Police Academy Exam 6 - Controlled Substance Investigations

What is a Controlled Substance

• A drug, substance, or immediate precursor in Schedule 1 through 5 of code sections 16-13-25 through 16-13-29 and Schedule 1 through 5 of 21 C.F.R. Part 1308

What are the five major classifications of Controlled Substances

• Narcotics

• Stimulants

• Depressants (sedatives and hypnotic)

• Hallucinogens

• Marijuana (Cannabis)

What do Narcotics do

• Causes sleep

• Decreases pain, coughing, respiration, and blood pressure

• Creates confusion and euphoria

• Causes addiction, constipation, and decreased drive

What is Narcotics Addiction

Narcotic addiction is physiological state that exists when:

• Tolerance is developed, causing the need for increasing dosages

• Psychological dependence or habituation exits

• Physical dependence occurs

• Withdrawal occurs

What is Narcotics Abuse

• Physiological activity reduction

• Euphoria

• Lethargy

• Shallow respiration

• Pinpoint pupils

• Flushing or itching

What is a Stimulant

• Any drug that excited any bodily function, but more specifically those that stimulate the brain and central nervous system

What are the Physical Characteristics of Stimulants

• A feeling of superiority or well being, which can be discerned through interview or observation

• A belief that physical capability is higher, causing confrontation problems for the law enforcement officer

• Extreme paranoia

What are some Observable indicators of Stimulant abuse

• Overall increase of total body activity

• Very talkative

• Hypersensitivity

• Insomnia

• Increased physical strength

• Dilation of pupils

• Unusual perspiration

• Increased body temperature

What is a Depressant

• A substance that depresses the activity of the central nervous system

What is the Psychological Effects of Depressants

• A feeling of tranquility

• An observable outward depressed or sorrowful appearance

• Extreme anxiety

• Extreme fear reaction

What are the physical Characteristics

• Stagnant or acrid smelling breath

• Pupil constrictions or severe light reaction

• Lethargy\

• Overall depression

• Slow pulse

What are Hallucinogens

What are the psychological characteristics of Hallucinogens

What is Marijuana (Cannabis)

What are physical characteristics of Marijuana

What are Deliriants

What are physical characteristics of Deliriants

What are Steroids and the physical side effects

What is the Georgia Controlled Substance Act

• It is unlawful for any person to possess or have under his control, manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, sell or possess with intent to distribute any controlled substance

What are schedule I - V

• Schedule I -

• Schedule II -

• Schedule III -

• Schedule IV -

• Schedule V -

What is Methamphetamine (Ice/Crystal)

• Powerfully addictive stimulant that has a high potential for abuse and dramatically affects the CNS

• Most commonly abused drug and is highly addictive

• Typically is a white odorless powder, but can be different colors

• Meth can be in crystal

• Can be Injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested

• Long term use can lead to addiction, psychotic behavior, and brain damage

• Withdraw systems include: Depression, anxiety, fatigue, aggression, and paranoia

What are DOs and DONTS of Methamphetamine Clandestine Labs

DO:

• Call Fire and Hazmat ASAP

• Keep all personnel out

• Photograph all evidence prior to removal

• Document date, time, and location

• Inventory the evidence

• Leave the clandestine labs to the experts

DONT:

• Enter a contaminated area

• Open any chemical containers, touch any liquids/substances, or smell/taste anything

What are Indicators of a potential lab site

• Vehicle: Chemical stains in the interior, chemical odors, lab equipment, electronic equipment, plastic containers

• Residents: Covered windows, exhaust fans, temporary power lines to out buildings, chemical containers in the trash, large amount of trash, surveillance cameras, pumping/vacuuming noises, waste water draining outside, high volume traffic to/from residence at night, lights on all night

• Motels: Usually cheaper extended stay motels, inordinate amount of time spent in the room, refusing/declining room or maid services, and people going outside to smoke

What is Fentanyl

• A schedule II prescription drug described as a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the FDA as an analgesic and anesthetic

• Approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and approximately 50 times more potent than heroin

• Developed in 1959

Where does most Fentanyl come from

• China and Mexico

What are common street names for Fentanyl

• Apache

• China Girl

• China town

• Dance Fever

• Friend

• Goodfellas

• Great Bear

• He-Man

• Jackpot

• Murder 8

What are sighs of overdose of Fentanyl

• Small, constricted pupils

• Falling asleep or loss of consciousness

• Slow, Weak or no breathing

• Choking or gurgling sign

• limp body

• cold, clammy, discolored skin

What should all be in a PPE kit for handling Fentanyl

• Nitrile gloves

• N-95 dust masks

• Eye protection

• Paper coveralls

• Naxalone Injectors

What is Naxalone/Narcan

• A life saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids including fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioids

• Given as a nasal spray or injected into the muscle

What is Heroin

• Schedule I substance, considered one of the most powerful narcotic opiates

• Processed from Morphine, is a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants

• Comes in a variety of forms, primarily white powder from Mexico and South America, and “Black Tar” and brown powder from Mexico

• Can be Injected, smoked, or inhaled

What are the consequences of Heroin use

• Addiction

• Collapsed veins

• Infection of the heart lining and valves

• Liver disease

• Various types of pneumonia

• Depression of the CNS

• Cloudy mental functioning

• Respiratory failure

What is Oxycontin/Oxycodone

• Semi synthethic narotic analgesic

• is a legal time released pain medication and has historically been a popular drug of abuse

• Common street names: Hillbilly Heroin, Kicker, OC, Roxy, Perc

What is MDMA/Ecstasy

• Acts both as a stimulant and a psychedelic

• Considered a party drug, and is generally distributed in tablet form

• Can be combined with other drugs such as: Meth, Ketamine, Fentanyl, Cocaine, Cathinones, and Caffeine

What is Marijuana

• Mind altering drug, produced by cannabis sativa plant

• Grown in US, Canada, Mexico, South America, Caribbean, Africa, and Asia

What is Medical Marijuana (OCGA 16-12-191)

• Georgia’s New Medical marijuana law allows certain qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 FlOz of “Low THC Oil” containing no more than 5% THC

• Allows Georgia to issue “Georgia Low THC Oil Registry Card”

Who can apply for the Georgia Low THC Oil Registry Card

• An adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law

• Legal guardians of an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law

• Parents or legal guardians of a minor child who has one or more of the diseases specified in the new law

A doctor’s certification is required

What is LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

• Potent hallucinogen with no currently acceptable medical use in the United States

• Generally produced in clandestine labs

• Comes in crystal form that is converted to a liquid

What are the physical effects of LSD

What is Cocaine

• Intense, euphoria producing stimulant with a strong addictive potential

What are the Physiological effects of Cocaine

What is GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid)

What are the effects of GHB

What is Ketamine

Dissociative anesthetic, available in a clear liquid or an off white powder

What are Benzodiaepines

• Depressants that produce sedation and hypnosis, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and reduce seizures

What are the effects of a benzo

What are Steroids

• Synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone, testosterone

What are VGCSA investigations

• Covert investigations are generally assigned to specialized units, however, uniformed patrol officers may often assist covert investigations

• Generally involve the purchase of controlled substances by an undercover agent or informant to substantiate probable cause for an arrest and/or a search warrant