School Administrator’s &
Teacher’s Guide to- Recognizing the Signs & Symptoms of Drug
Impairment
Sgt. Corey MacDonald, Esq
Drug Recognition Expert Instructor
1.
The Importance of Recognizing Impairment
a)
Driving offenses
b)
Interviews of victims and witnesses
c)
Interrogations of suspects
d)
Mens rea – criminal intent
e)
School safety
2. Evaluation Considerations
a)
Officer Safety!!!
b)
Who will your audience be later?
c)
Is this going to court, or to an
administrative hearing?
d)
Duty to act?
3. Informal observations
a)
Slurred speech and/or mouth agape
b)
Can’t keep train of thought
c)
Hunched forward
d)
Eyes (stare, bloodshot, glassy, pupil
size)
e)
Grinding teeth
f)
Poor fine motor skills
g)
Emotional
4. Divided Attention Tests
a)
Ask for two things at the same time.
b)
Interrupt the driver and ask a
distracting question.
c)
Be aware of attempts to avoid your
questions.
d)
Ask “How much have you drank?” v.
“Have you been drinking?”
5. Field Sobriety Tests (FST)
a)
Standardization of Field Sobriety
Tests – objective tests
b)
Presenting a “United Front” to the
court
c)
Reduce liability - “We treat everyone
the same.”
d)
KISS rule
e)
Supervisors can better evaluate weak
points in cases, or training needs.
f)
FSTs are divided attention tests.
6. The Four Recommended Field
Sobriety Tests (FST)
a)
Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test
b)
9 Step Walk & TurnTest:
8 Clues
c)
One Leg Stand Test:
4 Clues
d)
Rhomberg Balance Test:
5 Clues
7. Seven Major Drug Categories
& Symptoms of Use
a)
CNS Depressants
(alcohol, barbiturates, anti-depressants., anti-psychotics,
tranquilizers)
b)
CNS Stimulants
(cocaine, amphetamines)
c)
Hallucinogens (LSD, ecstasy)
d)
Dissociative Anesthetics (PCP,
Ketamine)
e)
Narcotic Analgesics (heroin, opiates,
pain killers)
f)
Inhalants (acetone, toluene, nitrous)
g)
Cannabis (marijuana, hashish, hash
oil)
8. Alternative Tests
a)
Finger to nose
b)
Alphabet (A-Z, not sung)
9. What is the cause?
a)
Look for physical symptoms
b)
Look for behavioral symptoms
10. When to call a DRE
a)
Arrest based on probable cause of drug
or alcohol impairment
b)
Breathalyzer or PBT test less than
0.09 and impairment does not match BRAC
c)
0.09 or more
11. The Totality of the Circumstances
a)
SFST’s and our observations are not an
exact science, they are based strongly in common sense.
b)
Training and experience.
DVD Price: $90.00
No. D1310
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