NCJ Number
131343
Date Published
Unknown
Length
33 pages
Annotation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has supported the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program since 1984.
Abstract
The DEC Program was initially developed by the Los Angeles Police Department. In 1987, NHTSA asked the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to participate in the program's development and expansion. In 1989, IACP and NHTSA sponsored a meeting to develop recommended minimum standards related to drug evaluation and classification. The IACP's Advisory Committee on Highway Safety adopted these standards on an interim basis, pending the outcome of an evaluation of their effectiveness by NHTSA. The standards specify requirements for certifying and recertifying drug recognition technicians (DRT's) and DRT instructors. The standards also establish requirements for law enforcement agency participation in the DEC Program and contain administrative guidelines for program implementation. The course of instruction developed by NHTSA to train police officers in the techniques of drug recognition is noted. This course has been adopted by IACP as the minimum training requirement for national certification of DRT's and DRT instructors. A glossary of terms is included.