202. Drugged Driving | Ari Briskman202. Drugged Driving | Ari Briskman
High Truths on Drugs and Addiction
56% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for a least one drug. I talked to Ari Briskman to get boots on the ground law enforcement perspective of drugged driving. Sergeant Ari Briskman has served as a law enforcement officer since 2007. Ari is presently assigned full-time as the Commander of the Marine Unit for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Ari also serves the Sheriff’s Office as the Technical Crash Investigation Team Commander, the Auxiliary Deputy Unit Commander, and as a Public Information Officer. Ari has dedicated much of his career to impaired driving enforcement and traffic safety. He is a certified Drug Recognition Expert, certified Drug Recognition Expert – Instructor, Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor, Seated Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor, and certified Crash Reconstruction Specialist. Ari has been recognized by courts in several counties in northern Illinois as an expert in the fields of alcohol and drug impairment. Ari has personally apprehended over 600 impaired vehicle and boat operators throughout his career, for which he has been recognized several times by Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He has consulted with and assisted in the prosecution of hundreds of additional impaired driving cases throughout Illinois. Ari has been contracted with various Illinois training units as an instructor to teach all the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration impaired driving enforcement courses, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators boating under the influence courses, and his own original material. Ari serves as an adjunct instructor for the Homeland Security Training Institute at the College of DuPage teaching course material on drug impairment in the workplace. Ari is also a senior consultant for Dynamic Impairment, LLC, for whom he provides consultancy services to private businesses and court litigants on drug policies and impairment recognition. In addition to his law enforcement duties, Ari advocates for stronger impaired driving laws and protections for crash victims as a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists. Ari also serves as a board member for the State of Illinois Impaired Driving Task Force and on the speaker’s bureau for the National Marijuana Initiative. Ari holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Public Safety Administration, both from Western Illinois University.
59:22•11 Nov 2024
Unmasking the Dangers of Drugged Driving
Episode Overview
- 56% of drivers in serious crashes tested positive for at least one drug.
- Early education is crucial to prevent impaired driving.
- Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) play a key role in identifying drug impairment.
- Public health strategies must include better enforcement and judicial support.
- Personal commitment from law enforcement can significantly impact road safety.
“We need to start at a young age with children... it's too late by then if we wait until they have a driver's licence.”
In this gripping episode of High Truths on Drugs and Addiction, Dr. Roneet Lev dives into the alarming statistics and realities of drugged driving. Joined by Sergeant Ari Briskman, a seasoned law enforcement officer with extensive experience in impaired driving enforcement, the conversation sheds light on the hidden dangers of driving under the influence of drugs. With 56% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes testing positive for at least one drug, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Sergeant Briskman shares his journey from being inspired by an 'officer friendly' in elementary school to becoming a dedicated law enforcement officer. He emphasises the importance of early education and rigorous training for officers to effectively combat drugged driving. As a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Briskman explains the complexities of identifying drug impairment, which often requires more nuanced assessments than alcohol-related impairment.
The episode also delves into the broader strategies needed to reduce impaired driving incidents, including better public education, stricter enforcement, and judicial support. Briskman's passion for his work is evident as he recounts stories from his career, highlighting both the challenges and rewards of keeping roads safe. For anyone concerned about road safety and the impact of drugged driving, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice.
Whether you're a driver, a parent, or someone interested in public safety, you'll find this discussion both eye-opening and essential. Tune in to learn how you can contribute to making our roads safer. Ready to hear more? Dive into this episode and discover what it takes to tackle the issue of drugged driving head-on.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.