Join fellow attendees to kick off the 2026 IDTS Conference. Hear from IACP leadership, Anaheim PD Chief Manny Cid, and California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee. Attendees will also hear a briefing from NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison and the IACP will recognize those receiving DRE of the Year, DRE Ambassador, and DRE Emeritus honors.

Participants will take an in-depth look at the major systems of the human body and examine how each is affected by acute and chronic drug use. Through hands-on demonstrations and visualizations of neurotransmitters and brain function, attendees will gain a clearer, more practical understanding of what is happening inside the body--particularly the brain--during substance use. Complex physiological processes will be broken down into accessible, real-world concepts directly applicable to the field. Drawing from real DRE experience, this session also addresses one of the most significant--and often unspoken--concerns: How do we confidently distinguish between drug impairment and legitimate medical conditions? Misidentifying a medical emergency as drug impairment can have serious consequences.

• Identify all major systems and describe how drug use affects each one
• Understand neurotransmitter activity and its role in impairment and long-term substance abuse
• Recognize physiological signs that may indicate medical conditions rather than drug impairment Apply practical strategies to differentiate substance abuse from medical emergencies in the field

This presentation offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary examination of DUI cases involving prescription medications. Through detailed case studies--including Zofran, Seroquel, and gabapentin--attendees will gain insight from the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) perspective, complemented by forensic analysis from toxicologists at the Orange County Crime Lab on emerging testing trends and courtroom testimony. The session will also address prosecutorial strategies, including trial presentation and jury selection considerations, presented by a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) district attorney.

• Identify and evaluate indicators of impairment in prescription drug DUI cases, with an understanding of how specific medications may manifest during field and DRE evaluations.
• Apply effective trial strategies and jury selection considerations to enhance the successful prosecution of prescription drug-related DUI cases.
• Incorporate current drug trends and forensic testing capabilities from the Orange County Crime Lab to strengthen and inform existing toxicology programs.

Getting suspects to cooperate during a DRE evaluation is a skill many officers are not trained to develop. In this session, participants will review the do's and don'ts of gaining cooperation during a DRE evaluation. Attendees will learn how empathy and people skills play a major role in developing a successful Drug Recognition Expert.

• When and how to build rapport The attendees will learn how to begin building rapport the moment they come in contact with a suspect. Learning to listen How to value people Overcoming objections
• Define "Empathy" and how it relates to effective communication with suspects. The attendees will learn the definition of empathy and how vital it is to put yourself in the suspects shoes. Understanding how they feel can determine how you communicate with them.
• Learning to listen. Attendees will learn how listening brings value to those engaged in the conversation and how important it is for the suspects to be heard.

This session is a practical, courtroom-focused training that connects field documentation to testimony. Presenters will demonstrate how vague language, omissions, boilerplate phrasing, and unsupported conclusions in police reports are routinely used by defense counsel to create effective cross-examination and undermine credibility. Participants will learn how precise report writing can minimize defense "fodder," narrow the scope of cross-examination, and strengthen courtroom testimony. Speakers will address strategies for handling cross-examination and ways to work with prosecutors to ensure success. Real-world examples of poorly written DUI reports are analyzed alongside corrected versions, showing how to document the same facts in a clearer, more defensible manner.

• Upon completion, attendees will be able to identify common report-writing deficiencies in impaired driving cases that create opportunities for effective defense cross-examination.
• Upon completion, attendees will be able to apply clear, precise, and defensible documentation practices that minimize cross-examination risk and strengthen courtroom credibility.
• Upon completion, attendees will be able to demonstrate effective strategies for responding to cross-examination by testifying consistently within the scope and language of their written reports, and to work with prosecutors to give a clear and convincing presentation to the trier of fact.

This presentation addresses cases in which a collision occurs and a DRE evaluation or breath test cannot be performed. Toxicology samples may be collected at the hospital, but analysis may indicate the presence of drugs and alcohol while showing an alcohol concentration below the legal limit. In addition, drugs detected may have no limit, or the concentration may be below a legal cutoff. However, the totality of the evidence may still indicate that the driver was impaired. In such cases, a DRE reconstruction can link toxicology results to observed impairment to support an "impaired by drugs and alcohol" charge. This session will explain when to conduct a DRE reconstruction, how to conduct one, and the benefits for law enforcement.

• Understand in what circumstances they should consider using a DRE reconstruction. They will learn how to properly complete a DRE reconstruction.
• Describe if not a DRE what information is crucial to collect and how important note taking and report writing is to allow for a DRE to complete a successful DRE reconstruction.
• List benefits of completing a DRE reconstruction. And learn what charges and what type of file a DRE reconstruction can support.

Dissociative anesthetics (DAs) have historically been used in clinical settings because of their effective sedation and analgesic properties. As interest in ketamine increases--with esketamine FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression--so has the potential for misuse of racemic ketamine. PCP was discontinued as an anesthetic in 1965, but illicit use has persisted because of its euphoric and dissociative effects. This presentation will provide an overview of common DA drugs. Topics will include pharmacologic differences between DAs and other CNS depressants and common behaviors linked with polysubstance use. Physical, cognitive, and behavioral effects observed in authentic DWI/DUI investigations from Palm Beach County, Florida, and Houston, Texas, will be highlighted.

• Understand the effects of dissociative anesthetics and how they differ from other CNS depressants.
• Identify behaviors and indicators of dissociative anesthetic use in DWI/DUI investigations.
• Demonstrate understanding of behaviors that may be seen in polysubstance cases when dissociative anesthetics are combined with other common impairing substances.

This session will provide attendees with the most current information related to selecting and properly using penlights, red lights, and UV lights during the evaluation process to observe indicators of impairment and possible drug administration. The presenters will review recent Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) guidance on the use of UV lights to identify indicators of administration during the evaluation process, as well as best practices for properly documenting these observations in reports. The session will include real-life examples from actual evaluations, as well as other situations in which indicators of administration may or may not be visible under UV light. Not all drugs fluoresce, and not all things that fluoresce are drugs.

• Upon completion attendees will have the most current information and guidance to maximize the use of various lights during the evaluation process.
• Upon completion of the training, attendees will be able to recognize potential indicators of drug administration and properly document those observations in their reports.
• Up completion of training attendees will have a better understanding of substances that fluoresce, not everything that fluoresces are drug related.

At the request of the NTSB, IACP and NSA collaborated to create a best-practices guidance document for officers responding to a wrong-way driver incident. This workshop will showcase promising practices that responding officers can use to effectively address the danger posed by a wrong-way driver, as well as recommendations to reduce the frequency of these incidents.

• Understand the hazards posed by wrong-way drivers
• Learn current methods of preventing wrong-way drivers
• Learn strategies for successfully mitigating a wrong-way driving incident.

Harris County, Texas, is home to a wide variety of CNS stimulant users. This session covers common production methods for CNS stimulants, including methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine. Moving from production to concealment, the session will teach common concealment methods in homes, vehicles, and on a person. Presenters will review vehicle "traps" and clothing specifically designed to conceal items. Finally, this session will discuss common consumption methods and the resulting impairment associated with CNS stimulants. Attendees will learn typical methods of administration, duration of effects, indicators of impairment, and the adverse effects of CNS stimulants.

• Upon completion, attendees will be able to describe common production methods of CNS Stimulants including methamphetamine, cocaine, and street level pills.
• Attendees will be able to identify common concealment CNS Stimulant methods inside of the home, vehicle, and on the individual.
• Attendees will be able to list methods of administration, understand duration of effects, and identify indicators of impairment including the downside effect.