Exhaled breath drug detection using differential mobility spectrometry

Project Summary We have conducted a pilot study using some of the elements in the present proposal that provide support for the notion that a well selected set of psychomotor/performance tasks can be used to predict driving impairment via a simulated program. Adding these two approaches to the existing STTR project will add significantly to the value of the data focused on developing a breath test for THC and its metabolites that could be used on-site or in the field. The advantage of the present approach is that both measures of performance and quantified THC concentrations in the individual’s body can be collected in real time with no delays in receiving the results, making this a much more efficient and accurate measure of impaired driving for law enforcement’s use. Furthermore, this study will provide data on the effects of various doses of cannabis on a wide range of skills associated with every day and challenging driving scenarios. Most importantly, this study will provide valuable information on the residual effects of cannabis that likely play an important role in impaired driving, even though subjective effects subside within a few hours. Such information will be extremely valuable for making informed decisions on driving performance by individuals who take medical marijuana and may play a role in developing novel cognitive behavioral therapies for cannabis use disorders (Hill et al., 2013).