Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2012
Source: 100 Mile House Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 100 Mile House Free Press
Contact:  http://www.100milefreepress.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2143
Author: Carole Rooney

DRUG-IMPAIRED DRIVERS NOW FACE EFFECTIVE NEW SCREENING TOOL

100 Mile House RCMP Traffic Services has an effective new method for
determining drug-impaired drivers in the South Cariboo.

RCMP Const. Lee Simpkins has completed five weeks of extensive
training in Phoenix, Arizona in this specialized field. After
practical experience in the jails there and two final exams, Simpkins
says he is now certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

"They say it's the hardest course for the RCMP, but it's not an
RCMP-led course. It's [put on by] the International Association of
Chiefs of Police [IACP]."

Simpkins puts his new skills into action when he or any other local
police officers detect potential signs of drug use by drivers.

For those not trained beyond the police basics, he says this may be a
distinctive, tell-tale odour emitted by driver, such as commonly
noticed after marijuana use, eyes that appear affected by drug use, or
other signs.

Once Simpkins is involved, however, this analysis takes a big leap
into the realm of medical science.

"Like I say to people, it's not there to trick them; what we are
looking for are specific indicators. All the clues I look for have
been validated by various studies through the [IACP]."

Armed with his extensive knowledge and packing a kit full of items,
including a blood pressure monitor, stethoscope, thermometer, pen
light, other tools and charts for aspects like degrees of symptoms, he
analyses suspected drug-impaired drivers.

"The 'gateway to the soul,' they teach us is through the eyes. There
are a lot of clinical signs in the eyes that people cannot hide; in
certain drugs [this is] more prevalent than in others.

"People will show rebound dilation in their eyes; it's a clue. People
who can't cross their eyes, that's another one."

After his evaluation, Simkins notes he records the clinical signs he
detected, including blood pressure, heart rate and body
temperature.

The DREs also record various "divided attention" results, including
tests for the drivers' ability to walk a straight line and touch their
nose, before they "make the call" with their expert opinion.

The process typically takes between 45 minutes and an hour, Simpkins
says.

A follow-up lab test is performed at the detachment as a measure of
accuracy, he explains, after the DRE makes a decision a driver is drug
impaired.

"If I call a certain drug category or a combination of drug categories
- - because there are seven drug categories that we work from - then I
read the urine demand."

Simpkins adds the urine test is performed only after a DRE forms an
opinion someone is drug impaired, and isn't used on its own.

The seven categories used by DREs are central nervous system
depressants: (tranquillizers, anti-depressants, PHP, date rape drugs);
inhalants (paint, solvents or glue fumes); dissociative anaesthetics
(such as in cough syrup); cannabis (marijuana, hash or hash oil);
central nervous system stimulus (such as cocaine, crack or
methamphetamine); hallucinogens (such as LSD or "magic" mushrooms);
and narcotic analgesics (such as opium, morphine, heroin or oxycodone).

"We use the same book the pharmacists use; it's a big four-inch
binder."

Oxycodone is a common one in the South Cariboo, he says, as many take
it on a prescription and then drive when they shouldn't.

Simpkins explains everyone using these drugs or who work with fumes
all day without adequate lung protection are responsible for being
aware of their impairment and driving ability.

"Impaired driving is a reverse onus: 'do you feel fit for driving?'
Because you have to face the ramifications if you are not and people
know what happens to them if they're impaired driving and they've
killed somebody. We preach it all the time, it's murder."

He notes statistics show that behind the wheel of one in 10 vehicles
on the road is a driver impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

New enforcement laws have led to some people steering away from
alcohol and using drugs instead when they are out, Simpkins adds.

"Now, we have a DRE in town." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D