THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY ROBERT F. BORKENSTEIN COURSE ON THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON HUMAN PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOR

Drug Course Faculty

April 2008 Course Schedule

Tuition/Lodging

April 5th - 10th, 2009

Registration will begin in November

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Indiana Univeristy Drug Borkenstein Course covers topics related to the pharmacology of drugs and their effects on psychomotor performance and driving. In the past, this program has been growing in popularity, and has drawn attendees from over forty states. As a result of the rapid pace of development in this area, we are introducing some enhancements to the program, including inviting more international experts, and focusing more on field tests for diagnosing impairment, and how the move towards “per se” drug laws are changing the role of toxicologists, and police officers. The knowledge base is increasing too, and we envision this being a program that will provide updates as well as basic training to testifying toxicologists.

Drug impaired driving is now being recognized as a major public safety issue worldwide. Drug use among fatally injured drivers in the US is estimated to be around 40-50%, and combined drug and alcohol use is the often overlooked part of the iceberg, as alcohol positive cases are infrequently assessed for drug use.

There are major developments taking place around the world to document and combat drug impaired driving. Just as it did with alcohol impaired driving, Indiana University's Center for Studies of Law in Action has become a major center for collecting and sharing research and innovative strategies for dealing with this problem. In April 2008, the Center will present its sixth symposium on the effects of drugs on human performance.

The program is designed to supplement the training offered by other groups, with ideas and strategies for enforcement strategies, documenting, and trying drug impaired driving cases. It is aimed at:

• Analytical toxicologists performing testing for DUID investigations.
• Toxicologists testifying in court on drug and alcohol impaired driving.
• Public safety specialists involved in developing policies and statutes to respond to drug impaired drivers.
  

The course will be taught using the successful Borkenstein Alcohol Course classroom format that provides excellent opportunities for networking, student/student and student/faculty interaction during the breaks and after hours, and more individual attention to student questions.

COURSE CONTENTS

In an effort to keep toxicologists, and traffic safety specialists up to date, this course has evolved over the five years it has been offered. New information addressed in the 2008 course includes:

• Validation of field tests for impairment by marijuana and amphetamines.
• Roadside drug testing programs using roadblocks, and oral fluid testing.
• Approaches to implementing per se DUID laws in European Union countries.
• On-road driving studies for marijuana, MDMA, and antidepressants.
• Training tools for investigating and documenting drug impairment.
• Approaches to presenting DUID evidence in court.
• Updated summaries of effects of major drug classes present in drivers.

The Borkenstein Drug Course begins with a brief orientation to the Course, Indiana Unviersity, and Bloomington by IU Criminal Justice Professor and Center Director, Kip Schlegel; Center Executive Director, Dr. Barry Logan; and Borkenstein Course Director, Jere Joiner.

Principal topics and current presenters

Registration will begin in November • Faculty • April 2008 Course Schedule • Tuition/Lodging