Drug Tests Get Technical
Larimer County Community Corrections (LCCC) in Colorado recently started using a new system for detecting drug and alcohol abuse based on measuring the pupil movements of people’s eyes. Called PassPoint, the technology slashes the need for taking subjects’ urine samples by 80 percent at LCCC, says LCCC Director Joe Ferrando. Subjects showing a positive reading still need to give a urine sample for confirmation.
The system, about the size of an ATM machine and equipped with cameras, computers, and other tools, releases flashing lights in three phases, during which four types of pupil contractions are measured, says Michael Schmitz, General Manager with Drug Impairment Detection Services; the firm leases the PassPoint to Ferrando’s program for $3,500 monthly.
The measurements are compared to a baseline measurement. PassPoint can be used for common drugs as well as inhalants and psychedelic mushrooms, which are usually undetectable through urine analysis, says Schmitz.
The five common drugs screened by PassPoint are methamphetamine, cocaine, barbiturates, opiates, and marijuana.
Using the new technology will cost LCCC $42,000 this year, compared to $102,000 estimated for the urinalysis program.
From July 2000 to July 2002, only 12 PassPoint screenings out of 1,354 nationwide failed to confirm drug or alcohol abuse when used in conjunction with urinalysis, according to data gathered from all systems.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Fort Collins Coloradoan (07/20/04) P. 1A; Lingle, Courtney .
