NCJ Number
215157
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2006 Pages: 896-899
Date Published
July 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examined the link between measured blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and the presence and degree of amnesia (no amnesia, "grayout", or "blackout") in drinking subjects.
Abstract
The primary finding was a significant association between measured BAC and the level of amnesia reported by the subject during a recent drinking episode. As the BAC increased, the likelihood of a grayout (partial anterograde amnesia) or a blackout (complete anterograde amnesia) increased. There was a strong linear relationship between BAC and predicted probability of memory loss, particularly for blackouts. An interview questionnaire was administered to subjects regarding a recent alcohol-associated arrest that involved a documented BAC greater than 0.08 g/dl for either public intoxication, driving under the influence, or underage drinking. Demographic variables measured included drinking history, family history of alcoholism, the presence of previous alcohol-related memory loss during a drinking episode, and drinking behavior during the episode. Memory of the drinking episode was evaluated to determine whether either an alcohol-induced grayout or blackout occurred. Differences in mean total number of drinks before arrest, gulping drinks, and BAC at arrest were determined for those having blackouts compared with those having no amnesia. 1 table, 2 figures, and 11 references