{"id":17714,"date":"2015-10-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadca1stg.wpengine.com\/resource\/new-report-urges-national-state-action-on-drugged-driving\/"},"modified":"2023-06-13T05:49:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T05:49:21","slug":"new-report-urges-national-state-action-drugged-driving","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.cadca.org\/es\/resource\/new-report-urges-national-state-action-drugged-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"New Report Urges National, State Action on Drugged Driving"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drug use by drivers is a mounting concern, particularly in light of more permissive marijuana laws (now legal for medical use in D.C. and 23 states and recreational use in four states and D.C.) and an increase in prescription drug abuse (the amount of prescription painkillers dispensed in the U.S. has quadrupled since 1999)<\/sup><\/u>. Any drug \u2013 whether illegal, filled by a prescription, or over-the-counter \u2013 can impair a person\u2019s ability to safely operate a vehicle.<\/p>\n

The most recent national data show drugged driving is increasing while drunk driving is declining. The percentage of fatally-injured drivers testing positive for drugs \u2013 40 percent \u2013 is almost the same as those testing positive for any alcohol. The most recent roadside survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 22 percent of drivers tested positive for some drug or medication.<\/p>\n

Both states and the federal government are under increased pressure to address drug-impaired driving, but the extent of drug impairment as a contributing factor in crashes is still unclear, and little is known about effective prevention strategies. This week, the\u00a0Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)<\/a>\u00a0y el\u00a0Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org)<\/a>\u00a0released a first-of-its-kind comprehensive report<\/a>\u00a0about drug use on our nation\u2019s roadways, providing recommendations to confront this complex highway safety issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery state must take steps to reduce drug-impaired driving, regardless of the legal status of marijuana,\u201d said Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director of GHSA, in a news release. \u201cThis is the first report to provide states and other stakeholders with the information they need. And we encourage NHTSA to issue guidance on best practices to prevent marijuana-impaired driving. We look to the federal government to take a leadership role in this issue similar to that of drunk driving and seat belt use.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen drug use is combined with alcohol, the risk of a crash is increased dramatically,\u201d said Responsibility.org President & CEO Ralph Blackman. \u201cThis is why it\u2019s so important to understand the scope of the problem and, more importantly, provide solutions to address it.\u201d<\/p>\n

State Recommendations<\/p>\n

At the heart of the report are action items states can take on a broad spectrum of issues. One innovative public\/private initiative highlighted in the report is\u00a0Drugged Driving=Done Driving,\u00a0<\/em>a new statewide pilot program in Ohio that educates young drivers about the risks of driving under the influence of drugs. It includes peer-to-peer efforts, public service announcements, grassroots engagement with youth and traffic safety stakeholders and has the support of law enforcement and political leadership across the state.<\/p>\n

Other recommendations that states can use to help guide their response to drug-impaired driving include the following elements:<\/p>\n