Challenging the Validity of SFSTs and Drug Recognition Testing with David Rosenbloom

David Rosenbloom joins me on the podcast to discuss the lack of efficacy of the standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs). David has a background in clinical pharmacy, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and extensive experience in academic and practical clinical settings.

He has worked at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, where he established pharmacy residency programs and researched various pharmaceutical topics. Additionally, David has delved into medical malpractice cases, criminal law related to alcohol and drug offenses, and civil cases involving drugs.

David dives deep into research studies and the shortcomings of SFSTs. He tells how they cannot be used to assess impairment from alcohol and drugs, especially marijuana, accurately.

Key Takeaways:

• SFSTs lack scientific validity in accurately measuring impairment from alcohol and drugs.

• Horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk and turn, and one-leg stand tests show significant variability and unreliability in detecting impairment.

• Studies have shown that marijuana users exhibit cautious driving behavior and may compensate for any impairment, challenging the applicability of SFSTs to assess marijuana impairment accurately.

• The political influence in perpetuating SFSTs contrasts with the scientific community's skepticism about their reliability.

Notable Quotes:

• "SFSTs are prevalent due to political reasons, offering a substitute for scientific accuracy in assessing impairment from alcohol and drugs." - David Rosenbloom

• "Marijuana users tend to drive more cautiously, challenging the conventional belief that impaired driving is uniform across all substances." - David Rosenbloom

Resources:

• Drug Recognition Expert Testing Part I: A Critical Review of the Literature

• Drug Recognition Expert Testing Part II - Psychopharmacology of Cannabis versus Alcohol

• Drug Recognition Expert Testing Part III - SFSTs in Marijuana Research in Comparison to Alcohol

• Evaluation of Field Sobriety Tests for Identifying Drivers Under the Influence of Cannabis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:10 David Rosenbloom’s Background and Career Journey

03:35 Exploring Drug and Alcohol Testing

06:30 Critique of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs)

11:10 Studies and Findings on SFSTs

19:01 Political vs. Scientific Perspectives on SFSTs

22:10 Marijuana and Driving: Different Impairments

30:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts