By Oliver C.
My name is Oliver and I operate an information website covering the subject of addiction. I have myself been recovering from addiction for over 21 years. I just finished a blog post that explores the topic of “drug driving” — driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs. I feel there is nowhere near enough discussion about this issue at present.
Drugs – whether prescription, over-the-counter or illegal drugs – can impair necessary driving skills including vision, hearing, judgment, and reaction time. Driving also requires other cognitive skills, such as information processing and psychomotor skills, which may be impaired by the use of drugs.
Many people who would not consider driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, feel it is permissible to drive a vehicle whilst under the influence of marijuana, prescription medications, or even over-the-counter drugs (also known as OTC or nonprescription medicines).
However, it is always illegal to drive a vehicle of any type—car, bus, train, plane, or boat— if you are taking drugs that impair your alertness or ability to drive. If you are unfit to drive a vehicle because you are taking either legal or illegal drugs, it is not only illegal but immoral to do so.
Here is a list of prescription drugs that are known to impair your ability to drive a vehicle:
- Amphetamine
- Clonazepam
- Diazepam
- Flunitrazepam
- Lorazepam
- Methadone
- Morphine and other opiates
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
The most common over-the-counter medicines that can cause drowsiness or impaired driving include:
- Antidiarrheals (Imodium)
- Antiemetics (Dramamine)
- Antihistamines (Benadryl)
Below, we share an infographic about driving whilst under the influence of drugs that hopefully will aid in bringing the issue of “drug driving” to people’s awareness.
Source: https://www.adt-healthcare.com/blog/post/guide-drug-driving