Drug Abuse Indiana: What Is Drugged Driving

In the last 20 or so years, there has been a significant effort put forth to curb drunk driving and to recognize the problems it causes. Despite the in-roads made into reducing that problem, as evidenced by the decrease in drunk driving accidents, drugged driving is also a significant problem that needs to be addressed. Drugged driving involves some of the same significant dangers as drunk driving.

In the United States, 15 states recognize that it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle if there is any detectable amount of a prohibited drug, or its metabolites, in the driver’s blood stream. These states include Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Still more states define “drugged driving” as driving while a drug renders the driver incapable or less capable of driving safely or causes the driver to be impaired in some way.

The concerns related to drugged driving are very similar to those relating to drunk driving. Driving under the influence of any drug that acts on the brain can impair one’s motor skills reaction time, and judgment. Just like drunk driving is a public health concern, so is drugged driving. The act of driving while under the influence of drugs puts not only the driver at risk but also the passengers in his or her car and people in other cars at risk.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 17,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2006. Of those crashes, it has been estimated by numerous studies that between 10% and 22% of the drivers involved in the crashes were under the influence of drugs, often in combination with alcohol.

Drugs that act on the brain have been recognized as hazards to road traffic safety in recent years. Concerning drug use and its prevalence, some research has been conducted in other countries or in specific regions of the United States. The prevalence rates for different drugs vary from region to region or country to country.

Generally speaking, though, marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug that is detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Other common drugs include benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines. Benzodiazepines are sedative drugs that include Valium among their members.

Drugs are a problem because they alter a driver’s 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 of the drug used, the drug history of the user, etc.

SAT Steriods, ADHD Drugs-Study Aids? – Ashley, a College student is interviewed by psychologist Dr. Charles Shinaver about prescription drug abuse to improve academic performance. Are you aware of any college students who are not diagnosed with ADHD but abuse ADHD medications as a study helper? What awareness do you think College kids have of the risks or the side effects of ADHD drugs? Are there other purposes for which college students abuse ADHD drugs?

'Take back' event is April 28

Filed under: Drug Abuse Indiana

The Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring the fourth nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back” initiative April 28. The Indiana State Police will again partner with the DEA. The initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by …
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Panel Gives Possible Solutions to County Drug Problem

Filed under: Drug Abuse Indiana

She also invited attendees to a training course on how to recognize methamphetamine use May 2 at the Rustic Lodge in Indiana. The event will be led by the Attorney General's office. by Jonathan Weaver “What can we do about all these drugs?
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Spike in RX overdoses in Ind. counties

Filed under: Drug Abuse Indiana

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) – A rising number of fatal drug overdoses in central Indiana is causing health officials, police and anti-drug groups to take a hard look at the issue of prescription drug abuse, and how to prevent it. Drug overdoses have caused or …
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