Drugged Driving Now Causes More
Fatal Crashes Than Drunk Driving
Story
at-a-glance
One in 4 Americans reports knowing someone addicted
to opioids, and driving under the influence of these
and other drugs has become a serious problem, now
causing more fatal car crashes than drunk driving
Prescription and/or illegal drugs were involved in
43 percent of fatal car crashes in 2015; 37 percent
involved illegal amounts of alcohol, highlighting
the need for law enforcement training in identifying
drug-impaired driving
Drugs metabolize in very different ways and at
different rates, making testing using blood, urine
or saliva challenging — nor can any single test
measure all the possible drugs a driver might be on
By Dr. Mercola
One in 4 Americans (and 1 in 3 millennials) reports knowing someone
addicted to
opioids,1
and recent statistics reveal driving under the influence of these and
other drugs has become a serious problem, now causing more fatal car
crashes than drunk driving.2
Many who go on to develop an addiction to opioids start out merely
seeking relief from their aches and pains. Back pain is a leading cause
of opioid use, but many also get hooked on these potent painkillers
after receiving a prescription following a sports injury or a minor
surgical procedure such as a tooth extraction.
Little did they know the painkiller they were taking would lead them
down such a dark and troublesome path. For years, drug makers misled
doctors and patients about the addictive nature of their narcotic
painkillers. As it turns out, opioids are highly addictive and have
become the No. 1 gateway drug to heroin.
While the rising death toll from opioid overdoses has received
much-needed attention in the last couple of years, another related
problem is now surfacing. Millions of people are driving under the
influence of opioids, yet law enforcement has few reliable tools to
identify drugged driving, or for measuring opioids and other drugs in
someone suspected of driving under the influence.
Drugged Driving Is a Leading Cause of Fatal Car Crashes
According to a report3,4,5
compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation
for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, prescription and/or illegal drugs
were involved in 43 percent of fatal car crashes in 2015, while 37
percent involved illegal amounts of alcohol. The findings highlight an
urgent need for law enforcement training in identifying drug-impaired
driving. As reported in the Chicago Tribune:6
“The drugged driving report, which summarizes findings from
multiple studies, said law enforcement officers often have a hard
time recognizing drivers under the influence of drugs, who are more
difficult to assess than those driving drunk.
‘Officers need to know more than they do for alcohol how to
suspect drug impairment, and know that it can exhibit itself in
different ways,’ [lead author and former National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration official Jim] Hedlund said in an interview.
‘Drug impairment has different signs and symptoms — think of the
difference between uppers and downers.’"
Many drivers also make the mistake of not taking their drug use into
account before getting behind the wheel. Illegal drugs are far from the
only drugs capable of impairing your judgment. As noted in the report,
hundreds of medications can impair your driving ability, including some
sold over-the-counter (OTC). Opioids are certainly part of that list.
Drugs — both prescription and illegal — in combination with alcohol is
particularly risky.
When it comes to measuring the amount of drugs in a person’s system,
the fact that different drugs metabolize in very different ways and at
different rates makes testing of blood, urine or saliva extremely
challenging, not to mention the fact that no single test can measure all
the possible drugs a driver might be on. An alternative is to use other
types of tests to evaluate whether a driver might be impaired by drugs.
The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility is giving out
$100,000 in grants this year to train police officers in five states on
the identification of drug-impaired driving. The U.S. Drug Evaluation
and Classification Program, for example, teaches law enforcement to use
a 12-step evaluation. The drawback is, it’s a 90-minute procedure that
is not easily done roadside.
Adding to the dilemma is that while “driving while impaired” is
illegal in all 50 states, the specific definition of “drug impairment”
varies. There’s also no uniformity in what drugs are actually screened
for when impairment is suspected. Testing for all of the hundreds of
drugs known to cause impairment is hardly feasible either.
Crash Risk Associated With Drugs
According to the report, marijuana accounted for 35 percent of
fatally injured drivers found to have drugs in their system;
amphetamines accounted for 9 percent, while more than half were caused
by "other drugs." In terms of crash risk, European studies have found
the following associations, assuming a driver with no drugs or alcohol
in their system has a relative crash risk assessment of 1:7
Marijuana is associated with a slightly elevated risk, with a
relative risk of 1 to 3 (increasing your crash risk by anywhere from
22 to 36 percent according to different studies)
Opioids, cocaine and benzodiazepines are associated with a
medium increased risk, with a relative risk of 2 to 10
Amphetamines and/or multiple drug combinations are associated
with a highly-elevated risk, with a relative risk of 5 to 30
Drugs in combination are associated with an extremely elevated
risk, with a relative risk of 20 to 200
Opioids Versus Marijuana — Don’t Lose Sight of the Greater Issue
While the report and most subsequent media articles have homed in on
marijuana, let’s remember that the majority of the fatal crashes, over
50 percent, involved “other drugs,” and that opioids have a higher
relative crash risk than marijuana.
While 1 in 8 American adults (13 percent) reports smoking marijuana,8
the opioid problem surely outweighs recreational marijuana use. More
than 259 million prescriptions for opioids are written in the U.S. each
year9
— an astounding 1 in 5 patients with a pain-related diagnosis is
prescribed opioids, and in some states opioid prescriptions outnumber
the residents.10
More than 12 million Americans report using prescription painkillers
for nonmedical purposes11
and 2 million Americans over the age of 12 are addicted specifically to
opioid painkillers.12,13
One in 4 Americans and 1 in 3 millennials reports knowing someone
addicted to opioids.14
Homing in on how the legalization of marijuana may impact road safety
without saying a single word about the impact of opioids is just
reprehensible. We cannot continue sweeping the matter of opioid overuse
and addiction under the rug and simply point fingers at marijuana.
Clearly, you should not drive if you’ve been smoking pot (CBC-based
medical cannabis is different, as CBC does not have a psychoactive
effect), but you also clearly should not drive if you’ve recently taken
an opioid, even if you’re taking it as prescribed. The recent arrest of
Tiger Woods15,16
highlights this common-sense advice.
Tiger Woods Arrested for Drugged Driving
According to a CNN report,17
Jupiter, Florida, police found Woods asleep at the wheel in his car on
the side of the road. The driver’s side had minor damage, and both front
and rear tires on that side were flat. When the officer woke him up,
Woods’ speech was slurred, and he said he didn’t know where he was. He
was arrested and charged with DUI. A Breathalyzer test revealed he had
no alcohol in his system, however, and he admitted he was taking
“several prescriptions.”
In a public apology,18
Woods blamed his impairment on “an unexpected reaction to prescribed
medications. I didn’t realize the mix of medications had affected me so
strongly.” He’s recovering from surgery, so the medications he’s
referring to may have been prescribed in relation to that.
“I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved,” Woods said
— a comment that highlights the social stigma of drinking and driving.
But we now need to recognize that medications are just as dangerous when
you’re behind the wheel. A prescription is not a “free pass” to avoid
personal responsibility. You still have to make sure you are in fact not
impaired before driving.
The same goes for over-the-counter drugs. Certain allergy medications
and cough syrup, for example, can make you drowsy and the side effects
may linger well into the next day. A California man was even charged
with DUI resulting from excessive caffeine intake earlier this year.
The man was arrested for “erratic, reckless driving” and charged with
DUI. When testing failed to reveal drugs or alcohol, he was cited for
driving under the influence of caffeine — the only substance found
in his system. The charges raised many an eyebrow and were eventually
dropped, but not without some legal wrangling.
Carefully Weigh Your Need for Narcotic Pain Relievers
It’s extremely important to be cognizant of your level of impairment
when taking ANY drug. Also beware of the addictive potential of opioid
drugs. I urge you to seriously weigh your need for them. If you have not
seen it yet, watch the documentary “Chasing
the Dragon” before filling that prescription. There are so many
other ways to address pain.
Below is a long list of suggestions. If you are in pain that is
bearable, please try these options first, before resorting to
prescription painkillers of any kind.
If you need a pain reliever, consider an over-the-counter (OTC
option. Research19
shows prescription-strength naproxen (Naprosyn, sold OTC in lower
dosages as Aleve) provides the same pain relief as more dangerous
narcotic painkillers. However, while naproxen may be a better
alternative to narcotic painkillers, it still comes with a very long
list of potential side effects,20
and the risks increase with frequency of use.
Nondrug Solutions for Pain Relief
Eliminate or radically reduce
most grains and sugars from your diet
Avoiding grains and sugars will lower your insulin and leptin
levels and decrease insulin and leptin resistance, which is one
of the most important reasons why inflammatory prostaglandins
are produced. That is why stopping sugar and sweets is so
important to controlling your pain and other types of chronic
illnesses.
Take a high-quality,
animal-based omega-3 fat
Omega-3
fats are precursors to mediators of inflammation called
prostaglandins. (In fact, that is how anti-inflammatory
painkillers work, by manipulating prostaglandins.) Good sources
include wild-caught Alaskan salmon, sardines and anchovies,
which are all high in healthy omega-3s while being low in
contaminants such as mercury. As for supplements, my favorite is
krill oil, as it has a number of benefits superior to fish oil.
Optimize your sun exposure and
production of vitamin D
Optimize your vitamin D by getting regular, appropriate sun
exposure, which will work through a variety of different
mechanisms to reduce your pain.
Sun exposure also has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving
effects that are unrelated to vitamin D production, and these
benefits cannot be obtained from a vitamin D supplement.
Red, near-, mid- and far-infrared
light therapy (photobiology) and/or
infrared saunas may also be quite helpful as it promotes and
speeds tissue healing, even deep inside the body.
Medical cannabis
Medical marijuana has a long history as a natural analgesic
and is now legal in 28 states. You can learn more about the laws
in your state on medicalmarijuana.procon.org.21
Kratom
Kratom (Mitragyna speciose) is another plant remedy that has
become a popular opioid substitute.22
In August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a
notice saying it was planning to ban kratom, listing it as a
Schedule 1 controlled substance. However, following massive
outrage from kratom users who say opioids are their only
alternative, the agency reversed its decision.23
Kratom is likely safer than an opioid for someone in serious
and chronic pain. However, it’s important to recognize that it
is a psychoactive substance and should not be used carelessly.
There’s very little research showing how to use it safely and
effectively, and it may have a very different effect from one
person to the next.
Also, while it may be useful for weaning people off opioids,
kratom is in itself addictive. So, while it appears to be a far
safer alternative to opioids, it’s still a powerful and
potentially addictive substance. So please, do your own research
before trying it.
Emotional Freedom Techniques
(EFT)
EFT is a drug-free
approach for pain management of all kinds. EFT borrows from the
principles of acupuncture in that it helps you balance out your
subtle energy system. It helps resolve underlying, often
subconscious, and negative emotions that may be exacerbating
your physical pain. By stimulating (tapping) well-established
acupuncture points with your fingertips, you rebalance your
energy system, which tends to dissipate pain.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Training
Among volunteers who had never meditated before, those who
attended four 20-minute classes to learn a meditation technique
called focused attention (a form of
mindfulness meditation) experienced significant pain relief
— a 40 percent reduction in pain intensity and a 57 percent
reduction in pain unpleasantness.24
K-Laser, Class 4 Laser Therapy
If you suffer pain from an injury, arthritis or other
inflammation-based pain, I’d strongly encourage you to try
K-Laser therapy. It can be an excellent choice for many
painful conditions, including acute injuries. By addressing the
underlying cause of the pain, you will no longer need to rely on
painkillers.
K-Laser is a class 4 infrared laser therapy treatment that
helps reduce pain, reduce inflammation and enhance tissue
healing — both in hard and soft tissues, including muscles,
ligaments or even bones. The infrared wavelengths used in the
K-Laser allow for targeting specific areas of your body and can
penetrate deeply into the body to reach areas such as your spine
and hip.
Chiropractic
Many studies have confirmed that chiropractic management is
much safer and less expensive than allopathic medical
treatments, especially when used for pain such as low back pain.
Qualified chiropractic, osteopathic and naturopathic
physicians are reliable, as they have received extensive
training in the management of musculoskeletal disorders during
their course of graduate health care training, which lasts
between four to six years. These health experts have
comprehensive training in musculoskeletal management.
Acupuncture
Research has discovered a "clear and robust" effect of
acupuncture in the treatment of back, neck and shoulder
pain, and osteoarthritis and headaches.
Physical therapy
Physical therapyhas been shown to be as
good as surgery for painful conditions such as torn cartilage
and arthritis.
Foundation Training
Foundation training is an innovative method developed by Dr.
Eric Goodman to treat his own chronic low back pain. It’s an
excellent alternative to painkillers and surgery, as it actually
addresses the cause of the problem.
Massage
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the
journal Pain Medicine included 60 high-quality and seven
low-quality studies that looked into the use of massage for
various types of pain, including muscle and bone pain,
headaches, deep internal pain, fibromyalgia pain and spinal cord
pain.25
The review revealed massage therapy relieves pain better than
getting no treatment at all. When compared to other pain
treatments like acupuncture and physical therapy, massage
therapy still proved beneficial and had few side effects. In
addition to relieving pain, massage therapy also improved
anxiety and health-related quality of life.
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is one of the most effective fat-soluble
antioxidants known. It has very potent anti-inflammatory
properties and in many cases works far more effectively than
anti-inflammatory drugs. Higher doses are typically required and
you may need 8 milligrams (mg) or more per day to achieve this
benefit.
Ginger
This herb has potent anti-inflammatory activity and offers
pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh
ginger
works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into
vegetable juice.
Curcumin
In a study of osteoarthritis patients, those who added 200 mg
of
curcumin a day to their treatment plan had reduced pain and
increased mobility. A past study also found that a turmeric
extract composed of curcuminoids blocked inflammatory pathways,
effectively preventing the overproduction of a protein that
triggers swelling and pain.26
Boswellia
Also known as boswellin or "Indian frankincense," this herb
contains specific active anti-inflammatory ingredients.
This enzyme, found in pineapples, is a natural
anti-inflammatory. It can be taken in supplement form but eating
fresh pineapple, including some of the bromelain-rich stem, may
also be helpful.
Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO)
This oil, found in fish and dairy butter, acts as a joint
lubricant and anti-inflammatory. I have used this for myself to
relieve ganglion cysts and carpal tunnel syndrome. I used a
topical preparation for this.
Evening Primrose, Black Currant
and Borage Oils
These contain the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid
(GLA), which is particularly useful for treating arthritic pain.
Cayenne Cream
Also called capsaicin cream, this spice comes from dried hot
peppers. It alleviates pain by depleting the body's supply of
substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells that transmits
pain signals to your brain.
Methods such as hot and cold packs, aquatic therapy,
yoga, various mind-body techniques and cognitive behavioral
therapy27
can also result in astonishing pain relief without drugs.
Grounding
Walking barefoot on the earth may also provide a certain
measure of pain relief by combating inflammation.
Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, originally developed in
the early 1960s for the treatment of opioid addiction. When
taken at very low doses (LDN, available only by prescription),
it triggers endorphin production, which can boost your immune
function and ease pain.