The use of toxic drugs has continually increased in today’s societies causing adverse effects on people. Comber et al. (2019) explain that a drug investigation unit at a local police department aims to arrest drug dealers and seize or take the properties acquired through illegal and criminal activities. Investigations are carried out based on the information gotten from the officers’ sources located in different areas (Baechler et al., 2020). Evidence from the crime scene is gathered through taking photographs, measurements, identifying and collecting forensic evidence, and protecting it. The proof is sent to a laboratory for complete analysis and used in a court of law.
There are potential ethical, health, and security problems experienced by drug enforcement agencies during investigations. Examples of moral concerns include confidentiality issues, participants’ privacy, data sharing, and the appropriate way of responding to distress and harm (Baechler et al., 2020). The officers can experience adverse health effects such as high blood pressure, slow breathing, low body temperature, and slow heart rate (Chaves et al., 2017). For example, Coomber et al. (2019) explain that two officers were rushed to hospital after being exposed to opioids. Drug dealers can use weapons such as guns on the officers to resist arrest, which is a major security problem (Chaves et al., 2017). This is because narcotics and dangerous drugs affect an individual’s nervous system and might trigger their behavior, way of thinking, and reasoning.
In summary, drug investigation is a risky procedure because it can cause potential ethical, security, and health issues to the officers. Drug evidence might be in the form of inorganic or non-living items such as cocaine powder and is presented to a drug chemist for analysis. Therefore, investigators should embrace the use of face masks and gloves to minimize the effects of abused drugs and substances.
References
Baechler, S., Morelato, M., Gittelson, S., Walsh, S., Margot, P., Roux, C., & Ribaux, O. (2020). Breaking the barriers between intelligence, investigation, and evaluation: A continuous approach to define the contribution and scope of forensic science. Forensic science international, 309, 110213.
Chaves, C., Remiao, F., Cisternino, S., & Decleves, X. (2017). Opioids and the blood-brain barrier: A dynamic interaction with consequences on drug disposition in the brain. Current Neuropharmacology, 15(8), 1156-1173.
Coomber, R., Moyle, L., & Mahoney, M. K. (2019). Symbolic policing: situating targeted police operations/ ‘crackdowns’ on street-level drug markets. Policing and Society, 29(1), 1-17.