Drug-testing device receives government approval in UK, could prevent driving deaths

Northern Ireland’s government has just approved a new drug-testing technology that the country’s Roads Safety Minister hopes will prevent residents from driving under the influence of drugs. The portable device, called Drugwipe, can detect cocaine or marijuana in the body. It utilizes small amounts of saliva, and produces results in eight minutes or fewer. Drugwipe analyzes the saliva and indicates the presence of drugs via lines on the device that resemble those on a pregnancy test. U.K. law enforcement intends to use Drugwipe on traffic stops when officers suspect drivers of operating their vehicles under the influence. If the test proves positive for drug usage, the driver will be taken to the police station for a blood sample. “Those who get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs not only put their own lives at risk, but also those of innocent pedestrians, motorists and their passengers,” said Policing Minister Mike Penning. A device by the same name is used in the United States in some police departments, prisons, and drug-testing facilities. That device is said to determine the presence of not only cannabis and cocaine, but also methamphetamines, amphetamines, opiates and other drugs by testing saliva, sweat, or even vehicle surfaces. Drugwipe is said to be more than 95 percent accurate in detecting the presence of illegal drugs. Image via Alcolock]]>