Research Papers (2009 – 2013)
| Filename | Beirness.pdf |
| Filesize | 125.30 KB |
| Version | 1 |
| Date added | June 18, 2008 |
| Downloaded | 6 times |
| Category | 2008–CMRSC-XVIII–Whistler |
| Tags | Dr. Charles H. Miller Award Winner, session 16 |
| Author/Auteur | Douglas J. Beirness, Erin Beasley, Jacques LeCavalier |
| Award/Prix | Dr. Charles H. Miller |
Abstract
(L. to R. Doug Beirness, Erin Beasley, and Jacques LeCavalier)
The objective of this paper is to illustrate the accuracy and reliability with which police officers trained as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) can identify the category of drug(s) ingested by persons believed to be impaired by a drug. In the first of two studies, we examined 1,349 drug evaluations completed by DREs in Canada to determine whether DRE opinions about the category of drug(s) matched the results of toxicological analysis in terms of accuracy. The paper presents measures of sensitivity, specificity, the false alarm rate, and miss rate for all drug categories combined as well as for the most commonly found substances. The second study examined the inter-rater reliability of DRE evaluations by having a group of certified DREs review each of 23 selected evaluation reports and render an opinion on the type of drug involved. The data presented demonstrate that the drug evaluations conducted by DREs in Canada are both accurate and reliable.
Douglas J. Beirness, Erin Beasley, Jacques LeCavalier