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New Alcohol Monitoring Bracelet Catches Our Eye

by slbts — last modified May 26, 2010 02:15 PM
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We are always interested in what is happening in the legal world of addiction prosecution and of course lobbying for rehabilitation rather than punitive action. The SCRAM bracelet (which Lindsay Lohan was ordered to wear earlier this week in court) is an interesting device that detects if the user is drinking by continuously analyzing their blood alcohol levels through sampling the sweat.

Our old friend Dean Stepper was on site today talking about the SCRAM bracelet.  We had been hearing a lot about it lately  (especially since a very famous wayward celebrity was sentenced to wear it for a DUI charge earlier this week).

Dean is an expert on the court systems and for many years has been helping people in recovery get through the legal hoops necessary to get their records cleaned up and get back on track. 

He felt the SCRAM bracelet provided a good opportunity for men and women to continue their lives (hopefully including work but possibly on house arrest) while being held accountable to staying alcohol free.

The Scram Alcohol Detection Bracelet from Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS)

The SCRAM (Secure Continuous Alcohol Monitoring) bracelet is a patented device that attaches to the leg (above the ankle). The SCRAM technology, which is called Continuous Transdermal Alcohol Monitoring (CTAM) by its manufacturer, tests the leg perspiration every 30 minutes for changes in pH that would indicate the person has been drinking.

The SCRAM bracelet communicates with a base station in the person's home and then the reports are available to the relevant authorities.  If the person is away from the base station (for instance, working), then the bracelet will re-connect with the base station when the person returns home and transmit all the data since the last time it uploaded the test results.

Why The SCRAM Bracelet is Good

According to Dean, the psychological aspect of wearing a bracelet that will get the person in grave trouble if they drink is a great motivator to not drink.  Stopping drinking, of course, is a critical first step to the path of recovery.  Some in the program of recovery would argue that it is a somewhat "false sobriety" or that the recovery doesn't really begin because the person who is wearing the bracelet might rather drink if the bracelet were not present.  We think that in the "real world," we'll take any kind of sobriety to start with - even if it is forced.

 Another obvious "real world" reason the SCRAM Bracelet is good is that it provides an alternative to incarceration.  We know the criminal justice system is sinking under the weight of the overwhelming number of cases that are related to substance abuse.  We have long supported the "disease model of addiction" (widely accepted in medical circles) which states that men and women who are addicted to alcohol (or any drug) will benefit from rehabilitation more than incarceration.  The SCRAM Bracelet (and the SCRAMx home monitoring system also available from Alcohol Monitoring Systems) opens the door for people to seek recovery outside of a cell during their probationary period. 

Why The SCRAM Bracelet is Bad

The SCRAM bracelet makes noise and can disrupt sleep when it takes it's data. There is also the possibility of false positives because of the variety of ingredients in various food and drinks.  Certainly there is a stigma associated with the ankle bracelet and the above stated reason that it does not inherently encourage a true program of recovery but rather a forced abstinence might make it less than perfect. Scram Ankle Bracelet

Beating The Scram Bracelet

Of course, if you know the way we think here (as recovering alumni),you will not be surprised to hear that the first question I asked Dean was "how can people beat this thing?"

It is not easy.  Apparently there is an infrared light that makes contact with the skin and anything that gets in the way of that light (like saran wrap) will trigger the SCRAM bracelet to notate user interference.  Also, there is a mechanism that analyzes the perspiration (or leg sweat) carefully that will know if the user is drenching the area in water or any other kind of substance to try and avoid detection of drinking.

For More Information

If you would like information about SCRAM bracelet, you can visit the manufacturer's website: www.alcoholmonitoring.com,  or if you would like to contact Dean Stepper, he is a court representative with Diversified Monitoring Systems in Santa Ana.

how i feel about my new attractive ankle bracelet...

Avatar Posted by myke7xs at Jan 13, 2011 03:28 PM
FUCK THIS BRACELETT!!!!

SCRAM

Avatar Posted by TonyD at Mar 01, 2011 02:40 PM
AMEN BROTHER!!

How to beat Scram

Avatar Posted by someone else at Sep 27, 2011 08:40 AM
So this seems pretty simple to beat.
1) I was told there is electrical current running through your leg to complete the circuit. You can use the same foil strip used on windows for security systems to do this. (if you were going to take it off)
2) The infrared light on your skin is a little harder but still doable. Many people get blisters hiking, walking, or because they are on there feet all day. You would need to take that skin (ripping off a blister) and slide it between the your leg and the bracelet. Once you have done that, the infrared would not know the difference. Remember, the skin will dry out so you must reintroduce water to the sample to keep it in an "alive" state.
3) Temperature, the scram device monitors temperature as well. The best way to do this is a constant heat source of 97.8 - 98.9. You can find one anywhere, just look around.

So there is your answer. If you really want to beat this thing you can. The question you need to ask yourself is why? It's not like you have to drink, and if you are ordered to wear it, you should b/c it is a lot better then jail or worse. -cheers-

How to beat Scram

Avatar Posted by someone else at Sep 27, 2011 08:40 AM
So this seems pretty simple to beat.
1) I was told there is electrical current running through your leg to complete the circuit. You can use the same foil strip used on windows for security systems to do this. (if you were going to take it off)
2) The infrared light on your skin is a little harder but still doable. Many people get blisters hiking, walking, or because they are on there feet all day. You would need to take that skin (ripping off a blister) and slide it between the your leg and the bracelet. Once you have done that, the infrared would not know the difference. Remember, the skin will dry out so you must reintroduce water to the sample to keep it in an "alive" state.
3) Temperature, the scram device monitors temperature as well. The best way to do this is a constant heat source of 97.8 - 98.9. You can find one anywhere, just look around.

So there is your answer. If you really want to beat this thing you can. The question you need to ask yourself is why? It's not like you have to drink, and if you are ordered to wear it, you should b/c it is a lot better then jail or worse. -cheers-

Noise Level

Avatar Posted by SD_Scram at Nov 18, 2011 03:37 PM
I've had my device on for two months now. It has never gone off or given me a false positive. BUT! The loud sound it makes is completely frustrating. The SCRAM website states "When the SCRAM bracelet takes a reading every 30 minutes, a light buzzing sound can be heard but is discreet."

When I first stared wearing it, the sound was discreet. Sounded like a cell phone on vibrate. As time goes on, the device gets louder and louder as if the buzzer is working loose. I work in an office and attend many meetings. When the device goes off, people across the room hear it. It sound more like a large massager, then a phone. Quite often, people look around the room to see where the sound came from. I have exchanged the device once, and after time, it got loud again.

If you're out in busy places, this goes unheard. Quiet settings like church, movies or board rooms... you will be easily heard.

I understand it's a punishment. But the goal is to keep me from drinking, NOT to jeopardize my job or annoy all around me to no end. It even wakes up my wife at night.

Be warned.

Comment to Noise Level

Avatar Posted by JD_Scram at Nov 21, 2011 10:31 AM
SD_Scram is 100% correct! As the device "wears down" the buzzing gets louder and louder. I, too had mine replaced once already only after 40 days and the new one soon after got loud again. It has kept me up all night many times. I try to keep my cell phone near me and blame the sound on my phone versus the device.

PS - there is no way to beat it. Someone suggested putting a piece of your own skin underneath it. Doubtful. Dead skin doesn’t sweat and even if you kept it moist it still would register water and not sweat triggering an alert to the monitoring station. I was hoping I would be able to slip it off and have my dog wear it for the whole time but they put the dang thing on way too tight – very little “wiggle room”.

Also I must say that I have used many of the “forbidden” chemicals and the SCRAM device has yet to pick up any of them. Just don’t touch or get any of the chemicals next to the monitoring part of the bracelet. The bracelet also knows the difference between a chemical detection such as cleaning supplies and alcohol detection from drinking. Chemicals will cause a quick, spike in the reading once and then the reading will be right back to normal the next reading or two after that. Alcohol consumption will cause the reading to rise and rise until it peaks and then slowly fall until it is zero again. BIG difference! There is no way of trying to use excuses to get out of a positive reading either. I have read about people claiming it was their perfume that set it off. Unless you bathed in it or drank it spraying perfume normally will not cause a positive reading unless you spray it directly on the sensor and once again will be detected as a chemical spike and not a “bell-shaped” curve.

Besides trying to beat the SCRAM is not worth it. I sat in court the other day and watch a gentleman get taken to jail for drinking on the SCRAM. Not sure exactly what he did but he did violate his SCRAM order and off to jail for one week he went! Actually he had to go and get the SCRAM removed prior to going to jail since you are not allowed in jail with the device on.

I consider it a blessing in disguise. It is annoying as all hell, uncomfortable, noisy, bulky, and down right a pain in the butt but it has kept me from drinking and you do eventually get used to it.

Thanks for the Info!

Avatar Posted by Scram Diaries at Jan 23, 2012 09:41 AM
I am going on the SCRAM bracelet on Tuesday and I have been really worried about all the horror stories I've read (bracelet goes off falsely all the time). I am happy that the only complaints I seem to see here is the buzzing noise. I can totally deal with that. I don't intend to try to fool the system. I really think that is just a dumb idea. Because I have not been able to find much information, I am documenting my experience in a blog (Scram Bracelet Diaries), hoping to help others facing the same. This experience has changed my life in so many positive ways.

using cleaning products

Avatar Posted by shirley at Apr 19, 2012 08:45 AM
so cleaning my bathroom using windex and foaming bubbles will not give me a positive reading?

scram bracelet noise

Avatar Posted by Lynn at Mar 02, 2012 04:17 PM
So any good solutions to stifeling to noise? I, like you, can not afford to lose my job because of this audible assault!

scram

Avatar Posted by chris stephens at Feb 01, 2012 05:01 PM
Can SCRAM detect perscription drugs through your skin?

SCRAM detecting prescription drugs

Avatar Posted by cooljgirl at Mar 21, 2012 09:15 AM
I've been on SCRAM since Nov 30, 2011 and won't be off til Nov 28, 2012. I take vicodin, xanex, adipex, T3 and many other pain pills, even smoked some gooood weed. I have not had a violation period. Basically my "SCRAM GUY" as I call him, said it only detects alcohol.I told them all the scripts I had but they weren't the least bit interested. You should be fine. :)

alcohol test - drug test ??

Avatar Posted by doug at Mar 26, 2012 11:20 AM
yeah i got told by a friend it test everything. . . but am researching it. now i am coming to believe it only test alchol i just want the proof lol an dont wanna find out the hard way!!! does thz damn thing pick up on drug use or not. . . ? ? ? ? plz anyone have some feed back ????

Scram x

Avatar Posted by BMC at Apr 06, 2012 11:31 AM
I just got mine monday, went back on wednesday and it showed that I had a bit of alcohol. Sucks because I didn't! So I was wondering if the Scram can detect THC?

scram tether

Avatar Posted by david at Feb 23, 2012 10:27 AM
i am new to the tether and i wish i would have done a little more home work before i agreed to have it put on. i have only had the tether for 1 week. i was not aware of all the problems with outside interferance. 2 days after having it put on i got a positive for aclohol even thought i hadnt drank. u see i work in an automotive shop and i am around windsheild washer fuild and anit-freeze just to name a few, witch are high in methanol and ethanol, not to mention the little old ladys that wear tons of pefume and it seems like they apply it right before i have to get into their car to pull it into the shop. if u ask me i think this type tether is flawed and lots of real life situations should be tested before the courts take their graph to heart. it seems to me that scram is playing with peoples lifes and not even trying to take a second look.

scram tehter

Avatar Posted by david at Mar 29, 2012 08:35 AM
hun what a story i have for anyone how wishes to read. i was placed on scram a month and a half ago. one week after being placed on scram was my first false positive, ams did its thing and i never heard any more about it. well just today i went to see my p o and he told me that ive tested positive for the past 7 days. well i work in the automotive field so it could have been a number of products that i may have gotten into. so now i guess its another waiting game to see what ams comes up with. anyway after the first scare with the false postive and reading alot of post on the internet witch was very helpful. i begain taking steps to make sure i have some kinda eveidence to help prove myself so anyone that is able to do this i strongly recom it. i went out after the first f/p and bought a home bac tester and i do a video diary 4 times a day. anyway not to ramble on but this tether is not very relable in my eyes, and to think how many people maybe locked up for f/p is a scary thought.

scram tehter

Avatar Posted by david at Mar 29, 2012 08:35 AM
hun what a story i have for anyone how wishes to read. i was placed on scram a month and a half ago. one week after being placed on scram was my first false positive, ams did its thing and i never heard any more about it. well just today i went to see my p o and he told me that ive tested positive for the past 7 days. well i work in the automotive field so it could have been a number of products that i may have gotten into. so now i guess its another waiting game to see what ams comes up with. anyway after the first scare with the false postive and reading alot of post on the internet witch was very helpful. i begain taking steps to make sure i have some kinda eveidence to help prove myself so anyone that is able to do this i strongly recom it. i went out after the first f/p and bought a home bac tester and i do a video diary 4 times a day. anyway not to ramble on but this tether is not very relable in my eyes, and to think how many people maybe locked up for f/p is a scary thought.

SCRAM

Avatar Posted by Rhon at Apr 12, 2012 01:11 PM
SCRAM is a good tool to ensure the wearer is staying sober during treatment. It shows that the wearer is applying the skills that are taught during treatment when they are on their own.

irritating

Avatar Posted by Marvelous Marv at Apr 20, 2012 02:42 PM
i cant get mine to read "on line", it just sais monitering, and i have att, anyone know WTF, im doing this voluntary just as checks n balances to stay strong, but fuck this if i cant even get it to work for this kind of money, i miss my reg soap, gel, rub-one-out lotion, this shit sucks!! lol

Monitor

Avatar Posted by Carol at Apr 23, 2012 03:30 PM
I was told to keep monitor unplugged until you are ready to submit on your scheduled times. Hope this helps.

Scram bracelet

Avatar Posted by Masha at Apr 25, 2012 08:40 AM
So r y'all saying that u can't even have a glass of wine?

No Wine!!

Avatar Posted by Insain1 at Apr 30, 2012 03:33 PM
No Alcohol PERIOD!!
Watch out for bread, lotions, deodorants, hair products, automotive products, hand sanitizer, anything with yeast, even rubbing alcohol for a cut, sex with some who drank alcohol (even sleeping next to them if they sweat in their sleep).

It would be a good tool for the court system, if it wasn't for the expense and the false positives that could land you in jail for NOTHING!!!!!

scram

Avatar Posted by Rich at Apr 17, 2012 03:46 PM
its a pain but it is working to keep me from drinking, i did have a false tampering detection for about 8 hours and got me thrown into jail for 4 days and i did nothing that day but work in the fields.

Sensitive Question

Avatar Posted by NeedHelp at Apr 30, 2012 03:33 PM
Will I be able to make love with my boyfriend without him seeing it??

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