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Project
Characteristics |
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Screening
Data
Collection
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Program
Areas |
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Alcohol and Other Drugs
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Type
of Jurisdiction |
| State |
Targeted
Population |
| Motoring
Public |
Jurisdiction
Size |
| Statewide |
Funding |
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164
Funds FY03: $90,844
164
Funds FY02: $253,458
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Contact |
Captain
Paul A. Krisavage
Department of Public Safety
Division of Scientific Services
10 Clinton Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860)
509-8600
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Digest
Listing
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CONNECTICUT
DUI Screening
(PDF Version)
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The
Department of Public Safety’s concern about the hazards created by
motorists combining alcohol and other drugs is growing. This concern includes not only drugs of abuse such as ecstasy, cocaine,
heroin, PCP, and marijuana, but also prescription medications and
medications sold over the counter.
The Internet has increased access to illegal prescription drugs. Of
particular concern is the use of pain relievers (Tylenol/codeine,
Percodan, and Ultram), sleeping pills (Ambien, Sonata,
barbiturates), or anti-anxiety medication (Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Librium,
Elavil). Even common medications sold over the counter for colds,
allergies or anxiety may affect a driver’s ability to operate a motor
vehicle in ways so subtle that the operator may not realize that he or she
is affected. The effects of these types of drugs could be exacerbated when they are
taken with alcohol.
In 2000, approximately
6,000 blood and urine samples were analyzed for alcohol as a part of
routine DUI (Driving Under the Influence) screening. However, only 50
percent of the samples were also analyzed for the presence of drugs. A
complete drug analysis of all blood and urine specimens submitted for DUI
investigation is necessary to implement a comprehensive prevention
program. In order to obtain a clear, complete profile of those arrested
for DUI, the presence of common prescription medications, over-the-counter
medications, and drugs of abuse/controlled substances must be identified.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The DUI Screening project’s
goal is to implement blood and urine analysis in DUI screening to create a
profile of those driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
The project’s objectives are to:
- Identify drivers arrested for DUI who are also under the influence
of drugs and properly identify the drug(s) used;
- Conduct a demographic analysis of the resulting data and make it
available to traffic safety, enforcement, and state prosecutors; and
- Coordinate project data with the Connecticut Fatality Analysis
Reporting System (FARS) to provide a comprehensive representation of
the incidence of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in
fatal crashes.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The DUI Screening project created
the following multi-step process for analyzing DUI samples for the
presence of drugs:
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Assign
a laboratory case number to each DUI sample the lab’s Evidence
Control Officer receives.
-
Analyze
the sample(s) for the presence of alcohol (Ethanol, Methanol or Acetone) using
Gas Chromatography (GC) via Head Space
(HS) analysis.
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Create
a duplicate test sample to comply with state alcohol testing statutes.
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Submit
duplicate sample to the Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay
Technique
(EMIT)
to screen for controlled substances.
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Verify
results. Connecticut
statutes require confirmation of a positive test, therefore, positive EMIT
samples (positive results) are sent to the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy
(GC/MS) for confirmation. GC/MS, a highly specific screening method, allows each
individual compound in a sample to be identified, including controlled,
non-controlled, legal and illegal substances.
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Prepare and review report after testing is complete. The laboratory retains the original report including all test results, and sends
a copy to the submitting law enforcement agency and the tested subject.
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Enter
data from the report into the laboratory DUI Screening database.
RESULTS
As of January 2004, the DUI Screening project is close to fully
operational. Approximately 1600 test results have been added into the DUI
Screening database. The data added into the database will include demographics such as town or
county of origin, year of birth of subject, date of incident, and
screening summary. An outside consultant is currently writing queries to
make the database even more usable. The data collected through this screening process will be made available to
highway safety officials, state prosecutors, and DUI enforcement
personnel. The data will be reviewed as highway safety plans are developed and will be
used to assist in concentrated project planning efforts. By analyzing all
blood, urine, and breath samples for the presence of alcohol or other
drugs, the DUI Screening project is helping to provide a more
comprehensive picture of the DUI issue and its offenders.
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