Nearly half of the three,382 motorists surveyed as a part of a brand new AAA Foundation examine reported getting behind the wheel after taking drugs like antidepressants and amphetamines, which have negative effects that might impair their potential to drive.
“Our research finds that many drivers are taking one or more potentially impairing medications before getting behind the wheel,” mentioned Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast director of public and authorities affairs. “It is important for medical professionals to offer clear consultation to their patients of the possible risks and ensure they understand them.”
Nineteen % of respondents had taken two or extra drugs and 6.2% reported taking three or extra in a 30-day interval between July and August 2021, in accordance with the AAA examine.
The outcomes indicated that about half of the motorists had not been warned by their medical doctors or pharmacists in regards to the potential risks of driving whereas taking drugs for melancholy, ache or sleep points, and have been more likely to keep away from the exercise if they’d been given a heads up.
AAA mentioned it’s incumbent upon medical professionals to teach sufferers in regards to the drugs they’re being prescribed, as many aren’t conscious of the potential negative effects. The examine confirmed that respondents who did obtain a warning have been 18% much less more likely to drive after their use.
Dubbed “potentially driver impairing” drugs, these medicine can result in dizziness, sleepiness, fainting, blurred imaginative and prescient, slowed motion and a focus issues, all of which might be lethal when blended with driving, the examine mentioned.
AAA honed in on generally prescribed or widespread over-the-counter drugs. All have been thought-about “potentially driver impairing” drugs, however not all drivers who reported taking them have been impaired; negative effects various amongst customers.
The medicine with the best use amongst drivers have been amphetamines, at 73.1%. Antidepressant use was not too far behind, at 60.8%.
Results dipped for antihistamine and cough medication use earlier than driving, which was 38.9%; prescription ache treatment, similar to Tylenol with codeine, Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin, at 32.6%; and muscle relaxants, at 21.6%
People have been least more likely to drive after taking sleeping drugs and anxiousness treatment, similar to Ambien, Xanax and Valium, with 9.2% of motorists indicating they’d been underneath the affect of these medicine whereas on the highway.
AAA mentioned the survey highlights the significance of patient-doctor or customer-pharmacist discussions previous to treatment use to keep away from impaired driving. Some potential options embody adjusting treatment doses, taking doses at completely different instances of the day and prescribing various drugs that don’t trigger impairment, the group mentioned.
While most drivers, or 94.5%, think about consuming and driving to be very harmful, one other AAA Foundation examine from final 12 months discovered that solely 87% have the identical views about driving after utilizing drugs with negative effects that might trigger impairment.
“Understandably, it may seem impossible for patients to maintain their independence behind the wheel and use the medications they need to stay healthy,” Maguire mentioned. “It turns out we can achieve both goals, but not without guidance from our doctor or pharmacist.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”