Transdermal Technology
When an offender is convicted of DUI, domestic violence, or another alcohol-related offense, a typical condition of sentencing or probation is that the individual must stop drinking. To enforce this, courts have traditionally looked to random testing methods (blood, breath, or urine) that measure sobriety at a specific "point in time."
However, one of the more recent advances in alcohol testing is continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring, which means that alcohol is measured "through the skin." Transdermal testing measures the concentration of alcohol present in the insensible perspiration that is constantly produced and given off by the skin. If an offender has been drinking, it shows up in the level of ethanol vapor present in this insensible perspiration.
Comparison of Transdermal Testing (SCRAM) vs. Random Testing (Blood, Breath, or Urine Tests)
| Transdermal Testing | Random Testing | |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring Timeframe | Continuous (24/7) | Specific point in time |
| Cost per Test | Low | High |
| Administration Costs (Labor, Time) | Low | High |
| Requires Medical Intervention | No | Yes |
| Impact on Staff Workload | Low | High |
| Behavioral Change | Ability to effect long-term change | Temporary suppressant |
| Disruptive to Offender | Minimal | High |
While transdermal testing cannot determine exact blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, it can qualitatively determine whether a person drank a little, a moderate, or a large quantity of alcohol (transdermal alcohol content or TAC). TAC results correlate well with BAC results. However, because of the way alcohol is absorbed and processed by the body, TAC peaks typically are reached 30 minutes to two hours after BAC peaks.
Continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring—the foundation of SCRAM—has been confirmed by the scientific community, based on more than 70 years of research and 22 peer-reviewed studies. It is becoming an increasingly accepted and integral part of offender alcohol monitoring programs within courts, probation, treatment, and correctional agencies. Transdermal monitoring has also been accepted in evidentiary hearings, and has been admissible in many court cases across the country.
