DRE Evaluation Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the DRE evaluation, which vital sign is checked using a stethoscope and is considered elevated if above 90 beats per minute at rest?
- Blood pressure
- Pulse rate (Correct answer)
- Oral temperature
- Respiration rate
Correct answer: Pulse rate
Pulse rate is measured by auscultation or palpation and a resting rate above 90 bpm may indicate stimulant or other drug influence.
Question 2: In the DRE 12-step protocol, what is the purpose of the 'Dark Room Examination'?
- To check for nystagmus under low light
- To assess pupil size under three lighting conditions (Correct answer)
- To observe muscle tone in a controlled environment
- To measure blood pressure without ambient distractions
Correct answer: To assess pupil size under three lighting conditions
The dark room examination allows the DRE to assess pupil size under near-total darkness, near-total light, and indirect light conditions.
Question 3: A subject's pupils measure 8.0 mm in near-total darkness. Under the DRE pupil size scale, this measurement is classified as:
- Constricted
- Normal
- Dilated (Correct answer)
- Unable to determine
Correct answer: Dilated
Pupils measuring 6.5 mm or larger in near-total darkness are considered dilated under DRE guidelines.
Question 4: When conducting the Romberg balance test, the DRE instructs the subject to tilt their head back and estimate when 30 seconds have passed. What does a significant internal clock discrepancy suggest?
- CNS depressant influence slowing time perception
- Drug influence affecting time estimation (Correct answer)
- Normal variation with no diagnostic value
- Exclusively cannabis impairment
Correct answer: Drug influence affecting time estimation
A significant deviation from 30 seconds on the Romberg test suggests that drug influence is affecting the subject's internal clock and CNS function.
Question 5: Which DRE evaluation step specifically looks for injection sites, bruising, or track marks as evidence of drug use?
- Vital signs check
- Muscle tone assessment
- Examination of the arms and neck (Correct answer)
- Darkroom examination
Correct answer: Examination of the arms and neck
Step 11 of the DRE protocol involves examining the arms, neck, and other body areas for injection sites or other physical evidence of drug use.
Question 6: During the DRE evaluation, the subject exhibits slow, shuffling gait and reduced arm swing. Which drug category MOST commonly produces these signs?
- CNS Stimulants
- Dissociative Anesthetics
- Cannabis
- CNS Depressants (Correct answer)
Correct answer: CNS Depressants
CNS depressants commonly cause psychomotor slowing, including a slow shuffling gait and reduced arm swing during walking.
Question 7: The DRE notes that a subject has a body temperature of 99.6°F. In the context of the DRE evaluation, this temperature is best described as:
- Hypothermic
- Normal
- Elevated (hyperthermia) (Correct answer)
- Critically high
Correct answer: Elevated (hyperthermia)
Normal body temperature is approximately 98.6°F, so 99.6°F represents a mildly elevated temperature that may be consistent with stimulant or hallucinogen use.
DRE Evaluation Procedures 2
During the DRE evaluation, which vital sign is checked using a stethoscope and is considered elevated if above 90 beats per minute at rest?