Drugged Driving

Most people are familiar with dangers of drunk driving and the laws that prohibit it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for example, 17,000 people died in crashes that involved alcohol use in 2006. However, driving under the influence of any type of substance can be extremely dangerous. Despite laws in 15 states that strictly prohibit the presence of prohibited drugs in the driver’s system, research suggests that between 10% and 22% of drivers who are involved in crashes are under the influence of some type of drug, often combined with alcohol.

How common is the problem of drugged driving?

Of the participants of the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 10.2 million individuals ages 12 and older (which represents about 4.2% of the population of the United States as a whole) reported that they drove a vehicle while under the influence of illicit substances during the previous year. Though the percentages have gone down slightly from the previous year, they are still concerning. The results from this survey also revealed that males were more than twice as likely as females to have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the past year.

Age seems to be a factor in both drunk driving and drugged driving. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for 16- to 20-year-olds, which some attribute, in part, to teenagers’ relative inexperience. A survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that 13% of high school seniors reported that they had driven after using marijuana in the two weeks before they took the survey. Furthermore, starting at age 16 and steadily increasing until age 22, the percentage of those driving under the influence of illicit substances steadily increased from 7.3% (age 16) to 31.8% (age 22). After age 22, the problem seems to go down with increased age. Ironically, these ages overlap with what is likely to be most adolescents’ first opportunities for independence: a car and going away to college. (Click on each to read about: “Underage Drinking: Who, What, and Where” or “Campus Life: What You Should Know.”)

What drugs impair a person’s ability to drive?

Marijuana is the most common illicit substance related to drugged driving incidents. THC, the chemical in marijuana, affects memory, balance, movement, coordination, and judgment, which becomes especially problematic when the user is operating a vehicle. Studies suggest that drunk driving is often associated with marijuana use as well, the combination of which impairs the driver even further. THC negatively impacts the cognitive skills that are necessary for safe driving, including time and speed perception as well as attention span. The higher the level of THC is in a user’s system, the greater the level of impairment.

Both prescription and illicit drugs that are Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants – like opiates (for example, heroin, Oxycontin, Vicodin) and benzodiazepines (for example, Xanax) can make operating machinery (including cars) dangerous. While this may be the case with any prescription medication, they will likely become even more of a safety hazard when abused (that is, not taken in accordance with the doctor’s orders).

What should I do if someone I know is tempted to drive under the influence?

Many drugs that impair someone’s ability to drive also impair their overall ability to make rational decisions. If someone you know has a problem with substance abuse, we encourage you to call eDrug Rehab before the person is tempted to get behind the wheel of a car. Doing so may save their life and the lives of others!