Getting Lowdown on Illegal Highs : A field guide to illicit drugs--suggested by ex-Garden Grove policeman--is now available to lay people.

It was designed to assist law-enforcement officers on the street, but it’s now being marketed to schools, libraries and health-care professionals.

The “Drug Identification & Symptom Manual” (National Consumer Publications; $12.95) is a pocket-sized book identifying more than three dozen illicit street drugs. With accompanying color photographs, the manual describes methods of use, duration of effects, possible effects and overdose symptoms.

“There is nothing like it,” said retired Garden Grove police officer Dennis Stanfield, who came up with the idea for the easy-to-use drug reference manual and served as a consultant on the book.

As a police officer for 21 years, Stanfield said he often came across unknown substances.

“If I had a problem with marijuana, heroin or cocaine I knew all about those drugs because I worked with them all the time,” he said. “But if I came across something like Ecstasy or something I had never worked with, I was lost. I had to guess or call somebody else over.”

Now, he said, police officers “have a reference book to go to.”

The manual also identifies drug paraphernalia, with color pictures of snorting vials, freebase smoking pipes and “stash” cans (Pennzoil, Budweiser and other name-brand cans modified to hold drugs). In addition, it offers information on field testing and provides lists of drug-related definitions and national prevention organizations.

Dave Fontneau, a field training officer for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, said his department is still reviewing the book for possible purchase but he has personally used it.

“It’s very beneficial to the new trainees coming out of the academy,” he said. “I wish I had had a book like this when I first started. It’s without a doubt a great help, especially for the drugs we don’t come into contact with all the time.”

Although the book was originally intended solely for law enforcement officers, Stanfield said that “once we started showing it around it just became something that parents, teachers--people from all walks of life--just said, ‘I’d love to have one of these to keep on top of it.’ ”

Bob Campbell, the Irvine-based publisher’s sales representative for schools and other public organizations, said copies of the manual have so far been purchased for a handful of high schools in Orange County.

“This book, as far as I’m concerned, is really for awareness so when people see something, they have a place to go as a reference,” he said.

Stanfield, who is leaving this week for Canada, where he will show the book to law-enforcement agencies, paramedics and emergency room doctors, said annual editions are planned to provide updated material.

For more information, call Campbell at (714) 489-9787.