Pharmacology & Toxicology of Impaired Driving: From Theory to Practice

This interdisciplinary session equips law enforcement officers, school administrators, and scientists with a scientific and practical foundation on substances most often implicated in impaired driving. It covers alcohol and both traditional and emerging cannabinoids, focusing on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, formulations, and real-world driving impact. Participants will learn to assess current data and understand detection limitations, public trends, and toxicological challenges. Through evidence-based instruction and case analysis, this session enhances enforcement, institutional safety, and research-informed decision-making.

Who Should Attend:

• Law enforcement practitioners, including those involved with ARIDE and DRE programs, seeking deeper understanding of drug-related impairment and enforcement strategies 
• School and institutional administrators responsible for safety policy, substance use interventions, and response planning
• Scientists, forensic toxicologists, and researchers engaged in impaired driving investigations, testing development, or policy evaluation

Key Features:

• Case study–driven and interdisciplinary format, blending pharmacology, policy, behavioral science, and field applications
• Focus on emerging substances and poly-use trends, including novel cannabinoids
• Discussion on analytical challenges, detection limits, and forensic reporting in biological sampling
• Actionable outcomes tailored to enhance enforcement efficacy, toxicological interpretation, and institutional safety strategies

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Define basic pharmacology and toxicology principles applicable to alcohol and drugs commonly seen in impaired-driving cases.
2. Discuss detection and prevalence trends for alcohol and both traditional and emerging cannabinoids.
3. Critically appraise current scientific data on substance effects on driving, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and formulation differences.
4. Describe the common challenges faced by the public (e.g. new products, user behavior) and professionals (e.g. toxicologists, enforcement) in identifying impairment from biological evidence.