In a significant move to enhance road safety, 40 law enforcement agencies across North Dakota are poised to receive training on how to use the SoToxa oral fluid device. Similar to a roadside test, this handheld analyzer detects six different drug classifications in just five minutes with just one oral fluid swab. The SoToxa device has already undergone successful testing in a pilot program in other states, providing valuable insights into its accuracy and effectiveness. The action aims to equip law enforcement with the tools necessary to help screen drivers should the officer suspect a driver is impaired and under the influence of drugs.

The Sotoxa™ Oral Fluid Mobile Test System

The SoToxa device operates similarly to a roadside alcohol test but focuses on detecting drugs rather than alcohol. When an officer suspects impairment, they collect an oral fluid sample from the driver. This test assists the officer in identifying the substances that may be causing impairment. The analyzer has been designed to meet the high performance demands of law enforcement. It can detect up to 6 drug classes within 5 minutes from a single oral fluid collection sample. By pinpointing drug use, law enforcement can take appropriate action to keep impaired drivers off the road.

North Dakota Pilot Program Results

During the North Dakota roadside pilot program conducted from January 2022 to July 2023, oral fluid samples yielded crucial insights:

• In 83% of cases, at least one drug was present in the samples.
• Marijuana (THC) emerged as the most commonly detected drug, accounting for 51% of cases.
• 46% of samples indicated the presence of two or more drugs.

Implications for Law Enforcement

Trooper Tarek Chase, the DRE state coordinator, emphasized that the pilot program confirmed what law enforcement had suspected all along: “Drivers are using impairing substances, other than just alcohol, on North Dakota roads.” With nearly half of the samples showing multiple drugs, the need for tools like the SoToxa device is evident. Law enforcement agencies must equip themselves to identify drug-impaired driving accurately and take appropriate measures.

Previous Successful Pilot Program – Michigan

Michigan Piloted Others to Success – Michigan was the first state in the U.S. to successfully pioneered a program that is now benefiting states such as North Dakota, Minnesota, Nevada, and Montana. In 2016, Michigan passed the Barbara J. and Thomas J. Swift Law Michigan with Public Act 243 of 2016 authorizing the Department of State Police to establish a pilot program in Michigan for roadside oral fluid testing to determine whether an individual is operating a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance. The pilot ran from 2016-2020, publishing two reports supporting the adoption of oral fluid as a roadside resource for drug-impaired driving. Since 2020, other states have implemented programs, and Michigan remains stagnant to enact a permanent law; where ultimately, the NTSB issued recommendation H-22-41 to the State of Michigan and other states to modify their impaired driving laws to allow for oral fluid collection, screening, and testing for the detection of drug use by drivers.

The Growing Issue of Impaired Driving

Highlighted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Many substances can impair driving, including alcohol, some over-the-counter and prescription drugs, and illegal drugs.

• Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgment, and reaction times.
• Cocaine and methamphetamine can make drivers more aggressive and reckless.
• Using two or more drugs at the same time, including alcohol, can amplify the impairing effects of each drug a person has consumed.
• Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. Read and follow all warning labels before driving, and note that warnings against “operating heavy machinery” include driving a vehicle.

Combined with alcohol and risk only grows significantly, which is why Intoximeters has partnered with Responsibility.org and is committed to supporting efforts to equip agencies with the tools to help screen and remove impaired individuals and promote responsible drinking nationwide asking everyone to Plan Ahead

• Always drive 100% sober. Even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many.
• Plan ahead: Before you have even one drink, designate a sober driver to get you home safely. If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make this decision, you might not make the best one.
• You have options to get home safely: designate a sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare. Getting home safely is always worth it.
• If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.

If you have a friend who is about to drink and drive, take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.