Drug Awareness Recognition - Meth

[Ultimate86]

I was trained to identify individuals under the influence of a stimulant (meth/cocaine) by certain objective symptoms. Namely increased pulse rate, internal estimation of real time, dilated pupils, and pupil reaction to light.

What I'm finding in the field, however, varies a bit from what is taught. I seem to encounter quite a few tweakers that have constricted pupils in the range of 3.0mm to 4.0mm. I have done internet research on the topic, but everything I read states that meth = dilated pupils.

What have you guys found??

[bigcop97]

I am not a D.R.E but most people I run into are not on one drug in particular.

For instance they have Meth, Marijuana, Alcohol and Prescription meds in their system. If you have a solid street tweeker chances are something else is on board as well.

[Ultimate86]

Thank you for the input.

For what it's worth, I am not a D.R.E. either however we go through Drug Awareness Recognition (D.A.R.) training.

[HotSoup]

You can also tell people on Meth from their body odor...only folks doing Meth will have this odor.

[Ultimate86]

You can also tell people on Meth from their body odor...only folks doing Meth will have this odor.

I have been told this, but only sometimes do I catch a whiff of that odor. Also, I view a subject's odor more as one of the secondary observations that support my suspicion of drug influence.

Of my 40+ drug influence arrests (11550 H&S in CA), I have had one pee clean. My plan is not to have that become TWO.

[HotSoup]

I have been told this, but only sometimes do I catch a whiff of that odor. Also, I view a subject's odor more as one of the secondary observations that support my suspicion of drug influence.

Of my 40+ drug influence arrests (11550 H&S in CA), I have had one pee clean. My plan is not to have that become TWO.

Out here in the summer when they start sweating you can really smell the odor...during the winter it's a little harder unless you can get them into the back of the car or a room and if they've taken it recently they'll start to sweat and the odor will be there...you right about it being a secondary observation...I don't go around smelling people but if they actions lead me to suspect that they're taking meth I'll pay more attention to their body odor

[Desert DPS]

You can also tell people on Meth from their body odor...only folks doing Meth will have this odor.

An absolute fact. It's a distinctive, nasty odor. Meth heads stink.

[silasblack]

I was trained to identify individuals under the influence of a stimulant (meth/cocaine) by certain objective symptoms. Namely increased pulse rate, internal estimation of real time, dilated pupils, and pupil reaction to light.

What I'm finding in the field, however, varies a bit from what is taught. I seem to encounter quite a few tweakers that have constricted pupils in the range of 3.0mm to 4.0mm. I have done internet research on the topic, but everything I read states that meth = dilated pupils.

What have you guys found??

regular users who have just used will have constricted pupils

[ateamer]

Agree. Chronic users' pupils will often be constricted.

Remember to look for the tweaker trifecta as well: Rusty nuts and bolts in jars, aluminum foil and porn. You could substitute disassembled electronics for one of them. If you find all three in one place, you'll find meth.

[23109]

I'm a DRE and I've been through the DAR program.

The muscles in the eye will "wear out" after long term stimulant use, and the pupil will be around 3.0-4.0mm in size in all lighting conditions, with little to no reaction.

It tends to take a few years of consistant use to reach this point though.

[Jere]

Agree. Chronic users' pupils will often be constricted.

Remember to look for the tweaker trifecta as well: Rusty nuts and bolts in jars, aluminum foil and porn. You could substitute disassembled electronics for one of them. If you find all three in one place, you'll find meth.

Alright, I give. What are these for? Most items are quite telling (like burnt fingers) but this one's got me.

[djblank87]

An absolute fact. It's a distinctive, nasty odor. Meth heads stink.

When we get Meth heads in our ER in the summer, there is no question as to what that person has been up to, it's a very distinct odor.

[willbird]

Alright, I give. What are these for? Most items are quite telling (like burnt fingers) but this one's got me.

I think I better clean out my garage :-(....which one of the 3 should I get rid of ?? I have never even SEEN meth let alone use it.

Bill

[ateamer]

Alright, I give. What are these for? Most items are quite telling (like burnt fingers) but this one's got me.

Tweakers just seem to keep crap like that around. Look for Harley parts in the sink, too.

[djblank87]

Tweakers just seem to keep crap like that around. Look for Harley parts in the sink, too.

Engine blocks in the living room also.