Drugs which impair driving

Using two or more drugs at the same time, including alcohol, can amplify the impairing effects of each drug a person has consumed. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. The Issue Marijuana Impairs. Related Topic Drunk Driving. The Issue Responsible Behavior. Search for more resources The resources table requires JavaScript to be displayed.

Explore other topics in Risky Driving. Seat Belts Speeding Drowsy Driving. However, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Teen and older adult drivers are most often affected by drugged driving. Teens are less experienced and are more likely than other drivers to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations. They are also more likely to speed and allow less distance between vehicles.

When lack of driving experience is combined with drug use, the results can be tragic. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among young people aged 16 to 19 years. A study of college students with access to a car found that 1 in 6 had driven under the influence of a drug other than alcohol at least once in the past year.

Marijuana was the most common drug used, followed by cocaine and prescription pain relievers. Mental decline in older adults can lead to taking a prescription drug more or less often than they should or in the wrong amount.

Older adults also may not break down the drug in their system as quickly as younger people. These factors can lead to unintended intoxication while behind the wheel of a car. Because drugged driving puts people at a higher risk for crashes, public health experts urge people who use drugs and alcohol to develop social strategies to prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a car while impaired. Steps people can take include:.

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Impaired memory can affect the ability to draw from past driving experiences, especially in emergency situations.

The higher you are, the more risks you take while driving. Studies show that drivers with only a small amount of THC in their blood can feel the effects. They often try to be more cautious, driving slower than normal, even sometimes too slow. However, greater problems arise when increasingly larger doses of THC are present in the blood. These drivers tend to weave in and out of lanes more, react slower to traffic lights and unexpected obstacles and are less aware of their speed.

For others, the effects can last for several hours, and even the next day. And some medicines have a warning to not operate heavy machinery — this includes driving a car. Knowing how your medications — or any combination of them — affect your ability to drive is a safety measure. Some drugs that could make it dangerous to drive include:. Also, taking cannabidiol CBD products and driving can be dangerous. CBD can cause sleepiness, sedation, and lethargy.

Because of these side effects, consumers should use caution if planning on operating a motor vehicle after consuming any CBD products.