Drugs and alcohol affect all emergency personnel, especially law enforcement officers. Dealing with these situations can be tricky. If a subject is impaired by drugs or alcohol, it can be almost impossible to communicate with them if you cannot speak their language. You also need to be able to find you information about subjects who may have drugs or alcohol in their possession, or know where they may be located. This section will help you in these incidents. Be sure to refer to traffic stops and D.U.I. sections to assist in certain situations.

Alcoholic Beverages

Here is a list of different types of alcoholic beverages that you may have to deal with.

alcohol (ahl-koh-HOHL) - alcohol
cerveza (sehr-VEH-sah) - beer
brandy (BRAHN-dee) - brandy
champaña (chahm-PAH-nyah) - champagne
cóctel (KOHK-tehl) - cocktail
trago (TRAH-goh) - drink
ginebra (hee-NEH-brah) - gin
vaso (VAH-soh) - glass/cup
licor (lee-KOHR) - liquor
jarra (HAH-rrah) - pitcher
ron (ROHN) - rum
vasito (vah-SEE-toh) - shot
paquete de seis (pah-KEH-teh DEH SEH-ees) - pack of six
tequila (teh-KEE-lah) - tequila
vodka (VOHD-kah) - vodka
whisky (WEES-kee) - whiskey
vino (VEE-noh) - wine

Drugs

There are several drugs that you may run into. Here is a list of many different drugs, including some common slang terms.

estimulantes (eh-steem-yoo-LAHN-tehs) - stimulants
sedantes (seh-DAHN-tehs) - depressants/sedatives
alucinógenos (ah-loo-see-NOH-heh-nohs) - hallucinogens
narcóticos (nahr-KOH-tee-kohs) - narcotics
canabis (kah-NAH-bees) - cannabis
inhaladores (een-hah-lah-DOHR-ehs) - inhalants
anfetamina (ahn-feh-teh-MEE-nah) - amphetamine
bencedrina (behn-seh-DREE-nah) - benzedrine
cocaína (koh-kah-EE-nah) - cocaine
pep (PEHP) - speed
coca (KOH-kah) - coke
metanfetamina (meh-tahn-feh-tah-MEE-nah) - methedrine
nicotina (nee-koh-TEE-nah) - nicotine
barbitúrico (bahr-bee-TOO-ree-koh) - barbituate
tranquilizante (trahn-kee-lee-SAHN-teh) - tranquilizer
ácido (AH-see-doh) - acid
viaje (vee-AH-heh) - trip
mescalina (mehs-kah-LEE-nah) - mescaline
peyote (peh-YOH-teh) - peyote
crack (KRAHK) - crack
crank (KRAHNK) - crank
heroína (heh-roh-EE-nah) - heroine
morfina (mohr-FEE-nah) - morphine
opio (OH-pee-oh) - opium
hashish (hah-SHEESH) - hashish
marijuana (mah-ree-WAH-nah) - marijuana
hierba (ee-EHR-bah) - grass
pitillo (pee-TEE-yoh) - joint
cinco (SEEN-koh) - nickel bag
diez (dee-EHS) - dime bag
éter (EH-tehr) - ether
freón (freh-OHN) - freon
cristal (kree-STAHL) - crystal
corazones (koh-rah-SOH-nehs) - hearts
iris (EE-rees) - rainbows
blancas (BLAHN-kahs) - whites
amarillas (ah-mah-REE-yahs) - yellow jackets

Parapharnalia

amoníaco (ah-moh-NEE-ah-koh) - ammonia
bicarbonato (bee-kahr-boh-NAH-toh) - baking soda
cápsula (KAHP-soo-lah) - capsule
hoja (OH-hah) - leaf
líquido (LEE-kee-doh) - liquid
fósforo (FOHS-foh-roh) - match
aguja (ah-GOO-hah) - needle
píldora (PEEL-doh-rah) - pill
pipa (PEE-pah) - pipe
planta (PLAHN-tah) - plant
polvo (POHL-voh) - powder
navaja (nah-VAH-hah) - razor
piedra (pee-EH-drah) - rock
cuchara (koo-CHAH-rah) - spoon
jeringa (heh-REEN-gah) - syringe

Measurements

bolsa (BOHL-sah) - bag
globo (GLOH-boh) - balloon
ladrillo (lah-DREE-yoh) - brick
lata (LAH-tah) - can
gramo (GRAH-moh) - gram
mitad (mee-TAHD) - half
kilo (KEE-loh) - kilogram
onza (OHN-sah) - ounce
libra (LEE-brah) - pound
cuarto (KWAHR-toh) - quarter
cucharada (koo-cha-RAH-dah) - tablespoon
cucharadita (koo-cha-rah-DEE-tah) - teaspoon

Ask Some Questions

You will have to gather some basic information to figure out what has taken or is taking place. Here is a list of questions that will help you accomplish this.

¿Está lastimado o enfermo? (eh-STAH lah-stee-MAH-doh OH ehn-FEHR-moh) - Are you injured or ill?

¿Tomó medicina? (toh-MOH meh-dee-SEE-nah) - Did you take medication?

¿Ha estado tomando licor? (AH eh-STAH-doh toh-MAHN-doh lee-KOHR) - Have you been drinking?

¿Está borracho? (eh-STAH boh-RRAH-choh) - Are you drunk?

¿Tomó drogas? (toh-MOH DROH-gahs) - Did you take drugs?

¿Qué tomó? (KEH toh-MOH) - What did you drink/take?

Busted

Here is a list of questions you may need to ask a suspect when you believe he is in possession of illegal drugs.

¿Qué tiene en la bolsa? (KEH tee-EH-neh EHN LAH BOHL-sah) - What do you have in the bag?

¿Qué tiene en la botella? (KEH tee-EH-neh EHN LAH boh-TEH-yah) - What do you have in the bottle?

¿Qué tiene en la copa? (KEH tee-EH-neh EHN LAH KOH-pah) - What do you have in the cup?

¿Qué está comprando? (KEH eh-STAH kohm-PRAHN-doh) - What are you buying?

¿Qué está masticando? (KEH eh-STAH mahs-tee-KAHN-doh) - What are you chewing?

¿Qué está haciendo? (KEH eh-STAH ah-see-EHN-doh) - What are you doing?

¿Qué está vendiendo? (KEH eh-STAH vehn-dee-EHN-doh) - What are you selling?

¿Qué está inyectando? (KEH eh-STAH een-yehk-TAHN-doh) - What are you shooting?

¿Qué está fumando? (KEH eh-STAH foo-MAHN-doh) - What are you smoking?

¿Qué está tragando? (KEH eh-STAH trah-GAHN-doh) - What are you swallowing?

¿Qué está tomando? (KEH eh-STAH toh-MAHN-doh) - What are you taking?

¿Qué está usando? (KEH eh-STAH oo-SAHN-doh) - What are you using?

¿Dónde consiguió eso? (DOHN-deh kohn-see-gee-OH EH-soh) - Where did you get that?

¿Tiene una receta? (tee-EH-neh OO-nah reh-SEH-tah) - Do you have a prescription?

¿Dónde lo compró? (DOHN-deh LOH kohm-PROH) - Where did you buy it?

¿Cuándo lo compró? (KWAHN-doh LOH kohm-PROH) - When did you buy it?

¿Cuánto le costó? (KWAHN-toh LEH kohs-TOH) - How much did it cost you?

¿Cuál es el nombre de su conexión? (KWAHL EHS EHL NOHM-breh DEH SOO koh-neck-see-OHN) - What is the name of your connection?

The Final Decision

Tell the subject what you're final decision is going to be.

Ha tomado demasiado alcohol (AH toh-MAH-doh deh-mah-see-AH-doh ahl-koh-HOHL) - You have had too much to drink

No puede tomar alcohol en público (NOH PWEH-deh toh-MAHR ahl-koh-HOHL EHN POO-blee-koh) - You cannot drink alcohol in public

No puede tener un envase abierto (NO PWEH-deh teh-NEHR OON ehn-VAH-seh ah-bee-EHR-toh) - You cannot have an open container

Voy a usar un perro policía (VOH-ee AH oo-SAHR OON PEH-rroh poh-lee-SEE-ah) - I am going to use a police dog

Voy a registrarlo (VOH-ee AH reh-hee-STRAHR-loh) - I am going to frisk you

Voy a esposarlo (VOH-ee AH eh-spoh-SAHR-loh) - I am going to handcuff you

Voy a arrestarlo (VOH-ee AH ah-rreh-STAHR-loh) - I am going to arrest you

Voy a darle un aviso (VOH-ee AH DAHR-leh OON ah-VEE-soh) - I am giving you a warning

Voy a darle una citación (VOH-ee AH DAHR-leh OO-nah see-tah-see-OHN) - I am giving you a citation

Lo estoy llevando a la cárcel (LOH eh-STOH-ee yeh-VAHN-doh AH LAH KAHR-sehl) - I am taking you to jail

Lo estoy llevando a su casa (LOH eh-STOH-ee yeh-VAHN-doh AH SOO KAH-sah) - I am taking you to your house