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Drug Recognition Process

A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) conducts a detailed, diagnostic examination of persons arrested or suspected of drug-impaired driving or similar offenses. Based on the results of the drug evaluation, the DRE forms an expert opinion on the following:

• Is the person impaired? If so, is the person able to operate a vehicle safely? If the DRE concludes that the person is impaired...
• Is the impairment due to an injury, illness or other medical complication, or is it drug-related? If the impairment is due to drugs...
• Which category or combination of categories of drugs is the most likely source of the impairment?

DRE's conduct their evaluations in a controlled environment, typically at police stations or locations where impaired drivers are transported after arrest. The drug evaluation is not normally done at roadside and is typically a post-arrest procedure. In some cases, the person evaluated will be a driver the DRE personally arrested. In many cases, however, the DRE will be called upon to conduct the evaluation after the driver was arrested by another officer. The DRE is requested to assist in the investigation because of his/her special expertise and skills in identifying drug impairment.

DREs are also commonly used to teach other law enforcement officers in the field of drug recognition due to the great amount of knowledge about drugs (legal and illegal) and the effect of drug on the human body.

DRE's also are used in the community and schools to instruct parents and teachers on how to recognize some of the signs and symptoms of drug influence.