Drug and Alcohol Impaired Driving Drug and Alcohol Impaired Driving Troopers Desmond Watson and Isaac Kurtz

Impaired Driving  im·paired driv·ing (m- pârd driv-ing):  - operating a motor- vehicle under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, prescription medication, or over-the- counter drugs

Alcohol- the most abused drug  More than 16,000 Americans die each year in alcohol- related traffic crashes  32 percent of all 2008 U.S. fatality traffic crashes were alcohol-related  Nearly 600,000 Americans are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes each year  Someone dies in an alcohol- related traffic crash every 45 minutes (NHTSA, 2008)

South Dakota Stats (2008)  In 2008, 41.3% of all fatal crashes were alcohol related.  48 people were killed in alcohol related accidents.  659 people were injured in alcohol related accidents.  There were over 11,000 DWI arrests in SD Source: SD Department of Public Safety—Accident Records SD Department of Public Safety—Driver Improvement

What does alcohol and drugs do to my body?  Slows reaction time  Impairs judgement  Impairs vision  Impairs person’s ability to complete numerous tasks at the same time  Affects coordination  Affects person’s ability to process information

Drug impaired driving on the rise  Nationwide increase in people driving under the influence of drugs  What is a drug? “Any substance that, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability to operate a motor vehicle safely” “Any substance that, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability to operate a motor vehicle safely”  Legal vs Illicit drugs  Availability of drugs compared to alcohol (especially among the younger)

Drug Recognition Expert  Officers trained in the detection of drivers who are under the influence of drugs besides alcohol  12 step post arrest evaluation in controlled environment Field Sobriety tests Eye examinations Clinical signs Signs of ingestion  Valuable evidence in prosecution of impaired drivers as some drugs may be prescribed and not illegal to possess.  No presumptive level for drugs, only impairment  Assisting other agencies *

Determiniations of a DRE  Is the subject impaired?  Is it a medical condition or drug use that is causing the impairment?  If drug related, the DRE determines the category of drug involved.

Drug Recognition Training Hours Ø Phase I - DRE Pre-School (16 hours) Ø Phase II - DRE School (56 hours) Ø Phase III - Certification Training (40-60 hrs) Ø Re-Certification training every two years

CERTIFICATION PHASE  Twelve evaluations  Three of the seven categories  Confirmation through toxicological exams

ORIGIN OF THE DEC PROGRAM  Developed by members of LAPD in the early 70’s  In 1979 the DRE program was in place with LAPD  Standardized by NHTSA in 1987

CNS DEPRESSANTS CNS DEPRESSANTS  Alcohol  Barbiturates  Tranquilizers  Chloralhydrate  Sleeping pills  GHB  Rohypnol  Soma

CNS STIMULANTS CNS STIMULANTS  Cocaine  Amphetamine  Methampheta mine  Ritalin  Cylert  Preludin

Hallucinogens Hallucinogens  LSD  Peyote  Mushrooms  Ecstasy  Toad licking  Nutmeg  Other synthetic psychedelic amphetamines

DISASSOCIATIVE ANESTHETICS  PCP  Angel dust  Super kools  Sherm  Ketamine (special k)  Dextromethorphan (DXM) (DXM)

NARCOTIC ANALGESICS NARCOTIC ANALGESICS  Heroin  Morphine  Opium  Methadone  Percodan  Percocet  Demerol  Darvon

INHALANTS INHALANTS  Glue  Gasoline  Paint thinner  Spray Paint  Nitrous Oxide  Scotchguard  Freon

CANNABIS  Marijuana  Hashish  Hash oil  Marinol

Questions? Questions?