Handling Drugs in Law Enforcement
Objectives
- To identify commonly used drugs in society.
- To analyze the effects of substances.
- To understand the procedures for handling drugs in law enforcement.
Types of Drugs
- Drugs
- Are substances which cause a physiological effect when introduced to the body by:
- ingesting
- inhaling
- snorting
- absorbing through the skin
- Includes:
Legal Drugs
- Are drugs which are not prohibited by laws
- Include:
- prescription drugs
- pharmaceutical drugs which require a medical document prescribing the drugs to a person
- over the counter drugs
- medicines sold directly to a consumer without a prescription
Illegal Drugs
- Are drugs which are prohibited by the government for possession, manufacture and use
- May differ depending on state laws
- Are dangerous because they are not regulated
Drug Addiction
- Is compulsive or uncontrollable drug seeking and use which is considered a chronic disease
- Occurs when repeated drug use causes brain changes which challenge a person’s self-control
- Leads to drug abuse such as:
- taking large amounts of illegal drugs
- prescription drugs which are taken for reasons or amounts not intended by a doctor
- prescription drugs which are taken by someone who is not prescribed the drug
Commonly Abused Drugs
- Include substances such as:
- stimulants
- depressants
- narcotics
- hallucinogens
- inhalants
Stimulants
- Are drugs which increase alertness, attention and energy
- Include prescription drugs which are used to treat:
- Include illegal drugs such as:
- cocaine
- methamphetamine
- ecstasy
Cocaine
- Is a hydrochloride salt derived from the coca plant
- Is highly addictive even at first use
- Can be processed into a rock-like crystal known as “crack”
- Common Effects of Cocaine
- Include:
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- seizures
- cardiac arrest
- death
- scabs on the mucus membrane from snorting
- damage to the nasal septum
- collapsed nose
Ecstasy
- Is a synthetic, mind-altering drug which acts as both a stimulant and a hallucinogen
- Contains other drugs including:
- methamphetamines
- ketamine
- cocaine
- DXM
- ephedrine (a diet drug)
- Is also known as:
- Common Effects of Ecstasy
- Include:
- tremors
- nausea
- teeth clenching
- anxiety
- depression
- possible brain damage
- muscle cramps
- Common Side Effects of Ecstasy
- Include:
- faintness
- chills
- sweating
- blurred vision
- interference with the body’s ability to regulate its temperature which can cause hypothermia leading to liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure
Methamphetamine
- Is an addictive stimulant which is long-lasting and toxic to the brain
- Has a high potential for abuse which can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence
- Is also known as:
- Common Effects of Methamphetamine
- Include:
- rapid heart rate
- irregular heartbeat
- increased blood pressure
- elevated body temperature
- death from stroke, heart attack or organ failure
- weight loss
- loss of teeth
- Include:
- scabs and open sores on skin and face
- anxiety
- violence
- delusions
- paranoia
Depressants
- Are drugs which slow down heart, brain activity and muscles
- Include prescription drugs which are used to treat:
- Include illegal drugs such as:
- Includes legal drugs such as:
Rohypnol
- Is a drug used as a sedative and muscle-relaxant
- Is widely known as the “date-rape drug”
- Is also known as:
- Mexican valium
- roofies
- wolfies
- forget-me pill
- Common Effects of Rohypnol
- Include:
- exhaustion
- sedation
- confusion
- impaired coordination
- impaired judgment
- memory loss
Marijuana
- Is a green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa
- Is legal in some states for recreational and medical purposes
- Is also known as:
- Common Effects of Marijuana
- Include:
- structural and functional deficits of the brain when used at a young age
- weakened verbal and communication skills
- lowered learning capabilities
- shortened attention span
- hazardous to developing lungs due to 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke
Alcohol
- Is found in beverages containing ethanol
- an intoxicating, colorless liquid
- In low doses can reduce anxiety
- Includes beer, wine and liquor
- Is commonly used in social settings to celebrate or relax
- Is legal for consumption for people over the age of 21
- Common Effects of Alcohol
- Occurs when too much alcohol is consumed at once or over a long period of time
- Includes:
- intoxication
- stupor
- unconsciousness
- vomiting
- memory lapses
- liver damage
- heart-related diseases
- alcohol poisoning
Narcotics
- Are drugs which are used to reduce pain
- Slow down heart and brain activity like depressants
- Includes prescription drugs which are used to treat severe pain
- Include illegal drugs such as heroin
- Include legal drugs such as hydrocodone
Heroin
- Is an addictive opiate which is produced from morphine
- Is also known as:
- smack
- horse
- dope
- H
- white horse
- Mexican black tar
- Common Effects of Heroin
- Include:
- infection
- overdose
- death
- blood clots
- liver disease
- lung disease
- hepatitis
- HIV/AIDS (sharing needles)
Hydrocodone
- Is a prescription pain relief medication
- Is only prescribed to patients with severe pain
- Is also known as:
- Common Effects of Hydrocodone
- Include:
- nausea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- confusion
- generalized muscle weakness
- slowed breathing
- slowed heartbeat
- loss of consciousness
Hallucinogens
- Are drugs which cause people to see, hear, feel or smell things which are not there
- Can cause permanent brain damage and mental problems
- Includes illegal drugs such as:
LSD
- Is one of the strongest hallucinogenic drugs
- Is produced in crystal form in illegal laboratories
- Is also known as:
- acid
- yellow sunshine
- blue heaven
- Common Effects of LSD
- Include:
- disruption of normal brain functioning
- visual judgment
- sensations
- moods
- feelings
- long lasting psychoses
- thoughts and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality
- severe depression
Mushrooms
- Are a hallucinogenic with a natural poison
- active chemical, psilocybin, is found in approximately 190 species of edible mushrooms
- Have a high potential for abuse
- Are also known as:
- magic mushrooms
- shrooms
- caps
- boomers
- Common Effects of Mushrooms
- Include:
- hallucinations
- rapid and intense emotional mood swings
- panic attacks
- psychosis
- flashbacks
- psychiatric illness
- memory loss
Inhalants
- Are solvents, aerosols and gases found in household products such as:
- spray paints
- markers
- glues
- cleaning fluids
- Are harmful substances inhaled deeply into the body
- Cause mood swings
- Can make hands and feet numb
- Can cause permanent brain damage and mental problems
Handling Drugs
- Begins when law enforcement officers:
- arrive at a crime scene containing drugs
- arrest a person with possession of drugs
- Is the process of finding, collecting and preserving drugs or drug paraphernalia
- Is regulated by a set of laws in the health and safety code
Drug Paraphernalia
- Is any item that can be used in connection with illegal drugs
- Can be divided into two categories:
- paraphernalia used to distribute drugs
- paraphernalia used to ingest drugs
- Can include:
- pipes
- syringes/needles
- scales
- spoons
Handling Drugs requires
- avoiding the contamination and damage of drug evidence found at a crime scene
- Should be done wearing gloves
- Includes:
- photographing
- collecting
- documenting
- analyzing
- storing
- destroying
Photographing
- Should occur at the crime scene before drug evidence is removed
- Includes:
- photography:
- useful for comparing evidence found at the crime scene to possible suspect evidence
- often include rulers to show actual size
- video cameras
- shows the structure of the crime scene
Collection
- Is the process of collecting drug evidence from a crime scene using tools such as:
- tweezers
- tape
- scalpels
- brushes
- smear slides
- filtered vacuum devices
Documentation
- Includes the documentation of movement and location of drug evidence from the time it is obtained until it is presented in court
- Includes the documentation of:
- condition of the drugs when collected
- amount of drugs
- identification of every person who handles the drugs
- duration of time the drugs have been in custody
- storage and packaging of drugs
- transfer of drugs
Analyzing
- Includes:
- tests which indicate whether the sample is a drug
- tests which indicate what type of drug the sample is
- Includes tools such as:
- microscopes
- close up photography
- machines which measure and identify chemical compounds in a sample
Storing
- Includes appropriately packaging and storing drugs to protect the integrity and avoid contamination
- Includes use of:
- bags
- boxes
- envelopes
- containers
- storage cabinets
Destroying
- Occurs when drug evidence is no longer needed
- Includes disposing of illegal drugs in an incinerator approved by the Drug Enforcement Administration
- Includes disposing of dangerous drugs in controlled receptacles
Handling Drugs Incorrectly
- could include:
- contamination and damage of drug evidence found at a crime scene
- contact with drugs without personal protection gear
- packaging and labeling evidence incorrectly
- Can result in physical harm if a person comes into contact with a dangerous substance
- Can result in drug evidence becoming inadmissible in court if not handled correctly
Handling Drugs Legally
- Includes law enforcement legally punishing criminals who violate drug regulations under the health and safety code
- Legal Punishments
- Can range from a minor misdemeanor to severe felony charges
- Depends on factors such as:
- quantity of drug
- how the drug was concealed or stored
- possession of drug with paraphernalia
- drugs found with large amount of money
- past convictions/prior offenses
- Could include:
- jail time
- probation
- fines
- suspension of driver's license