Drug Recognition Expert actual questions and
answers with latest version test 2026.
What is the definition of a drug? - ANSWER: Any substance that, when taken into the
human body, can impair the ability of the person to operate a vehicle safely.
From where is the DRE definition of a drug derived? - ANSWER: The 1985 California
Vehicle Code
Approximately how many Americans abuse alcohol? - ANSWER: 40-50 million
Approximately how many Americans consider themselves heavy drinkers? -
ANSWER: 16.3 million
Over the past decade, approximately how many prescriptions were processed for
minor tranquilizers? - ANSWER: Estimated 60 million
in 2014, approximately how many non-medical users of stimulants were there in the
US? - ANSWER: Estimated 1.6 million
In 2014, approximately how many current methamphetamine users were there in
the US? - ANSWER: 569,000
In 2014, approximately how many cocaine users were there in the US? - ANSWER:
1.5 million
Approximately how many users of hallucinogens were there in the US? - ANSWER:
1.2 million
To which drug category does the MEDICAL COMMUNITY (not the DRE program)
attribute PCP? - ANSWER: Hallucinogens
,What is the term for natural derivatives of opium? - ANSWER: Opiates
What is the term for synthetic drugs with effects similar to opium? - ANSWER:
Opioids
in 2014, approximately how many current users of heroin were there in the US? -
ANSWER: 435,000
In 2014, approximately how many users of inhalants were there in the US? -
ANSWER: 546,000
In 2016, how many people reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during
the past year? - ANSWER: 11.8 million (4.7% of the population)
In 2016, approximately how many people used psychotherapeutic drugs
nonmedically? - ANSWER: 6.2 million
What is meant by the term "polydrug"? - ANSWER: Ingesting two or more different
drugs
Accommodation reflex - ANSWER: The adjustment of the eyes for viewing at
various distances (pupils constrict as objects move closer, dilate as they move
farther away)
Addiction - ANSWER: Habitual, psychological, and physiological dependence on a
substance beyond one's own voluntary control
Additive effect - ANSWER: Occurs when two drugs affect an indicator in the same
way
Afferent nerves - ANSWER: Sensory nerves
,Alkaloid - ANSWER: A chemical that is found in, and can be physically extracted
from, some substance (no chemical reaction required for extraction). Example:
morphine is a natural alkaloid of opium.
Analgesic - ANSWER: A drug that relieves or allays pain
Analog - ANSWER: a chemical that is very similar to another drug in terms of
molecular structure and psychoactive effects. Example: ketamine is an analog of
PCP.
Anesthetic - ANSWER: A drug that produces a general or local insensitivity to pain.
Antagonistic effect - ANSWER: Occurs when two drugs affect an indicator in
opposite ways. Example: heroin constricts pupils, while cocaine dilates pupils; if
taken together, the combination may dilate, constrict, or leave the pupils within the
average range.
Arrythmia - ANSWER: Abnormal heart rhythm
Artery - ANSWER: Vessels that carry blood away from the heart
Autonomic nerve - ANSWER: A motor nerve that carries to muscles and organs
without conscious control (automatically). Two types: sympathetic and
parasympathetic
What are the two types of autonomic nerves? - ANSWER: Sympathetic and
parasympathetic
Axon - ANSWER: Part of a neuron (nerve cell) that sends out a nuerotransmitter
Bad trip - ANSWER: a hallucination where the user becomes panic-stricken by what
he/she is seeing or hearing, and may become uncontrollably excited, or even try to
flee from the terror
, blood alcohol concentration - ANSWER: The percentage of alcohol in a person's
blood
How is BAC measured? - ANSWER: BAC is measured by the amount of alcohol in
grams of 100 mL of blood or 210 mL of breath.
Bipolar disorder - ANSWER: A condition characterized by the alternation of manic
and depressive states
Blood pressure - ANSWER: The force exerted by blood on the walls of arteries
What unit of measure is used for blood pressure? - ANSWER: Millimeters of
mercury, or mmHg
Bradycardia - ANSWER: Abnormally slow heart rate
Bradypnea - ANSWER: Abnormally slow breathing
Bruxism - ANSWER: Grinding of the teeth
Cannabis - ANSWER: Marijuana, including hashish
How is hashish obtained? - ANSWER: By compressing the leaves of female
cannabis plants.
What is the active ingredient in marijuana and hashish? - ANSWER: delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC)
Carboxy THC - ANSWER: A metabolite of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
Central Nervous System - ANSWER: A system within the body consisting of the
brain, the brain stem, and spinal cord.
answers with latest version test 2026.
What is the definition of a drug? - ANSWER: Any substance that, when taken into the
human body, can impair the ability of the person to operate a vehicle safely.
From where is the DRE definition of a drug derived? - ANSWER: The 1985 California
Vehicle Code
Approximately how many Americans abuse alcohol? - ANSWER: 40-50 million
Approximately how many Americans consider themselves heavy drinkers? -
ANSWER: 16.3 million
Over the past decade, approximately how many prescriptions were processed for
minor tranquilizers? - ANSWER: Estimated 60 million
in 2014, approximately how many non-medical users of stimulants were there in the
US? - ANSWER: Estimated 1.6 million
In 2014, approximately how many current methamphetamine users were there in
the US? - ANSWER: 569,000
In 2014, approximately how many cocaine users were there in the US? - ANSWER:
1.5 million
Approximately how many users of hallucinogens were there in the US? - ANSWER:
1.2 million
To which drug category does the MEDICAL COMMUNITY (not the DRE program)
attribute PCP? - ANSWER: Hallucinogens
,What is the term for natural derivatives of opium? - ANSWER: Opiates
What is the term for synthetic drugs with effects similar to opium? - ANSWER:
Opioids
in 2014, approximately how many current users of heroin were there in the US? -
ANSWER: 435,000
In 2014, approximately how many users of inhalants were there in the US? -
ANSWER: 546,000
In 2016, how many people reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during
the past year? - ANSWER: 11.8 million (4.7% of the population)
In 2016, approximately how many people used psychotherapeutic drugs
nonmedically? - ANSWER: 6.2 million
What is meant by the term "polydrug"? - ANSWER: Ingesting two or more different
drugs
Accommodation reflex - ANSWER: The adjustment of the eyes for viewing at
various distances (pupils constrict as objects move closer, dilate as they move
farther away)
Addiction - ANSWER: Habitual, psychological, and physiological dependence on a
substance beyond one's own voluntary control
Additive effect - ANSWER: Occurs when two drugs affect an indicator in the same
way
Afferent nerves - ANSWER: Sensory nerves
,Alkaloid - ANSWER: A chemical that is found in, and can be physically extracted
from, some substance (no chemical reaction required for extraction). Example:
morphine is a natural alkaloid of opium.
Analgesic - ANSWER: A drug that relieves or allays pain
Analog - ANSWER: a chemical that is very similar to another drug in terms of
molecular structure and psychoactive effects. Example: ketamine is an analog of
PCP.
Anesthetic - ANSWER: A drug that produces a general or local insensitivity to pain.
Antagonistic effect - ANSWER: Occurs when two drugs affect an indicator in
opposite ways. Example: heroin constricts pupils, while cocaine dilates pupils; if
taken together, the combination may dilate, constrict, or leave the pupils within the
average range.
Arrythmia - ANSWER: Abnormal heart rhythm
Artery - ANSWER: Vessels that carry blood away from the heart
Autonomic nerve - ANSWER: A motor nerve that carries to muscles and organs
without conscious control (automatically). Two types: sympathetic and
parasympathetic
What are the two types of autonomic nerves? - ANSWER: Sympathetic and
parasympathetic
Axon - ANSWER: Part of a neuron (nerve cell) that sends out a nuerotransmitter
Bad trip - ANSWER: a hallucination where the user becomes panic-stricken by what
he/she is seeing or hearing, and may become uncontrollably excited, or even try to
flee from the terror
, blood alcohol concentration - ANSWER: The percentage of alcohol in a person's
blood
How is BAC measured? - ANSWER: BAC is measured by the amount of alcohol in
grams of 100 mL of blood or 210 mL of breath.
Bipolar disorder - ANSWER: A condition characterized by the alternation of manic
and depressive states
Blood pressure - ANSWER: The force exerted by blood on the walls of arteries
What unit of measure is used for blood pressure? - ANSWER: Millimeters of
mercury, or mmHg
Bradycardia - ANSWER: Abnormally slow heart rate
Bradypnea - ANSWER: Abnormally slow breathing
Bruxism - ANSWER: Grinding of the teeth
Cannabis - ANSWER: Marijuana, including hashish
How is hashish obtained? - ANSWER: By compressing the leaves of female
cannabis plants.
What is the active ingredient in marijuana and hashish? - ANSWER: delta-9
tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC)
Carboxy THC - ANSWER: A metabolite of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
Central Nervous System - ANSWER: A system within the body consisting of the
brain, the brain stem, and spinal cord.
