Is it possible to determine whether a positive test result is due to binge drinking or high regular consumption?
No. Unlike other drugs which are deposited through the root alone, FAEEs are deposited through both the root and the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the scalp. This means it is possible for sections of hair to have lost or gained concentrations of FAEEs through the migration of sebum along the follicle which could distort any timeline analysis. It is therefore only possible to provide an average level of consumption for the period of time being tested for. Similarly, the fact that most peoples’ hair does not stick up out of the scalp, but lies against the scalp surface for several centimetres as it grows down, means that more mature sections of hair are being bathed in the EtG-laden sweat which is produced by the sweat glands, thus making it scientifically unsound to offer segmented results on a month-by-month basis from which to establish a chronological pattern of consumption. It is therefore only possible to provide an average level of consumption for the period of time be
