Idaho State Police Forensic Services reported a 12% increase in toxicology cases for fiscal year 2025, the highest in a decade, as drug-related impaired driving and prescription medication use continue to rise across the state. 

Late last month, ISPFS released its annual toxicology report for the 2025 fiscal year. In the report, ISPFS analyzed alcohol, volatile substances and drug testing trends across the state as it relates to the growing complexities of impaired driving and related investigations.  

A toxicology report is the measurement and analysis of potential toxins, intoxications, banned substances and/or prescription medication in a person’s body through biological samples such as urine, blood or hair.  

According to its reports, ISPFS received 3,419 toxicology cases — a 12.25% increase from last year and the highest number of cases in the last 10 years.  

ISPFS indicates that the reasoning for the upward trend may be correlated to the higher number of individuals being prescribed medication and those who drive while on the medication. The service further shared that the higher numbers could potentially be attributed to Idaho’s increasing population. 

“Drug involvement remains high, with nine out of ten adult DUI toxicology cases showing at least one drug present. Juvenile cases also remain a concern, with the majority of underage samples testing above the legal alcohol limit. These trends, paired with the prevalence of cannabinoids, methamphetamine or amphetamine, and fentanyl-related compounds, point to the need for a continued focus on impaired driving enforcement, education, and prevention efforts statewide,” ISPFS officials said on its site.    

Of the cases reported, 2,159 were adult-related driving under the influence incidents, while 80 were juvenile-related DUIs. 228 toxicology screenings stemmed from adult drug/narcotic violations and 11 juvenile drug/narcotic violations.  

The remaining thousand reports stemmed from incidents such as auto accident fatalities, death, murder, attempted murder, suspected overdoses, rape and cases that were closed before an analysis could occur.  

According to an ISPFS fact sheet, 53 different drugs were reported throughout the 2025 fiscal year, with an average of three different drugs confirmed in each toxicology case sample.  The top three drugs found in the reports was cannabinoids, amphetamine/methamphetamine and fentanyl/norfentanyl — accounting for over 60% of the drugs reported in toxicology casework. 

“Based on the FY 2025 findings, ISP will continue working with partner agencies to increase training and awareness on multi-drug impairment, maintain support for blood-draw protocols in DUI investigations, and expand outreach and education for young drivers and their families,” Western Command Major Jens Pattis said. “The agency will also collaborate with legislators, traffic-safety stakeholders, and prosecutors to strengthen Idaho’s response to drug-impaired driving, including strategies to address poly-drug detection and case processing.” 

ISPFS encourages Idahoans to not drive impaired, which includes the consumption of alcohol and drugs (prescription or over the counter, as they can also affect your driving ability), to plan a ride home ahead of time if you plan on drinking and to talk with teens about the reality of alcohol laws, drugs and the consequences of driving impaired. 

The entity further encourages community members to be on the lookout for impaired drivers, notifying law enforcement when necessary.  

More information on the report can be found at https://bit.ly/4nzjpWt.