The drug influence evaluation (DIE) is a systematic, standardized 12 step method. It yields information which is the basis for a DRE-trained officer's opinion that a suspect is/is not impaired, if impaired, that the impairment is/is not drug related, and if drugs, that a specific drug category (or categories) is present. DIE records and toxicological analyses of urine and blood specimens from 500 suspected drug-impaired drivers were analyzed with database software, which had been developed specifically for analysis of DRE data. The records were the 53 month work product of the Phoenix Police Dept. DRE unit. DRE opinions about suspect's drug impairment and identifications of drug categories were highly accurate. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory reported finding 813 drugs in 416 specimens; 68 specimens contained no drug and 16 arrestees refused to provide a specimen. Officers identified at least one drug in 91 percent of the positive specimens. Specimen analysis confirmed or partially confirmed 83.5 percent of DRE drug identifications. It is concluded that the DRE program utilizes a valid method for detecting and classifying drug impairment. (A)
Abstract