THE EYES HAVE IT

Cate Dickman believes the eyes really are the window to the soul, or
at least the central nervous system.

One of three local RCMP trained as a drug recognition expert (DRE),
Const. Dickman says the eyes tell all, especially when someone is high
on drugs.

She uses a battery of simple physical tests, most of which involve a
tiny penlight radiating inches from the end of your nose, to reveal
just what drug has been ingested.

Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, all different drugs that elicit
very different reactions. Aside from narcotics, stimulants and
hallucinogens, Dickman can also test for less-popular drugs such as
lithium, aerosol sprays, gas and PCP.

The DRE program was developed in the 1970s by the Los Angeles police
department. Police would too often see drivers clearly impaired but
still able to pass breathalyser tests and escape prosecution. LAPD
then standardized a method to examine someone police believed to be
drug impaired, as well as determine what that drug may be.

In 1995, 30 police officers from the Lower Mainland were trained in
the DRE program, the first training of its kind in Canada. The demand
for DRE training has continued to grow.

Dickman was working in Fruitvale, a tiny community in the Kootenays,
when it was recommended she take the DRE course.

Dickman completed two weeks of classroom training in Vancouver and
another week in Phoenix, Ariz., where she spent hours probing a dozen
inmates at a local corrections facility for drugs.

"There were lots to choose from," she said, laughing.

The drill usually starts at curbside, when police stop a driver
suspected of drinking. Dickman explained that some people will clearly
show signs of impairment, staggering and slurred speech, among others,
but it's not clear whether alcohol is involved until police rule that
out with a roadside screening device.

"Obviously, if you smell the alcohol on their breath or in the car,
you know it's likely alcohol. If not, I go to the next step and look
at drugs," she said.

She then asks the person to perform the tried-and-true tests of
sobriety: walk a short distance in a straight line, stand on one leg
and bring the finger to the nose.

Dickman also asks the person to close his or her eyes and tilt the
head back for 30 seconds.

"Certain drugs will stimulate the internal clock, meaning someone will
believe that 30 seconds is up when really it's only been five seconds.
Other drugs do the reverse," she said.

All the while, Dickman is eyeing how well the person responds to
simple commands as well as the ability to do more than one task at one
time.

"Someone who is impaired has a very, very difficult time doing a
variety of tasks. They can usually only concentrate on one thing at a
time," she added.

Once she's determined at roadside that drugs are likely involved,
Dickman and the suspected impaired driver travel to the downtown RCMP
detachment for a host of further tests.

She asks numerous questions, such as whether the person has slept or
eaten, is the suspect sick or injured, or does he or she have any
physical defects or use prescription drugs.

Dickman checks the person?s eyes to ensure he or she can track light
and then examines the size of the pupils, and whether eyelids droop.

The suspect is then taken into a dark room, where she looks for
reaction to light. A flash of the penlight can determine whether
someone is high on narcotics or stimulants, for instance.

"A slow reaction usually means the use of stimulants, depressants or
inhalants. Pupils already small would typically mean narcotics," she
said.

A pulsating pupil usually means marijuana use, while a pupil that
grows and shrinks may indicate a stimulant such as cocaine or crack.

The pen light then probes the suspect's nose, as Dickman looks for any
sign of irritation or redness, particularly for someone using cocaine.

Cocaine or crack users may also grind their teeth excessively, so
Dickman may check for wear and tear at the back of the mouth. People
smoking marijuana could have a light, green film on their tongue.

The invasive series of tests takes more than an hour. Dickman then
offers the suspect a chance to fess up, so to speak.

"I lay it all out to them. I ask how much of this drug have you had
and when did you do it. Usually, they'll just admit it," she explained.

Counter Attack statistics since June 2000 show 39 people in Kamloops
were handed 24-hour roadside suspensions for suspected drug abuse. The
popular drugs of choice in this area include marijuana, crack,
cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines.

Despite the dizzying array of drugs available, Dickman said she sees
many people mix marijuana and alcohol.

"It's one of the worst combinations. I don't know what it is
psychologically, but it does something nasty. It makes people very
mean."