Pubdate: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 Source: Westland Observer (MI) Copyright: 2011 Observer & Eccentric Newspapers Contact: http://www.hometownlife.com/section/CUSTOMERSERVICE20 Website: http://www.hometownlife.com/section/NEWS24 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5192 Author: LeAnne Rogers, Observer Staff Writer TRAINING LETS POLICE ID DRUGGED DRIVERS Many drivers seem to have gotten the message not to drink and drive but the same isn't true when it comes to getting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs. In Michigan, the number of alcohol-related crashes fatalities and arrests has decreased while the same statistics involving drug-related crashes has increased. Reflecting that shift, Westland Police Officer Kevin Yudt is now one of 15 officers in Michigan trained to recognize and identify drug impairment and identify the categories of drugs involved. He recently completed training in the state's first Drug Recognition Expert Course. "This is the hardest thing I ever did. I have my bachelor's (degree). We had to memorize every drug category," said Yudt. "We were in class until 4 p.m. then dinner and studying until 11 p.m. Everyone had to maintain 100 percent." In addition to the Michigan State Police classes in Lansing, Yudt completed his training at the Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff's Department identifying drugs that prisoners had used. "It's a 12-step process. You can exactly determine what kind of drugs - -- in seven categories -- they have taken," said Yudt, who has been with the department for eight years. "Each drug affects the body differently." Along with interviewing the person and administering standard tests for drunken drivers, Yudt conducts a series of examinations -- blood pressure checks, pulse and pupil dilation. "One drug category is depressants. It slows the body down. You look for normal pupil size but a slow reaction to light," said Yudt. "The pulse rate will be down below the normal range and the blood pressure will be down. With pain pills, you get contracted pupils -- it's the only one with pinpoint pupils." As part of his assessment, Yudt checks for other telltale signs -- marijuana smokers will have a green film on their tongue and heat bumps in their mouths, for instance. In the past, it could be problematic when police officers were confronted with a driver under the influence of drugs. "It wasn't uncommon during the heyday of powder cocaine -- before crack - -- for people to do cocaine all day and have one beer before they left the bar," said Westland Police Sgt. Patrick Corby of the Traffic Bureau. "You have no hard evidence. If someone blows .04 (on a Breathalyzer), but are acting really messed up, then he (Yudt) does his assessment. People weren't trained to detect drugs." Drug use overlapping with alcohol consumption is where expertise comes in, said Yudt, whose training also lets him assess the stages of drugs as they move through someone's system. "I'd say the most abused drug now are prescription drugs -- Xanax and Oxycodone -- and medical marijuana," said Corby. Yudt agreed adding, "You can't drive using medical marijuana. People have a prescription and think it gives them the right to do anything they want." While Yudt is assigned half time to the Traffic Bureau, the department is developing a policy on when his expertise as DRE will be needed. "It's very exciting for the members of our department as we continue to become more efficient and proactive in our enforcement against people who operate a motor vehicle while impaired," said Westland Police Chief Greg Angelosanto. "We are also looking forward to utilizing this expertise in other law enforcement situations where the need to know if a person is under the influence of narcotics is important." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.