OC Sheriff’s Office introduces New Tool to aid in fighting Drug Addiction

At a press conference held recently at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw introduced a new tool to aid law enforcement officers in the battle against drugs and those who suffer from addiction. The Sheriff, along with Dale Colegrove, co-owner of DCT Detection Services in West Union, shared with those gathered some new technology, a patch that some non-violent and first time offenders can wear or in some cases parents could use in some circumstances concerning their teenage child, which tests for a variety of narcotics and drugs. The patch is one that is court tested in federal and state courts, including one case from the state Supreme Court in South Carolina, according to Sheriff Crenshaw. The patches will not be available to violent offenders or those with an extensive criminal history but according to Sheriff Crenshaw, it can be a way to lower incarceration costs and perhaps help someone who seeks help to overcome drug addiction. Magistrate’s or Circuit Court judges will have the option as a condition of bond or perhaps as an alternative sentence or in lieu of incarceration consider ordering a defendant to wear the patch. “It costs the Sheriff’s Office about $60 a day to house one inmate,” says Sheriff Crenshaw. “However, if a judge orders someone to wear the patch and they are non-violent or a first time offender, they in turn would have to pay $7.50 a day, which covers the costs of shipping the tests to a certified lab and for the posting of the results on a web portal that only those who are certified at DCT Detection can view. The Sheriff’s Office would not receive any money from the program so there is no monetary benefit to us but in turn, there is no taxpayer money that is being spent to incarcerate an inmate. All costs would be paid for by an offender in a criminal case or by a private citizen who asked that the test be administered. Ultimately the goal would be to help someone beat their addictions through counseling and treatment,” continues Sheriff Crenshaw. “This new tool goes along with our approach to combat the drug problem in Oconee County, which includes prevention, enforcement and treatment. We remind our deputies that if someone wants to put their addiction to narcotics behind, that there are programs out there to help accomplish that and this new tool goes right along with that. I have also met with parents who found out about their child’s drug addiction via arrests, for example, and in part because of those meetings, this was a reason that I wanted to support this technology here in Oconee County. I think it will provide greater accountability to the person who chooses to use illegal drugs, but also greater peace of mind to parents and greater peace of mind in terms of security to law enforcement in regards to defendants using these drugs.” The drug patch is placed on an individual’s arm by first cleaning the arm and then the patch is applied to the arm by an employee of DCT Detection Services. When it is time for the patch to be removed, sterile tweezers are used to remove the patch. When the patch is sent off to a certified lab, there is a chain of custody form and stickers that are filled out and signed and dated. Each patch has a serial number that matches the paperwork. Then the patch is put into a bag and is signed and sent off. The test results are available from the lab after 72 hours on a web portal. If there are any positive tests, those results can be printed out and given to those private citizens that requested the test or those in the criminal justice system. A variety of drugs, including cocaine, opiates (heroin, morphine and codeine), amphetamines, methamphetamines, PCP and marijuana are able to be detected by the patch. One of the many benefits of the patch is its ability to detect the presence of drugs even after the body has had time to process the drugs, which can happen sometimes between the times someone uses the drug and when they are given a urine test. “Once the drug patch is applied to the skin, it will collect sweat instantly,” according to Mr. Colegrove. “With the patch on, you may be able to possibly pass a urine test but by having the patch on, it will retain that sweat and there is no way to beat that. If someone tries to tamper with it, it will be an automatic failure as a test positive. The patch will be worn for seven to ten days.” The polyurethane film on the patch, once it is applied, has a clear skin look and will only allow water vapors to pass in and out, which are extremely small in size, according to Mr. Colegrove. Drug molecules are much larger, according to Mr. Colegrove. With that being said, if someone claims that they are testing positive for drugs due to being in a room where drugs are used and they claim they are not using the drugs themselves, then those claims would be proven false if they test positive using the drug patch due to the drug molecules being retained in the patch. The drug patch itself is water resistant. According to Mr. Colegrove, DCT Detection Services had to be certified to use this product and it has been cleared by the FDA and has been used for over ten years. “I am responsible for the implementation of our home detention ordinance in the county and the Sheriff’s Office has worked closely with DCT Detection in the past in offering ankle monitoring to the judges in the county as a condition of bond and this drug patch can be another tool that judicial authorities can use,” according to Sheriff Crenshaw.