More B.C. residents driving while high: Study

WATCH:  Randene Neill explains the growing risks of ‘drug impaired driving”

VANCOUVER – More B.C. residents are driving while high, according to a study published in the BC Medical Journal.

Researchers have conducted regular roadside surveys in B.C. since 1995. In the latest survey, which was conducted in 2012, 8.3 per cent of drivers had been drinking and 10.1 per cent had used at least one drug. Cannabis was found in 5.4 per cent of drivers, cocaine in 4.1 per cent, amphetamines in 1.7 per cent, opiates in 1.1 per cent, and benzodiazepines in 0.1 per cent. This is up from previous years.

The study also used results from injured drivers who were treated in B.C. trauma centres. These results from the first 1,097 drivers show alcohol was present in 17.8 per cent of drivers, and the alcohol concentration was greater than 0.08 in 15.4 per cent. The most common recreational drug was cannabis: 12.6 per cent of drivers tested positive for cannabis metabolites, and 7.3 per cent were positive for THC, indicating recent use. Cannabis was more common in males and in drivers under 30 years old. Drivers were also found with cocaine, amphetamines, and medications including diphenhydramine, benzodiazepines, and opiates.

The study does note that dealing with drug driving is complicated and identifying drugs in drivers is difficult to detect.

Drugs can slow reaction times, but can also increase wakefulness and improve reaction times in some drivers. Prescription medications can also cause impairment and can lead to drowsiness and reduced attention span.

The study found there is limited ‘real-world’ evidence linking drugs to crashes however. Cannabis is the most-studied drug and some evidence suggests that acute cannabis use approximately doubles the risk of crashing. With other drugs, evidence is more limited and the study found further research is urgently needed to better understand the crash risks.

“Doctors of BC encourages the governments of BC and Canada to promote and provide funding for the development of improved screening tools to detect drug-impaired drivers and to work with stakeholders to improve legislation and policies to address the problem of drug-impaired driving,” the article states.