Drug Recognition Expert Program SAFETY SERVICES NOVA SCOTIA The Human Factor Evolving Health & Safety March 23 th 2011
Goal The goal of the IACP Drug Recognition Expert Program is to help prevent ent collisions and reduce deaths and injuries i caused by drug-impaired drivers by improving the investigative techniques of suspected drug impaired driving violations.
Legislation Section 253(1)(a) ) Criminal i Code. Every one commits an offence who operates a motor vehicle while the person s ability to operate the vehicle, vessel aircraft or railway equipment is impaired by alcohol or a drug.
The Beginning g Origin of the program: The L.A.P.D - 1979 Purpose of the program: Assist police officers in justifying impaired driving arrests. Substantiate suspicions of drug impairment where their blood alcohol results are inconsistent with their gross signs of impairment.
Program in Canada The program was introduced to Canada in 1995 in British Columbia. The first DRE in Nova Scotia was trained in December 2003 (Sgt Ken BURTON-HRP) At present there are 6-8 DRE courses held in Canada each year with instructors provided in-kind by participating police agencies.
Drug Recognition Expert The Drug Recognition Expert program provides officers with the knowledge, skills, and ability to form an opinion of impairment by drugs that will be accepted by the courts.
Definition of a drug Any substance which, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability of the person to operate a motor vehicle.
Methodology Placing all psycho-active drugs into 7 categories based on their shared symptomology as it relates to 9 clinical signs and symptoms examined by the DRE during the drug influence evaluation.
Seven Drug Categories Central Nervous System Depressants Inhalants Dissociative Anesthetics Cannabis Central Nervous System Stimulants Hallucinogens Narcotic Analgesics
Central Nervous System Depressants Ethyl Alcohol Barbiturates Non-Barbiturates Anti-Anxiety Anxiety Tranquilizers Anti-Depressants Anti-Psychotic Tranquilizers Combinations of the other subcategories
Volatile Solvents Inhalants Plastic Cement Toluene, Acetone, Benzene, Etc. Aerosols Hair Sprays, deodorants, Insecticides, Freon, Glass Chillers, Vegetable Frying Pan Lubricant Anesthetic ti Gases Ether, Chloroform, Amyl/Butyl/Isobutyl Nitrate, Nitrous Oxide
Dissociative Anesthetics Dextromethorphan PCP Ketamine
Cannabis Marijuana Hashish Hashish Oil Dronabinol (Synthetic) Active Ingredient: Delta-9 Tetra-hydrocannabinol (THC)
Cocaine Amphetamines Ritalin Preludin Ephedrine Central Nervous System Stimulants t Khat-Cathacine & Cathinone
Hallucinogens Natural Peyote Psilocybin (Mushrooms) Nutmeg, Jimson Weed Bufotenine Synthetic LSD Lysergic Acid Diethylamide MDA, MMDA, TMA, STP, DMT MDMA - Ecstacy
Narcotic Analgesics Opiates Heroin Morphine Codeine Thebaine Dilauded Hycodan Percodan Synthetic Demerol Methadone Fentanyls Darvon MPPP
Signs & Symptomology 1/ Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus 2/ Vertical Gaze Nystagmus 3/ Lack of Convergence 4/ Pupil Size 5/ Reaction to Light 6/ Pulse Rate 7/ Blood Pressure 8/ Body temperature 9/ Muscle Tone
The DRE Matrix
1. Breath Test Twelve Step Evaluation Process 2. Interview arresting officer 3. Preliminary examination and first pulse 4. Eye Examination 5. Divided Attention t Tests Modified Romberg Balance Test Walk and Turn Test One Leg Stand Test Finger to Nose Test
Twelve Step Evaluation Process 6. Vital Signs and second pulse 7. Dark room examinations (eyes, nose, mouth) 8. Muscle tone 9. Check for injection sites and third pulse 10. Interview, statements, and other observations 11. Opinion of evaluator 12. Toxicological examination
Alcohol Impairment Testing Reasonable Grounds: Required Right to Counsel: Yes Time: 30-50 minutes Technician: Breath Technician Sample: Breath / Blood
Drug Impairment Testing Reasonable Grounds: Required Right to Counsel: Yes Time: 40-60 minutes Technician: Drug Recognition Expert Sample: Blood / Oral / Urine * *Sample choice of evaluating officer
Evaluation Face Sheet
Evaluation Face Sheet
Evaluating officers and court Interpretation t ti of Drug Influence Evaluation Provide opinion evidence on: Whether there are sufficient indicators of impairment to support the charge of impaired driving by drug Which category or categories of drugs are causing the impairment
Training Standards Classroom portion is 80 hrs in duration Pass mark on examinations is 80% Field certification requires a minimum i of 12 evaluations with minimum of 6 being hands on. Final knowledge exam prior to submitting CV and progress log Recommendation by 2 Certified Instructors
Re-Certification Standards d Required every two years. Minimum of 4 evaluations with 1 supervised by an instructor Minimum of 8 hours of alcohol/drug impairment training. Submission of a current curriculum vitae and rolling log. Instructors must instruct 1 course per year to remain an instructor
Former Bill C-2 Recent amendments to the Criminal Code provide the legal authority for police to make demands to drivers for: Standardized Field Sobriety Tests Drug Influence Evaluations Taking of a toxicological sample for confirmation of the DRE s opinion Former Bill C2 also provides Criminal sanctions for refusing any of the above.
Standardized Field Sobriety Test Three tests were developed and validated through a series of controlled experiments. 1. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) 2. Walk and Turn (WAT) 3. One Leg Stand (OLS) The tests are used to form reasonable grounds of impairment and are scientifically validated and accepted as compelling indicators of impairment.
Police Agencies Involved Amherst Police Department : 3 SFST trained officers (3 DREs) Bridgewater Police Service : 4 SFST trained officers Cape Breton Regional Police : 20 SFST trained officers (4 DREs) CN Police : 2 SFST trained officers Halifax Regional Police : 140 SFST trained officers (23 DREs) Military Police : 9 SFST trained officers (1 DRE) New Glasgow Police Service : 1 SFST trained officer (1 DRE) Royal Canadian Mounted Police : 97 SFST trained officers (33 DREs) Stellarton Police Service : 1 SFST trained officer Truro Police Service: 6 SFST trained officers
Other Agencies Involved Public Prosecution Service 9 DRE trained prosecutors RCMP Toxicology Lab 3 DRE trained toxicologists 6 SFST trained toxicologists
Drug Evaluations / Charges Nova Scotia: 2005 2 1 charge 2006 1 0 charges 2007 2 1 charge 2008 49 26 charges 2009 69 45 charges 2010 113 69 charges
Cannabis 52% Most Common Drugs Depressants 19% Detected Narcotic analgesics 17% Stimulants 7% Polydrug Use 28 % of evaluations Rule outs 7%
Demographics 82 % of subjects are male 18 % of subjects are female 19% under 20 years of age 41 % under 25 years of age 61 % under 30 years of age
Geographical Breakdown (By County) Halifax County - 132 Kings County - 33 Cape Breton - 26 Colchester - 13 Cumberland -8 Lunenburg - 7 Pictou -7 Yarmouth -4
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Recommendations: Make SFSTs an integral part of police training Apply a ratio of 6 DREs per 100,000 population Prepare a short 4 day curriculum for prosecutors Promote program with public & specialized audiences Investment of government to tackle training needs, prosecution & laboratory support, prevention & rehabilitation ti
Funding Canada s Renewed Drug Strategy $910,000 000 over 5 years beginning in 2003 $2.1 million ongoing for DRE training *No federal funding for SFST training in Nova Scotia as of April 2009.
Challenges Educating Stakeholders Training Capacity Certification & re-certification Geographical Coverage Funding For SFST training
Questions?