Family law is centered on the safety of children. One of the most frequently abused substances is alcohol, and the effects of regular alcohol abuse by a parent or guardian can potentially place a child’s safety at risk.
Alcohol monitoring is a court-ordered process, and there are several tools the court has at its disposal, each with its pros and cons.
Monitoring Tools
Most monitoring tools use saliva, urine, breath, nails, or hair. Tests will answer whether the person has used alcohol at any moment over the past 90 days, if he or she is a binge drinker, and if said person likely has an alcohol problem.
EtG and EtS Urine Testing
EtG is short for ethyl glucuronide, and EtS is ethyl sulfate. EtG has a range of roughly 80 hours and is popular for detecting whether someone consumed alcohol during meal times, for example. The two tests can be used interchangeably as some people have more ETG or ETS enzymes in their bodies.
Pros: The test is cheap, provides immediate results, is excellent for random testing, and is relatively accurate.
Cons: The test is very easy to cheat. Unless someone is monitoring the person being tested replacing someone’s urine as their own is a frequent occurrence.
PEth Blood Testing
Another common test is a PEth blood test. This is a useful test if a lawyer is attempting to prove the parent or guardian in question is a heavy or binge drinker. Binge drinking is defined as five or more standard-sized drinks at the same time at least once in the past 30 days. For women, it is 4 drinks.
PEth is short for phosphatidylethanol. This is a biomarker of ethanol alcohol consumption which takes form after someone has consumed alcohol. The collection method is venipuncture or dried blood spot collection.
Pros: Great indicator of a heavy drinker or someone who “fell off the wagon” and picked up their habit again.
Cons: There are very few cons which is why PEth tests are so widely used. The only con is when a venipuncture is needed this implies the use of a phlebotomist or nurse.
EtG Nail Testing
Both nails and hair are made up of keratin. Keratin fibers below the nail are quite effective at trapping substances that pass from blood vessels. EtG nail testing can detect biomarkers up to two weeks after consumption.
In terms of collection, the person typically cuts his or her nails (fingers or toes) in front of a monitor.
Pros: Like urine, this is a very cheap test to perform (collecting, shipping, and storing).
Cons: However, the results are not immediate and the use of a lab pushes the cost higher.
EtG Hair Testing
Lastly, ETG hair testing. This is a method that can reveal long-term consumption but is not as accurate in detecting an occasional user. In terms of collection, a sample is cut from the hair shaft over multiple locations of the head.
Pros: If you’re seeking to determine consumption over a 90-day period, hair testing is a good option.
Cons: Again, because a lab is needed the results are not immediate.
