WHEREAS, an alarming rate of impaired drivers are suspected of using impairing drugs alone, or in combination with alcohol (2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health); and

WHEREAS, drugged driving and drug-related crashes, deaths, and injuries continue to occur at an alarming rate; and

WHEREAS, timely, consistent, and accurate drug toxicology testing and reporting are critical components in the overall efforts to deter drugged driving; and

WHEREAS, an increasing number of police officers are being trained to detect drug-impaired drivers through the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program; and

WHEREAS, an increasing number of toxicology laboratories are being requested to conduct toxicological analysis of blood and/or urine of suspected drug-impaired drivers; and

WHEREAS, there are a lack of consistent, comprehensive, and timely toxicology testing of impairment-causing drugs and compounds by laboratories nationwide; and

RESOLVED, that the IACP joins with the National Safety Council's Alcohol, Drugs, and Impairment Division in supporting the recommendations set forth in the Recommendations for Toxicological Investigation of Drug-Impaired Driving and Motor Vehicle Fatalities (Logan, Lowrie, Turri et al, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 2013) that establishes a set of minimum recommendations for the toxicological investigation of suspected alcohol and drug-impaired driving cases and motor vehicle fatalities involving drugs and alcohol.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all state highway safety offices, law enforcement officials, and DEC Program state coordinators should work in partnership with their toxicology laboratories using the above mentioned publication recommendations to identify best practices for identifying and testing, at a minimum, Tier 1, and preferably Tier 1 and 2 drugs listed in the publication using the recommended cut-off detection levels.

Submitted by: DRE Technical Advisory Panel (TAP)

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