Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Enhanced Detection and Collaboration

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), alone or combined with alcohol, represents a growing threat to traffic safety. The Orange County Crime Laboratory (OCCL), the single entity responsible for toxicology testing for all law enforcement agencies within the county, experienced an increase in DUID cases from 1,238 in 2004 to 2,326 cases in 2009. Additionally, the laboratory conducted more analysis or exams on every case, a 65% increase from 2004 to 2009, and the variety of impairing drugs found in the case samples became more diverse. In 2009, the OCCL recognized the need for comprehensive analytical testing of DUID case samples as well as improved expert testimony. The OCCL decided to employ a multi-pronged approach to DUID. The laboratory needed to improve testing methodology, collaborate with stakeholders to identify drug trends, and provide comprehensive testing and expert testimony services. The laboratory achieved this through identifying grant funding, increased and improved training and public relations, expansion of drug detection research and development and collaboration with criminal justice stakeholders and traffic safety policy makers.