Authorities Have Difficulty Catching Drugged Drivers

As the number of those driving while under the influence of drugs continues to increase, it’s still difficult for researchers and law enforcement to determine and track.

There’s no question that on U.S. streets and highways there is a rising number of “drugged drivers,” people who get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. In fact, an alarming 10.2 million Americans drove under the influence of drugs in 2006, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

In 2007, 41,059 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S., with 31 percent of those accidents being alcohol-related. That’s no surprise since we’ve all been made well aware of the toll drunk driving takes. But what may be more shocking is that estimates by the Institute for Behavior and Health estimate that 20 percent of those accidents were drug-related.

Researchers are finding it difficult to measure the exact number of drugged drivers due to the lack of standard measurements. While “breathalyzers” have been effective in analyzing drunk drivers and their degree of inebriation, there is no easy way to distinguish a drugged-driver during traffic stops. Such missing data hampers efforts to arrest possible offenders and secure prosecuting, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a problem and one we all need to be aware of.

If you or someone you know has a drug problem, Alta Mira Recovery offers treatment programs that can help bring you out of addiction and into recovery.