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December 31, 2006

DRIVER DRUG-USE PROBLEM MAKES HEADLINES IN IRELAND

One in three drink driving suspects who were found to be within the legal blood alcohol limit of .08, tested positive for a range of prescription and illegal drugs, according to a report in the Irish Independent. This rate was “almost twice as high as that of drivers over the legal limit - one in seven of whom tested positive for drugs.”

“The shocking new research on Irish drivers, published in the British Medical Association's journal 'Injury Prevention' today, has prompted a call for routine drugs testing of people suspected of being over the limit for alcohol,” the paper said.

The drugs found included amphetamines, metamphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, opiates and the heroin substitute methadone. The most common was cannabis. Researchers from UCD School of Public Health and Population Science reportedly based their findings on 2,000 blood and urine specimens taken from drivers who had been stopped by police on suspicion of driving while "under the influence" over two years.

The researchers “warned that the role of drugs in injuries caused by road traffic is likely to be underestimated internationally, as the predominant focus has been on detecting drunk drivers. They suggested a greater focus on drugged driving and its detection, particularly among those drivers with a low alcohol reading, could prevent injuries.”

Posted by MVHAP at December 31, 2006 11:23 AM