Alcohol - Tests??

[Resolute]

Ive not had a date for FHDRA yet. My hair is very short. At the moment a 3 month will be dodgy as had a crap period through may and June....

If you have been good since the beginning of July, you should have a little over a centimeter of good hair at the scalp end . It takes a week or two for consumption to show in the hair. May and June will be approx 2cm at 1-3cm from the scalp.

This is not an exact science. Hair grows at different rates. But, if your hair is quite short, you need to protect the bottom - i.e. do not drink! You would also benefit from growing out and chopping off growth from May and June. It might make sense to do this with a few trims rather than one big cut taking off several centimeters.

Tests are by consent, you cannot be forced. However, refusal to test can justify the court in drawing their own conclusions. I suggest you offer to pay and insist that you have charge of test arrangement if testing is going to be ordered. If the accuser's legal team has control of instruction there will be dirty tricks. This happened to me, I had to overrule the order and take charge of arrangements myself. Testing was not in my ex's interests. Her side wanted all to be decided on mud-slinging.

PEth test period timing is more exact. You could do one now and one every 30 days from now. In 60 days you would have three months of the higher standard test. Industries that require sobriety use PEth over hair strand.

 

[Yorkdad]

It also worth bearing in mind, the double standards - the ex can accuse you being an alcoholic - despite the diagnosis being a professional one. Yet you can't accuse the ex of being an alienator, as thats a professional diagnosis and you're not qualified to make it .... double standards.

That's gold. I'm going to use that.

 

[rugbycourt]

It also worth bearing in mind, the double standards - the ex can accuse you being an alcoholic - despite the diagnosis being a professional one. Yet you can't accuse the ex of being an alienator, as thats a professional diagnosis and you're not qualified to make it .... double standards.

I had this ex stated I was an alcoholic but then later on said she drank when I did but when I raised that surly she's an alcoholic too if she drank with me .. It was tit for tat

 

[tryingmyhardest84]

Hey,
I had an issue with drink a few years back I was ordered everything, peth cdt, lf and hair stand to test up to 7 months.
I passed them all (social to abstinence)
I had a drink for my birthday 21 days before the peth was tested, hair came back clean.
Took 8 days to come back.
Try not to worry too much unless your drinking vodka or 2 pints every day you should be fine!
She paid for my tests as she is funded.
I also said I am happy to take any tests she wants going forward.
I also signed up to an alcohol service just to get a letter to prove I don't have an issue

hello. my STBE has been way over the top with her accusations of alcohol. i’m not drinking much at all now as it’s not worth it. couple of questions though. when you say 2 pints a day do you mean lager? i had a heavy June/July due to big celebrations and holidays. a much quieter period now and it’s staying that way. what is this alcohol service you’re talking about?

 

[Resolute]

Under 7.5 units a day is ok.

 

[tryingmyhardest84]

Under 7.5 units a day is ok.

cheers definitely the case for the last 6 weeks i’d say. potentially over that a bit but it was summer and i wasn’t expecting this tbf!! arsehole threw me a massive birthday bash pouring champers down my throat and bought me loads of booze for my birthday

 

[Oneofmany]

So just need to bump this. Got the safeguarding letter today and following the ex allegations they are asking for a hair strand test for "Substance abuse." As well as being a raving alcoholic the ex has lobbed in smokes weed all the time also. I wont lie the last 7 months have been a struggle and there have been times I've drunk far to much when things have got to much and I have had the occasional toke with a mate but not since the end of June. Along with all this I've been made redundant.

It probably amounts to about 2 nights out a week and say 7 pints a night but not every week. Not touched a drop on 4 weeks but am now properly worried about my result. Ex alleges I'm a hardcore 5 nights a week drinker which isnt true. I said to Caffcas I socially drink which I think is a fair reflection. Now I feel like I'm being judged on potential tests that have no bearing on when we were together and I didnt have all this shit going on ro deal with... this fuckin sucks

I have really short hair, hardly any body hair and keep my nails very well trimmed. Am I going to have to grow everything just to get tests done?? This will mean yet more delays as well as the section 7 they are requesting. Its just one thing after another, again and again.

Any thoughts much appreciated and I feel like I'm drowning in shit right now and have the nxt week to crawl through before it all gets lobbed at me again in court at FHDRA. The Caffcas letter make me sound like a monster. Shes just added another layer of shit on top of everything she used to try and get a NMO.

Sorry just needed to vent too, Its just shit I'm trying to hold it together, but as soon as I start to stand back up there's yet another knock down. Im just tired

 

[Altitude60]

So just need to bump this. Got the safeguarding letter today and following the ex allegations they are asking for a hair strand test for "Substance abuse." As well as being a raving alcoholic the ex has lobbed in smokes weed all the time also. I wont lie the last 7 months have been a struggle and there have been times I've drunk far to much when things have got to much and I have had the occasional toke with a mate but not since the end of June. Along with all this I've been made redundant.

It probably amounts to about 2 nights out a week and say 7 pints a night but not every week. Not touched a drop on 4 weeks but am now properly worried about my result. Ex alleges I'm a hardcore 5 nights a week drinker which isnt true. I said to Caffcas I socially drink which I think is a fair reflection. Now I feel like I'm being judged on potential tests that have no bearing on when we were together and I didnt have all this shit going on ro deal with... this fuckin sucks

I have really short hair, hardly any body hair and keep my nails very well trimmed. Am I going to have to grow everything just to get tests done?? This will mean yet more delays as well as the section 7 they are requesting. Its just one thing after another, again and again.

Any thoughts much appreciated and I feel like I'm drowning in shit right now and have the nxt week to crawl through before it all gets lobbed at me again in court at FHDRA. The Caffcas letter make me sound like a monster. Shes just added another layer of shit on top of everything she used to try and get a NMO.

Sorry just needed to vent too, Its just shit I'm trying to hold it together, but as soon as I start to stand back up there's yet another knock down. Im just tired

As far as I'm aware cafcass is just a recommendation there a chance the court won't order what it says but you'd need to convince them otherwise i would approach saying your happy to take any test your ex requires as long as she pays if there false allegations she may drop them once seeing the costs if she has to pay . I'm fairly new to all this so I don't no from experience im just going off things I've read while waiting for my cafcass call and first hearing best advice though don't drink or smoke from now on if your like me i myself used to like a social drink i still go to the local pub with friends it helps take my mind off everything but i stick to 0% i much prefer it now .

 

[JNLDN]

The hair tests essentially average out intake over a 3 or 6 month period, it's generally accepted that 7.5 units a day is the threshold for ETG/FAEE hair tests, PEth is a monthly blood test, PEth degrades at a half like of between 3 and 8(ish) days, mean time is 4-5 days. They recommend PEth tests along side the hair tests to get a better overall picture of consumption and if you can get a few weeks abstinent under your belt and get a PEth test (or two) to take to court with you they might take this instead of ordering a hair test, this is a good strategy and one that worked for me.

A pint of 5% beer is 3 units so 7 is 21 so about 3 day's worth.

My view was that I was too close to the 7.5 units a day to be sure of a clear hair test over 6 months, so I wanted to avoid that at all costs. Two good PEth tests in court meant the court said I could just do another test (I agreed ongoing monthly tests but I have a history, it's inlikely you would need to).

Think about the 3 and 6 month periods, if they tested over those times would you likely be over for those periods? You have around 3 weeks from the test being asked for (you can refuse!) but alcohol markers take around 7 - 10 days to get into the hair, and grow out. But worth taking into account if it's borderline.

It's really stressful but worth getting your strategy together.

 

[JNLDN]

I don't know what they'll do if they can't get head or body hair, I would imagine that in this case if you offered PEth testing for say 3 months they would be likely to take it.

 

[Yorkdad]

If there is no head hair long enough, body hair can be taken, also finger and toe nails which are a bit dicey as toe nails can cover a year. I've read that after 2 months of abstenance ETG levels largely clears out of nails. Drug metabolites are probably more embedded.

Sounds like you've plenty of time regarding alcohol. If you've been a bit heavy I would wait 6 weeks of abstenance before a peth test....then get another 4 weeks after. That would show two results very low social / abstenance which you would highlight in your DRA / FHDRA. Nips it in the bud.

I'll have three results showing zero for end of Nov hearing. Other side is raging and requesting toenail / hair covering 6/12 month...court said no !!!

You can't bluff a peth test...needs zero alcohol, you should be good.

 

[Oneofmany]

Am even more worried now tbh. This has been the hardest most emotional, horrific experience of my life and it just keeps getting worse. I accept I've not handled it well and not made great choices over the months but this is just one more thing. I've not touched a drop in weeks and think I'd be ok with a peth by the time it comes around but hair might be different (Cafcass has stated Hair) . But its too short, I have hardly and body hair and nails are always properly trimmed. Its just something else to infect my brain

 

[Yorkdad]

I would focus on getting a good peth test result or two. It's a very good standing point to argue.

As ive been advised on here, two back to back clear peth test results proves your not an alcoholic and also shows at the very least you can be sober for your child as an argument position. Its been said to me that this whole testing malarkey is a bit of a nonsense as you can always agree to being sober with child and have that agreed in an order or recital later. You only need to do tests if it has been ordered. If you can stick a few clear ones early doors they may very well not request it, so try not to worry, easy said I know.

It is a terribly emotional time...I've only just had supervised contact 1.5 hrs ! after 5 months without any other than a couple of phone calls a week. Hang in there buddy, try to use your time free positively...running, gym, hiking.

 

[Oneofmany]

I would focus on getting a good peth test result or two. It's a very good standing point to argue.

As ive been advised on here, two back to back clear peth test results proves your not an alcoholic and also shows at the very least you can be sober for your child as an argument position. Its been said to me that this whole testing malarkey is a bit of a nonsense as you can always agree to being sober with child and have that agreed in an order or recital later. You only need to do tests if it has been ordered. If you can stick a few clear ones early doors they may very well not request it, so try not to worry, easy said I know.

It is a terribly emotional time...I've only just had supervised contact 1.5 hrs ! after 5 months without any other than a couple of phone calls a week. Hang in there buddy, try to use your time free positively...running, gym, hiking.

Thanks, how can I get Peth tests done..... only a week to FHRDA now so a but late tbh..... Yeah, I need something positive

 

[Yorkdad]

Thanks, how can I get Peth tests done..... only a week to FHRDA now so a but late tbh..... Yeah, I need something positive

First instinct is to hold tight. You've not been court ordered to do anything yet. If the other side is making allegations they need to be able to back it up. Courts see these allegations it all the time. My solicitors said its not often they ask for testing...up my way anyway...and perhaps a serious history of it in the past...ie GP, police DD etc.

You can Google search peth tests and book yourself in to a court approved company. Mine cost 270 a go. Takes 5 working days for results.

I would state your drinking honestly and commit to none around your kid at hearing going forward. What also helped me was a work letter stating no concerns of alcoholism and also a Gp letter (£35) stating the same...those you could get within a day or two of hearing.

 

[Oneofmany]

First instinct is to hold tight. You've not been court ordered to do anything yet. If the other side is making allegations they need to be able to back it up. Courts see these allegations it all the time. My solicitors said its not often they ask for testing...up my way anyway...and perhaps a serious history of it in the past...ie GP, police DD etc.

You can Google search peth tests and book yourself in to a court approved company. Mine cost 270 a go. Takes 5 working days for results.

I would state your drinking honestly and commit to none around your kid at hearing going forward. What also helped me was a work letter stating no concerns of alcoholism and also a Gp letter (£35) stating the same...those you could get within a day or two of hearing.

Thanks, Ive stated occasional/social to caffcas. I have to my Solicitor I was probably drinking too much a few months ago. Thanks for the advice. Appreciated

Will wait and see how it goes I think, I really dont need something else to worry about the results of. Am in bits anyway. Ive got magistrates for my hearing and from what I've read they go with what caffcas ask for where as a judge might be more inclined to disagree

 

[Yorkdad]

Thanks, Ive stated occasional/social to caffcas. I have to my Solicitor I was probably drinking too much a few months ago. Thanks for the advice. Appreciated

Will wait and see how it goes I think, I really dont need something else to worry about the results of. Am in bits anyway. Ive got magistrates for my hearing and from what I've read they go with what caffcas ask for where as a judge might be more inclined to disagree

You might well be surprised in a good way, so far my interaction with CAFCAS has been fine and fair, though i have a section 7 report due which is intimidating.

Its not illegal to have a drink. I had my kid 6 nights a fortnight....I could have been in the pub the other 8 nights!! without issue and that could show in hair/peth but prove nothing about drinking with kid in my care.

Wish you the best of luck bud.

 

[Oneofmany]

You might well be surprised in a good way, so far my interaction with CAFCAS has been fine and fair, though i have a section 7 report due which is intimidating.

Its not illegal to have a drink. I had my kid 6 nights a fortnight....I could have been in the pub the other 8 nights!! without issue and that could show in hair/peth but prove nothing about drinking with kid in my care.

Wish you the best of luck bud.

Im stuffed as far as they are concerned. Ex has spun her bullshit and they have written its up a gospel. They spoke to her second, so didnt have a chance to address what she had said......