Drug Recognition A Roadside Perspective PC. Aaron Coulter Midland Police Service
Disclaimer
1998 A snapshot
Impaired driving in 1998: A roadside perspective Decision on the Roadside Sober off you go Not so sure Screening device Over 80 Hammered..Police Sta=on Impaired/Over 80 Alcohol impaired drivers much more common Blood alcohol concentra=ons higher No mechanism to convict drugged drivers
History of the DRE program Officers of the LAPD set out to develop a system to charge drug impaired drivers in 1979 Scientists from John Hopkins University became involved in developing and proving the tests were accurate both in the lab and in the field
DRE program in Canada DRE program began in 1995 in Canada no laws to demand tes=ng un=l 2008, before bill C2 used the ask nicely method Interna=onal Associa=on of Chiefs of Police (IACP) endorsed the model and it spread worldwide
Bill C2 July 1, 2008 With the new legisla=on. - Drivers who are suspected of being under the influence of a drug must submit to a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) - Drivers who are obviously impaired by a drug must submit to a Drug Recogni=on Evalua=on(DRE) and if found to be impaired must provide urine or blood on demand
Things became a little more complicated Sober Not sure Hammered Screening Device SFST Off you go Admin. Suspension Arrest Is it alcohol? Could it be both? Is it drugs? Breath Test Drug Recogni=on Evalua=on What type of drug? Release Over 80mg Impaired by Drug or Alcohol Bodily Fluid Demand
Drug Recogni=on Experts/Evaluators do three things 1. recognize signs and symptoms of drug use or medical distress in a driver 2. conduct an evalua=on to determine if the person is impaired and if so, what category or categories of drug causing impairment. 3. give tes=mony on the drug impairment
Testing Procedure 12 step process Breath test if alcohol suspected Eye tests Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, pupil measurements, reac=on to light Sobriety Tests Walk & Turn, One Leg Stand, Finger to Nose Clinical Signs Blood Pressure, Pulse, Temperature Signs of Drug Use, Admissions
Seven Drug Categories CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia=ve Anesthe=c Cannabis CNS S=mulant Hallucinogens Narco=c Analgesics
How drugs work in simple terms Our bodies have a delicate systems of uppers and downers called neurotransmibers ie. Adrenaline, dopamine, serotonin Homeostasis Downside Effect Addic=on
CNS Depressants CNS Depressant- - - - - - - - - CNS S<mulant Hallucinogens Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Narco<c Analgesics Inhalants Cannabis An=- Anxiety An=- Depressant Alcohol Valium, Xanax, epam Telltale Sign Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Act drunk
Inhalants CNS Depressant Inhalants- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Cannabis CNS S<mulant Halucinogens Narco<c Analgesics Aerosols: Hair sprays, Pam, Dust Off Vola=le Solvents: Model Glue, acetone Anesthe=c Gases: Ether, chloroform, amyl nitrate, Nitrous oxide Telltale sign - residues
Dissociative Anesthetic CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia4ve Anesthe4c Cannabis CNS S<mulant Hallucinogens Narco<c Analgesics PCP Ketamine Dextromethorphan DXM
Cannabis CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Cannabis- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CNS S<mulant Hallucinogens Narco<c Analgesics Marijuana Hashish Synthe=cs Telltale Signs Red conjunc=va Muscle/eyelid tremors Munchies
CNS Stimulant CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Cannabis CNS S4mulant- - - - - - - - - - - - Hallucinogens Narco<c Analgesics Cocaine Crack Cocaine Methamphetamine aka Crystal Meth Ritalin Tell tale signs Dilated pupils Increase Pulse, Temp, BP Tremors, Bruxism
Hallucinogens CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Cannabis CNS S<mulant Hallucinogens- - - - - - - - - - - - Narco<c Analgesics Natural Peyote Psilocybin Synthe=c LSD - Lysergic Acid Diethylainde MDMA- ECSTASY Telltale Sign
Narcotic Analgesic CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Cannabis CNS S<mulant Hallucinogens Narco4c Analgesics- - - - - Opiates: Heroin Morphine Codeine Synthe=cs: Demerol Methadone Fentanyl
Narcotic Analgesic Signs and Symptoms CNS Depressant Inhalants Dissocia<ve Anesthe<c Cannabis CNS S<mulant Hallucinogens Narco4c Analgesics- - - - - Telltale Signs Constricted pupils Decrease pulse, BP, temperature Low/slow/raspy voice Dry mouth On the nod Facial itching Depressed reflexes
Toxicology If subject is deemed impaired at the end of an evalua=on a demand for blood, urine or saliva can be made Urine is the most widely used fluid as it required no special skills to collect however it has troubling limita=on Blood is the gold standard however it is difficult to obtain
Limitations Marijuana + Driving Illicit Drugs vs. Prescrip=on Medica=on Impairment vs. Categories DRE or Toxicologist Blood vs. Urine
Successes
Thank you