Research Behind SCRAM Monitoring
Explore research supporting continuous alcohol monitoring and sweat patch drug testing, including program evaluations, clinical studies, forensic toxicology, and foundational science behind SCRAM CAM and PharmChek.
Explore research supporting continuous alcohol monitoring and sweat patch drug testing, including program evaluations, clinical studies, forensic toxicology, and foundational science behind SCRAM CAM and PharmChek.
CONTINUOUS ALCOHOL MONITORING
Research supporting SCRAM CAM and continuous alcohol monitoring, from real-world program validation to transdermal alcohol science, field evaluations, and behavioral studies.
Foundational research on how alcohol is detected through the skin and how transdermal alcohol measurements relate to alcohol consumption.
Experiences with SCRAM alcohol monitoring technology in 100 alcohol treatment outpatients
Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Brown University concluded that SCRAM CAM can benefit individuals in outpatient alcohol treatment programs. Four out of five study participants reported that SCRAM CAM helped them reduce their drinking, and 75% said they would wear it for longer than the 12-week study period.
By Sheila M. Alessia, Nancy P. Barnett, Nancy M. Petrya
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2017
The impact of SCRAM CAM on the rate of repeat drinking and driving offenses (i.e., recidivism) was assessed for the first two years following arrest for 837 offenders in Wisconsin and 672 offenders in Nebraska. There was virtually no recidivism while on SCRAM CAM. For the offenders who recidivated, those assigned to SCRAM CAM recidivated later, meaning the device delayed recidivism.
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The objective of this investigation was to establish the ability of SCRAM CAM to detect different levels of self-reported alcohol consumption and to determine whether gender and body mass index, alcohol dependence, bracelet version, and age of bracelet influenced detection of alcohol use. Researchers concluded SCRAM CAM is very good at detecting 5 or more drinks; the performance of the monitor below this level was better among women because of their higher transdermal alcohol concentration levels.
By Nancy P. Barnett – Brown University, E. B. Meade – University of Delaware, and Tiffany R. Glynn – Brown University
This study examined the effectiveness of using transdermal alcohol monitoring as a continuous measure of alcohol use to implement financial contingencies to reduce heavy drinking. Researchers concluded that transdermal alcohol monitoring can be used to implement contingency management programs to reduce excessive alcohol consumption.
By Donald M. Dougherty (a), Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak (a), Yuanyuan Liang (b), Tara E. Karns (a), Sharon E. Cates (a), Sarah L. Lake (a), Jillian Mullen (a), John D. Roache (a)
The purpose of this study was to determine whether non-alcoholic energy drinks could result in positive “alcohol alerts” based on transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) using a commercially available electrochemical monitoring device.
By Jessica Ayala, Kelsie Simons, and Sarah Kerrigan – Forensic Science Program, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University
Using a validated model this study looked at the effects that body weight, metabolic rate, and ethanol dose has on the time lag between the blood alcohol concentration and transdermal alcohol concentration.
By Gregory D. Webster Hampton C. Gabler Virginia Polytechnic and State University Center for Injury Biomechanics Blacksburg, VA
The body of scientific literature on transdermal alcohol testing dates back almost 70 years. Based on published research in this field, one can conclude that measuring alcohol transdermally on a constant basis provides an effective screen for alcohol consumption and a reasonable approximation of the magnitude of that consumption.
By J.S. Hawthorne and M.H. Wojcik, SCRAM Systems
The objective of this research was to compare the accuracy of readings using the SCRAM bracelet to alcohol concentrations measured by conventional breath analysis.
By J. Robert Zettl, BS, MPA, DABFE
This study compares the concentration of ethanol, both absolute and relative to water content, in sweat and blood.
By Michael J. Buono Department of Biology and the Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University
Research focused on SCRAM CAM® use in real monitoring programs, including treatment, supervision, compliance, and alcohol detection outcomes.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Brown University concluded that SCRAM CAM can benefit individuals in outpatient alcohol treatment programs. Four out of five study participants reported that SCRAM CAM helped them reduce their drinking, and 75% said they would wear it for longer than the 12-week study period.
By Sheila M. Alessia, Nancy P. Barnett, Nancy M. Petrya
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2017
The impact of SCRAM CAM on the rate of repeat drinking and driving offenses (i.e., recidivism) was assessed for the first two years following arrest for 837 offenders in Wisconsin and 672 offenders in Nebraska. There was virtually no recidivism while on SCRAM CAM. For the offenders who recidivated, those assigned to SCRAM CAM recidivated later, meaning the device delayed recidivism.
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Two types of transdermal electrochemical sensors that detect alcohol at the skin surface were evaluated. One, the AMS SCRAM device, is locked onto the ankle and is based on a fuel cell sensor; the other, a Giner WrisTAS device, worn on the wrist, is based on a proton exchange membrane. SCRAM is used by several court systems in the United States to monitor alcohol offenders, WrisTAS, a research prototype, is not commercially available.
By Paul R. Marques and A. Scott McKnight
This report is an evaluation study of two types of transdermal devices that detect alcohol at the skin surface representing two types of electrochemical sensing technology: The AMS SCRAM ankle device and the Giner WrisTAS wrist device were worn concurrently for the evaluation by 22 paid research subjects (15 males, 7 females), for a combined total of 96 weeks.
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
This report summarizes the results of an evaluation of vehicular technology alternatives to detect driver blood alcohol concentration and alcohol-impaired driving. Taking an international perspective, this report references relevant literature, incorporates input from stakeholders, and includes a concept of operations to describe how to implement technology-based countermeasures that address concerns such as privacy, public acceptance, and legal issues.
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of SCRAM in a limited casual setting.
By Laurette Rapp and Rhonda Nichols, Louisiana Association of Forensic Scientists
This University of Colorado scientific study evaluates the validity of transdermal assessment of alcohol concentration measured by a lightweight, noninvasive device.
By Joseph T. Sakai, Susan K. Mikulich-Gilbertson, Robert J. Long, and Thomas J. Crowley
The Michigan DOC performed a field study of SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring prior to making it commercially available.
By The Journal of Offender Monitoring
Studies and evaluations that examine SCRAM CAM® use in real programs, including supervision, treatment, compliance, and monitoring outcomes.
This analysis provides additional support for the claim that the 24/7 Sobriety Program is effective at deterring drinking among individuals with histories of alcohol-related crime. The data suggests that Montana’s 24/7 program reduced the probability of re-arrest for DUI 45-70%.
By Rand Corporation
The 24/7 Sobriety Program mandates that repeat impaired driving offenders remain sober as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. The goal is to monitor the most dangerous offenders in North Dakota and require that these individuals remain sober in order to keep roadways safe from hazardous drivers. Results show that drivers significantly improve traffic metrics after enrolling in the program.
By Andrew Kubas, Ph.D. Poyraz Kayabas, Ph.D., and Candidate Kimberly Vachal, Ph.D. – Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute North Dakota State University, Fargo
This compendium provides a brief description of 25 promising programs from 21 states and one Federal Agency. SCRAM CAM is a technology used in two of the programs featured.
By Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (FAAR)
If ever there was a solid proof statement about this stellar program, this is it! This document provides an updated synopsis of the 24/7 Sobriety Project, the role of SCRAM CAM, results to date, and how it is reducing recidivism, lowering jail populations, and saving South Dakota citizens millions of dollars.
By Attorney General Larry Long – Attorney General of South Dakota, Stephen K. Talpins – Former Chief Executive Officer, National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime, and Robert L. DuPont, M.D. – President, Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc.
This article reports the results of a preliminary study of how a transdermal alcohol-detection bracelet device, the Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor (SCRAM) affects recidivism.
By Victor E. Flango, Ph.D., & Fred L. Cheesman, Ph.D.
Published in Court Review (Vol. 44, 2009), this article summarizes the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) recidivism study, “Effectiveness of the SCRAM Alcohol Monitoring Device: A Preliminary Test.”
By Victor E. Flango and Fred Cheesman
This document is a four-page summary of the highlights presented in the full practitioner’s guide.
By Traffic Injury Research Foundation
This document is the second in a three-part series. This report is designed to assist practitioners with incorporating continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring technologies into existing supervision practices.
By Traffic Injury Research Foundation
This document is a two-sided summary of the highlights presented in the primer.
By Traffic Injury Research Foundation
Written by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), this document provides an excellent overview of transdermal technology and SCRAM CAM.
By Traffic Injury Research Foundation
By simply utilizing a bigger toolbox when it comes to nonviolent drug offenders, and selected nonviolent property and DUI offenders, Texas taxpayers can be spared a billion-dollar commitment to new prisons.
By Marc Levin, Esq. Director of the Center for Effective Justice
A compendium of promising sentencing practices proposed at the NHTSA National DWI Sentencing Summit at The National Judicial College.
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
This guide discusses four objectives for reducing alcohol-related collisions: reduce excessive drinking and underage drinking; deter driving after drinking through effective DWI law enforcement; improve the system for prosecuting, imposing sanctions against, and treating DWI offenders; and control the most recalcitrant offenders.
By Transportation Research Board
The Michigan DOC performed a field study of SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring prior to making it commercially available.
By The Journal of Offender Monitoring
Examines the public health impact of South Dakota’s 24/7 Sobriety Project, an innovative program requiring individuals arrested for or convicted of alcohol-involved offenses to submit to breathalyzer tests twice per day or wear a continuous alcohol monitoring bracelet. Those testing positive are subject to swift, certain, and modest sanctions.
By Beau Kilmer, PhD, Nancy Nicosia, PhD, Paul Heaton, PhD, and Greg Midgette, MPP
Research on how continuous alcohol monitoring performs in the field, including community supervision, program implementation, and client accountability.
Two types of transdermal electrochemical sensors that detect alcohol at the skin surface were evaluated. One, the AMS SCRAM device, is locked onto the ankle and is based on a fuel cell sensor; the other, a Giner WrisTAS device, worn on the wrist, is based on a proton exchange membrane. SCRAM is used by several court systems in the United States to monitor alcohol offenders, WrisTAS, a research prototype, is not commercially available.
By Paul R. Marques and A. Scott McKnight
Studies focused on alcohol use, treatment participation, participant experience, and behavior change during continuous alcohol monitoring.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Brown University concluded that SCRAM CAM can benefit individuals in outpatient alcohol treatment programs. Four out of five study participants reported that SCRAM CAM helped them reduce their drinking, and 75% said they would wear it for longer than the 12-week study period.
By Sheila M. Alessia, Nancy P. Barnett, Nancy M. Petrya
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2017
Examines the impact of continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring upon alcohol consumption in male students at a Scottish university.
By Fergus G. Neville (a), Damien J. Williams (a), Christine A. Goodall, Jeffrey S. Murer, Peter D. Donnelly
The objective of this investigation was to establish the ability of SCRAM CAM to detect different levels of self-reported alcohol consumption and to determine whether gender and body mass index, alcohol dependence, bracelet version, and age of bracelet influenced detection of alcohol use. Researchers concluded SCRAM CAM is very good at detecting 5 or more drinks; the performance of the monitor below this level was better among women because of their higher transdermal alcohol concentration levels.
By Nancy P. Barnett – Brown University, E. B. Meade – University of Delaware, and Tiffany R. Glynn – Brown University
This study examined the effectiveness of using transdermal alcohol monitoring as a continuous measure of alcohol use to implement financial contingencies to reduce heavy drinking. Researchers concluded that transdermal alcohol monitoring can be used to implement contingency management programs to reduce excessive alcohol consumption.
By Donald M. Dougherty (a), Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak (a), Yuanyuan Liang (b), Tara E. Karns (a), Sharon E. Cates (a), Sarah L. Lake (a), Jillian Mullen (a), John D. Roache (a)
DRUGS OF ABUSE SWEAT PATCH
Research supporting sweat patch drug testing, including forensic toxicology, drug detection methods, alternative specimen testing, and long-term monitoring applications..
