Drugged Driving- a growing concern

Drugged Driving
abbreviated article from the National Institute on Drugs

The growing issue of prescription drug abuse throughout the United States also ushers in the issue of drugged driving. According to the National Highway and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2007 National Roadside Survey, more than 16 percent of weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter medication.

Drugged driving is commonly referred to as driving under the influence of any drug that impairs motor skills, reaction time, and judgment.

There is a growing training need for law enforcement to be able to detect someone who is driving drugged. The usual tell tale signs associated with driving under the influence of alcohol are significantly different than detecting for drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “drugged driving laws have lagged behind alcohol legislation, in part because of limitations in the current technology for determining drug levels, and resulting impairment.”

Typically, officers must undergo specialized training as drug recognition experts to detect characteristics in a person’s behavior and appearance that may be associated with drug intoxication. If the officer suspects drug intoxication a blood or urine sample is submitted to a laboratory for confirmation.

For illicit drugs, there is no agreed upon limit for which impairment has been reliably demonstrated. And determining current drug levels can be difficult, since some drugs linger in the body for a period of days or weeks after initial ingestion.

Drugged Driving Hazards
Drugs acting on the brain can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time, and other faculties required for safe driving. The effects of specific drugs of abuse differ depending on their mechanisms of action, the amount consumed, the history of the user, and other factors.

Prescription drugs: Many medications (e.g., benzodiazepines and opiate analgesics) act on systems in the brain that could impair driving ability. In fact, many prescription drugs come with warnings against the operation of machinery—including motor vehicles—for a specified period of time after use. When prescription drugs are taken without medical supervision (i.e., when abused), impaired driving and other harmful reactions can also result.

In short, drugged driving is a dangerous activity that puts us all at risk.