MILAN, N.M. - The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program plays a vital role in law enforcement by providing officers with the specialized skills needed to identify drivers impaired by substances other than alcohol. Originating in Los Angeles during the 1970s, the program was developed in response to increasing instances of impaired driving where officers observed behaviors indicative of intoxication without detecting alcohol. As Milan Police Chief Carl Ustupski, who has been a part of the program since 2011 explained, “It is probably the hardest training in law enforcement… [But] I love the program.”
The DRE program entails a rigorous training process comprising a 12step system. This begins with an application process where candidates must demonstrate a history of dealing with driving while intoxicated (DWI) incidents. Following acceptance into the program, participants undergo a two-day preschool that covers field sobriety tests and drug categories they should be familiar with before progressing to a seven-day intensive course focused on drug impairment training.
During the training, officers learn to differentiate between various forms of impairment. A key part of the curriculum involves assessing not just the typical signs of alcohol involvement— such as slurred speech and unsteady gait—but also understanding how to identify impairment due to other drugs. For example, “somebody that’s been drinking alcohol, their pulse rate and blood pressure… will be low” while marijuana will cause blood pressure and pulse to increase, highlighting that the physiological responses can be quite different for various substances.
As part of the program’s emphasis on practical application, officers must complete evaluations on live subjects who are impaired by drugs, allowing them to apply what they have learned in realworld scenarios. “I can read a book all day, but if I don’t go hands-on, how do I know I’m a professional?” Chief Ustupski emphasized, illustrating the importance of experience in effectively applying the DRE teaching.
The impact of the DRE program extends beyond just identifying impaired drivers. As the officer recounted, it can lead to life-saving interventions. “Some of them have been medical,” he noted, recounting situations where impaired driving was actually a symptom of serious medical issues—like a brain tumor or a heart attack— that required immediate attention. “It’s been very beneficial,” Ustupski said, highlighting the program’s broader implications for community safety.
The introduction of advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement (ARIDE) training enhances officers’ ability to recognize various indicators of drug impairment while on routine traffic stops. “The way it’s impacted us is, we saw the difference,” Ustupski noted, reflecting how the program that took place two weeks ago has motivated officers to actively seek out impaired drivers, leading to a significant increase in DWI arrests.
Challenges do exist in implementing the DRE and ARIDE training, particularly in smaller communities where filling the required spots for classes can be difficult. Despite those challenges, the ongoing commitment to DRE training has seen officers in one small agency achieve remarkable results, even leading the state in enforcement evaluations of impaired driving. Chief Ustupski added, “If you think about it, we’re preventing a murder in process,” pointing to the potential dangers of letting impaired drivers remain on the road.
Last year, Chief Ustupski was recognized by the New Mexico DRE Program for his “exceptional contributions as a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor and leader in impaired driving enforcement… with the most enforcement evaluations in the state.” Ustupski credited this recognition to his team, saying “It was a team effort because… I come out and I do the evaluations, but they are calling me out. So, it just kind of shows that the other agencies, including us, are getting out there looking for impaired drivers.”