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Drugged driving: Law enforcement support and training

The Minnesota State Patrol trains peace officers to become drug recognition evaluators (DREs). DREs help police officers identify drivers with drug impairment and the drugs causing impairment.

Officer assistance for drugged driving

Drug recognition evaluators and law enforcement phlebotomists can help with drugged driving arrests.

Drug recognition evaluators  

Drug recognition evaluators, also known as DREs, can:

  • Administer a psychophysical and physiologic evaluation
  • Interpret the observable signs and symptoms
  • Identify seven categories of drugs and recognize their effects
  • Prepare a narrative drug influence report of a suspected drugged driver

DREs provide support for officers during impaired driving arrests. They complete a 30- to 45-minute evaluation to gather evidence of the specific drug category(s) impairing the driver. Their expertise will solidify the case and help ensure a conviction.

There are 323 DRE officers in Minnesota representing 145 agencies. Download a list of current drug recognition evaluators​ to find one​ in your area.

Phlebotomists

Law enforcement phlebotomists assist law enforcement officers by drawing blood from drivers who have been arrested for a DWI. These professionals can help obtain the necessary evidence to secure a conviction.

Download a list of current phlebotomist​​s to find one in your area.

Officer training

Become a drug recognition evaluator or law enforcement phlebotomist through the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) school.

Check out the current training opportunities on our Law Enforcement Training webpage.

About the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) school  

The State Patrol’s DEC school trains Minnesota law enforcement officers how to detect specific drugs and remove drug-impaired drivers from the road.  

DEC school is one of the most involved training curriculums for officers. Drug recognition evaluator (DRE) training consists of nine days of classroom work. Officers learn about specific drug categories, physiology and enhance their standardized field sobriety testing (SFST) skills.

Following the classroom training, DRE candidates must complete certification training. In certification training, candidates perform 12 evaluations on drug-impaired subjects. DRE instructors monitor and verify these evaluations. Laboratory tests then confirm the evaluations.  

The DRE certification phase takes place out-of-state.

The Drug Evaluation and Classification Program was developed in Los Angeles in the 1970s. It is recognized by all 50 states, Canada and the United Kingdom. Learn more about the history on the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s International Drug Evaluation and Classification Program page.

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