You’ve probably heard over and over again that you should not drink and drive. But what about driving on drugs?
Although comparatively overlooked, drugged driving is a very real and dangerous scenario. In 2018, it was estimated that 12.6 million people drove while under the influence of illicit drugs, with young adults age 21 to 25 as the biggest offenders.1 Just like driving drunk, driving under the influence of drugs can put people’s lives in danger.
The Dangers of Drugged Driving
Driving drunk is so dangerous because even small amounts of alcohol can impair a person’s reaction time, judgment, and attention. While the risks of drunk driving are well-publicized, a lot of people do not realize that driving under the influence of drugs can be just as dangerous.Illicit drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin can all lead to powerful effects that can inhibit someone’s ability to drive safely. And these drugs are not the only substances of concern. Although recreational marijuana is legal in several states, driving while high on marijuana has several dangers. Studies show that driving while under the influence of marijuana, people were more likely to lane weave, had a poor reaction time, and had impaired attention.2 All of these effects could lead to an accident.
Even driving under the influence of prescription medications can be dangerous. Benzodiazepines, a tranquilizer, can lead to lethargy, drowsiness, and blurred vision. These effects lead to an increased risk of an accident while under their influence.3 Opioids are another prescription drug that can pose a threat to someone’s driving ability; their misuse has been shown to significantly increase the risk of fatal crashes.4
For people who abuse these drugs and have yet to seek prescription drug addiction treatment, their pill-popping could put their lives, and the lives of other drivers, in danger.
Even worse than driving drugged is driving drunk and drugged. In 2014, it was estimated that 5.9 million people drove while under the influence of both illicit drugs and alcohol.5 Mixing drugs and alcohol is risky on its own, but doing so and getting behind the wheel can be deadly. In some cases, it can exacerbate the effects of one substance. In other cases, it may mitigate the negative side effects of one of the substances, which can lead to someone feeling less intoxicated than they are. Regardless of exactly how these substances react with one another, this can be disastrous for someone trying to navigate a vehicle. And regardless of whether or not someone has drugs in their system, people who are unable to control their drinking habits may need alcohol abuse treatment.
Not only could someone’s substance use put people’s lives in danger, but it could also lead to a serious run-in with the law. Because of the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs, several states have drug driving penalties. Pennsylvania itself has a drugged driving “per se” law that makes it illegal for someone to operate a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of drugs in their system.6
If you have gotten a DUI for drugs or alcohol, it may be time to take a long look in the mirror. While you may not want to admit that you have a problem, your substance use could be putting your life, as well as the lives of others, in danger. Instead of continuing to live with this risk, our Philadelphia, PA drug rehab could be what you need to regain control of your addiction.
If you or a loved one has a substance abuse problem, contact us today at 888-280-4763. At Banyan Philadelphia, we help people get their lives back on track.
Alyssa, Director of Digital Marketing
Alyssa is the National Director of Digital Marketing and is responsible for a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. All articles have been written by Alyssa and medically reviewed by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne.
