FIRST-TIME STUDY HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR INCREASED AWARENESS OF SUBSTANCE USE AND DRIVING BEHAVIORS

A new federal study released today reveals significant rates of driving within two hours after use of alcohol or drugs. The study was a collaborative effort by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The nationally representative study, Driving After Alcohol And Drug Use, estimates that, within a single year, 28 percent of all drivers in the U.S. have used either drugs, alcohol or both within two hours before getting behind the wheel. The study finds that driving after drug use is more common among young (age 16 to 20) male drivers, and that driving after use of alcohol is more common among older drivers age 21 to 49.

"With the Holiday Season here, we need to pay special attention to the dangers of drunk and drugged driving," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala. "Too often, a season that should be joyful and renewing becomes instead a season of tragedy. We can all take steps to prevent drunk and drugged driving, and we owe it to ourselves and others to take those steps."

SAMHSA Administrator Nelba Chavez, Ph.D., offered specific steps that can be taken, including making sure that a choice of non-alcoholic drinks is available at holiday gatherings. "Let us all adopt a resolution for this Holiday Season and the coming New Year to avoid mixing substance use and driving for the sake of our families and loved ones," Dr. Chavez said.

"Impaired driving continues to be the most frequently committed violent crime in America," said Ricardo Martinez, M.D., Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "It accounts for over 16,000 deaths, one million injuries and $45 billion in costs to society every year."

Data for this study were generated from a set of questions developed for use in SAMHSA's 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The survey included face-to-face interviews with 11,847 drivers 16 years and older who reported having driven a motor vehicle on at least one occasion in the 12 months prior to interview. Other major findings of the study include:

An estimated 23 percent (38 million) of drivers used alcohol only within two hours prior to driving.
An estimated 5 percent (9 million) of drivers operated a motor vehicle within two hours after drug use with or without alcohol.
Marijuana was the illicit drug used most often by drivers who drove after drug use (used by 70 percent of those who drove after drug use). A majority of those who reported driving after marijuana use claimed that the marijuana use did "not at all" affect their ability to drive safely
Driving after alcohol use was more common among males (31 percent) than females (14 percent).
On the most recent occasion of driving after alcohol use, female drivers age 21 and older generally had higher average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels than males of the same age (48 percent of females had a BAC level equal to or greater than 0.2 g/dl vs. 32 percent of males).
Driving after drug use was more common among drivers who were young (13 percent for those age 16 to 20 vs. 5 percent for those age 21 and older).

What You Can Do About Alcohol/Drug Use and Driving

Do not permit use of illicit drugs at your gathering. It is against the law.
If your party/celebration is held in or near a hotel, encourage guests ahead of time to book rooms for the night and keep the phone numbers of several cab companies handy.
Know who is driving. Ask each arriving group who their designated driver is and give that person a "No thanks, I'm driving" button or sticker. Collect car keys at the door.
One out of three adults prefers a non-alcoholic beverage. Ensure that the choice is available.
Remember to stop serving drinks at least one hour before the end of the party and begin offering non-alcoholic beverages and desserts at that time. Also, have plenty of snack food available during the party to help absorb the alcohol people will consume.

Driving After Alcohol Or Drug Use

may be obtained free of charge by calling SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686, or on the Internet at http://www.samhsa.gov. SAMHSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.hhs.gov.

This article comes from Science Blog. Copyright � 2004
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