The Effects Of Drugs & Alcohol On Driving

Every year, about 1.1 million people in the United States are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs (DUI). The effects of alcohol and other drugs often contribute to car crashes. That’s because they hinder your driving skills.

There are three main types of drugs: depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Each type disrupts your driving ability in different ways.

The Effects Of Depressants On Driving

Depressants are drugs that slow down your central nervous system.

Examples include alcohol, opioids (such as heroin and oxycodone), benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Klonopin), barbiturates (such as Seconal and Nembutal), and sedative-hypnotics (such as Ambien and Lunesta).

All depressant drugs pose an increased risk of motor vehicle crash. That’s because they can cause:

• drowsiness
• impaired coordination
• poor judgment
• poor concentration
• trouble processing information
• slowed reaction time
• difficulty steering
• difficulty maintaining lane position and braking
• difficulty responding to emergency driving situations

The depressant most commonly involved in fatal crashes is alcohol.

Alcohol & Driving

In the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 13.5 million Americans reported driving while alcohol-impaired. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 32 people in the U.S. die in drunk driving crashes every day.

That’s why it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08 percent. At this BAC, you are legally considered under the influence of alcohol.

Prescription Drugs & Driving

If you use prescription depressants (such as prescription opioids) exactly as prescribed, you might not experience intense side effects that impact your driving ability. However, you should still ask your doctor whether it’s safe for you to drive.

The Effects Of Stimulants On Driving

Stimulants are drugs that speed up your central nervous system. They include illicit drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine as well as prescription drugs like Adderall (amphetamine) and Ritalin (methylphenidate).

These substances can make you an unsafe driver by causing:

• overconfidence in your driving ability
• increased risk-taking, which may lead to speeding, running red lights, and other dangerous behaviors
• recklessness
• anxiety and panic
• aggression

Some stimulant users also experience psychosis.

Psychosis & Driving

Psychosis is a temporary loss of connection with reality. It often involves paranoia (irrational distrust of others), delusions (beliefs that conflict with reality), and hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there).

All of these symptoms can make it impossible to drive safely.

Prescription Stimulants & Driving

As with prescription depressants, you should talk to your doctor before driving while taking a prescription stimulant.

In general, you will not experience severe side effects like psychosis if you use the medication as prescribed. However, you may develop milder side effects, such as panic, that make safe driving difficult.

The Effects Of Hallucinogens On Driving

Hallucinogens are illegal drugs that alter your thoughts, feelings, and sense of your surroundings. Examples include LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, ketamine, MDMA, and PCP.

These drugs can impair your driving skills by causing effects such as:

• blurry vision
• poor coordination
• confusion
• intense mood swings
• anxiety and panic
• distorted sense of time
• psychosis

Also, although rare, hallucinogens can cause flashbacks that last long after you use the drugs. These flashbacks typically involve visual distortions or hallucinations. They can prevent you from driving safely by making you feel distracted, confused, or panicked.

The Effects Of Other Drugs On Driving

Another popular drug that impacts your driving ability is marijuana (cannabis). Because marijuana has depressant, stimulant, and hallucinogenic effects, it can’t be classified into one of the above categories. The drug’s main psychoactive ingredient, THC, can cause issues such as:

• poor concentration
• poor motor skills
• distorted sense of time
• difficulty maintaining lane position and braking
• difficulty multitasking

Due to these effects, marijuana use greatly increases your risk of a motor vehicle crash.

In addition, some over-the-counter medications may cause side effects that impair your driving skills, such as drowsiness and dizziness. That’s why you should talk to your doctor before driving on a new medication.

Finally, no matter what drugs you use, mixing multiple drugs (also known as polydrug use) makes driving even more dangerous.

How To Prevent Drug-Impaired Driving

Anyone can help reduce drug-related crashes by taking a few important steps.

Designated Driver

If you plan to use alcohol or other drugs, always have a designated driver who will remain drug-free for the night. Also, never let your friends drive while intoxicated.

Similarly, if you host a party that includes alcohol or other drugs, ensure that all guests have a sober driver to bring them home.

Addiction Treatment

If you feel unable to control your drug or alcohol use while driving, you may have an addiction (substance use disorder).

Other symptoms of addiction include frequent drug cravings, tolerance (needing increasingly larger amounts of a drug to feel the desired effects), and physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use drugs).

To learn about addiction treatment options, please reach out to Bedrock Recovery Center. Our compassionate healthcare providers offer medical detox, mental health counseling, and other evidence-based services to help you or your loved one recover from drug abuse.

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Alcohol Effects On The Body

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