In this episode of Impairment Perspectives, host Joey Jones, PhD sits down with Dick Studdard—a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, retired captain, special deputy U.S. marshal, and widely recognized as the founder of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program. Recorded on location at Studdard's home in Prescott, Arizona, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the foundational history of drug impairment detection in law enforcement.

• The Roots of DRE: Studdard shares the personal tragedy and operational turning points in the 1960s and 1970s that drove LAPD officers to recognize that breath alcohol testing alone was insufficient for identifying impaired drivers.
• Pioneering Collaboration: Exploring how early field studies, partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the Southern California Research Institute, and international presentations (such as in Oslo, Norway) helped scale the DRE program globally.
• Overcoming Institutional Hurdles: Studdard details the rigorous process of creating standardized evaluation forms, fighting for rigorous scientific validation, and reshaping how law enforcement handles non-alcohol DUIs.
• Life in Retirement: A look into Studdard’s post-service dedication to safety, including his role as chairman of the Arizona State Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council and his continued advocacy for officers.

In this episode of the Impairment Perspectives Podcast, host Joey Jones sits down with Dr. Karen Scott, Director of Forensic Toxicology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, for a conversation about forensic science education, toxicology, and the real-world challenges of preparing the next generation of professionals. Dr. Scott shares insights from her international career, her work in forensic training, and her passion for building practical skills in the lab and beyond.

In this episode of Impairment Perspectives, host Joey Jones talks with Nelly Mikhaltsevich, a Forensic Scientist III with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau, about the complex and evolving world of cannabinoid testing in forensic toxicology.

Nelly shares her journey from student aide to experienced forensic scientist, reflecting on nearly two decades in the crime lab and her growing expertise in cannabinoid analysis. The conversation explores the scientific challenges of separating and identifying THC isomers, including Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC, and the importance of developing validated LC-MS/MS methods in a post-Farm Bill landscape.

Joey and Nelly also discuss the realities of method validation, courtroom testimony, laboratory problem-solving, and the balance between high-stakes forensic work and family life. This episode offers an inside look at the precision, persistence, and curiosity required to keep forensic toxicology moving forward as drug trends continue to change.