Drink and Drug DrivingFuture Challenges

Andy BodkinCentre for Applied Science and Technology19th May 2015

Overview

• Recent Challenges in Drug Driving

• Vision for Drink/Drug Detection

• Long-term future challenges

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CAST’s role

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CAST

201420132012

Guide releasedPolice station

Guide released MobileISO 17025

First device approved Laboratory evaluation

2015

First mobile device approved

20142012 2013

DfT Expert Panel

New offenceCrime and Courts Act 2013

Expert Panelreports

CAST Advisory Committee

Public Consultation

Government response

New Offence

2015

Publication of Requirements

• Each drug has a cut-off• Tests undertaken above and below

cut-off

• Drugs are tested alone/combination• Common chemicals are tested (cigarette smoke, caffeine)

15 drugs

• Open process – Approval, not procurement

• Device for THC (Dec 2012), mobile device for THC and COC (Dec 2014)

Challenge Compared to Alcohol

• One Device to detect Guinness

• One Device to detect Vodka

• This is how Drug Devices might work!

• The start of the process – remember the tube and bag?

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Oral Fluid

• Human oral fluid? Huge variable; age, oral hygiene, health, use of medications

pH - 6.2-7.4

Viscosity - 1.5 – 4.2 mPa.s

• Not a procurement

- Monitoring performance?

- New capability?

• Volume! (50+ litres)6

Drugs and limits

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Drug Limit (ng/mL)

THC 2

Cocaine 10

Benzoylecgonine 50

Methylamphetamine 10

MDMA 10

6-MAM 5

LSD 1

Ketamine 20

Drug Limit (ng/mL)

Clonazepam 50

Diazepam 550

Flunitrazepam 300

Lorazepam 100

Oxazepam 300

Temazepam 1000

Methadone 500

Morphine 80

• Medical defence will be available – taking medication in line with prescriber’s instructions

Recent Challenges - Conclusion

• Two devices type approved for roadside use for THC and Cocaine

• Legislation commenced 2nd March 2015

• Initial prosecutions underway.

• First conviction – Shropshire, 3 yr ban.

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Short-Term Challenges

• Relationship of oral fluid to blood?• Widening Drugs Panel• Variables - Time?

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Lowest detectable level in

oral fluid

Risk of passive exposure

Existing capabilities

Vision for Drink/Drug Driving Detection

• Through skin technologies for blood levels.

• Alternative Matrix? – Sweat, Oral Fluid – Current DfT Tender

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Maturity of TechnologyWhat Limits?

Time for detection?

Current Technology

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• SBRI Challenge launched in May 2014:

Step-change in the detection and measurement of alcohol and drugs simultaneously in the human

body (specifically in blood)

• Screening test must be non invasive and provide a rapid response

• Proof of concept stage closed April 2015

Other Potential Technology

• Locking Mechanisms – e.g Alcolock

• GPS Monitoring – ‘Alcohol Tags’

• Roadside Lasers – Polish research

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Future Challenges

• Automated and Autonomous Vehicles - Near

• Synthetic Biology – Mid to Long term

• Electronic Drugs – Potential Long term

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Automated and Autonomous Vehicles

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• Automated – Driver must be alert and can intervene.

• Autonomous – Driver can undertake other tasks.

Synthetic Biology

• Using genetic modifications to produce or detect drugs.• Poppy genes have been added to yeast to produce heroine.• Similar to NPS – ability for rapid addition of new illegal drugs.• Could also improve drug detection capability.

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Electronic Drugs

• Direct electronic stimulation of the brain.

• For example – Binaural Beats.

• Requires user to wear headphones.

• Future devices may be unobtrusive.

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ImpairmentDefinition

Drug Potency – Impairment Definition

• Electronic Drugs and other new drugs could be extremely potent in very small quantities.

• If undetectable – how define impairment?

• Need a baseline for individuals – insurance companies could insist.

• ‘Big Data’ could also provide baseline

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Ethics

• Data gathering, people monitoring, ‘big data’ in general - many ethical considerations.

• Worries of ‘Big Brother’

• ‘Right to be forgotten’.

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Conclusion

• Many Challenges

• May or may not arise

• Also opportunities – monitoring and remote sensing.

• Aware of Ethical Concerns.

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Questions

Any Questions?

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