ONDCP Excel Seventeenth Row
Action Item Number:
Action Item Name:
Provide Increased Training to Law Enforcement on Identifying Drugged Drivers
Action Item Description:
As with drunk driving, visible enhanced enforcement has a powerful preventive effect. The Drug Evaluation and Classification Program is a standardized, systematic method
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for law enforcement officers to determine whether observed driver impairment is due to drug use and, if so, to identify the category or categories of drugs involved. More than 6,000 law enforcement officers have received extensive training and have been certified as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). In the training, participants learn basic drug terminology and pharmacology and how to identify the seven categories of drugs and the indicators of impairment. Training is complete when the participant demonstrates proficiency as a DRE and fully meets the national standards established by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Recently, this training program has added more options to enable officers to gain a basic level of training in a short period. Expanding expertise among law enforcement officers in identifying impairment from drug use is a vital public safety priority, and DOT is directed to consult with law enforcement partners on how to supplement current efforts, as well as to seek advice from NIDA on how research findings can be taken into account in the design of the program as they emerge.
Lead Agency:
DOT
Component(s):
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