Prescription Pain Killers and Driving - A Deadly Mix

by Christopher Hoffmann on Oct. 29, 2014

Accident & Injury Car Accident Accident & Injury  Personal Injury Accident & Injury 

Summary: Some drivers have tested positive for multiple drug combinations, particularly prescription drugs.

Research conducted by Public Health Reports indicate that a large number of fatal car accidents involve drivers using marijuana and prescription drugs.

Drunk driving is often cited as the main cause of these accidents, and alcohol is now considered just one of the factors affecting the driving capacity of a person. Many drivers have been tested positive for multiple drug combinations, particularly prescription drugs, which exacerbate the situation.

The Mere Presence of Some Drugs Can Affect Driving Capacity

Driving capacity is affected by psychoactive or mind-altering drugs, which have a similar effect as alcohol. Although the effects of the drugs are determined by the reaction of the brain to them, all of these drugs affect the faculties. These drugs affect the balance, coordination, reaction, judgment, attention, spatial orientation, and motor skills of the driver.

Among the drugs linked to these accidents are amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and opiates. A number of people have the false impression that prescription drugs are less dangerous than street drugs. However, it is essential to be aware of the fact that prescription drugs, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, have effects similar to heroin. A number of prescription drugs including benzodiazepines and opoid pain relievers come with a warning against the use of machinery for a specific period of time after consuming these drugs. The warning includes the use of motor vehicles.

Prescription Drugs Can Cause Fatal Driving Accidents

The Public and Health Reports of the CDC showed the percentage of fatal car accidents caused by prescription drugs is three times higher than that caused by marijuana. Alcohol was a contributory factor in half of fatal car accidents. While the study does not indicate that marijuana is safer, it shows that the use of alcohol and prescription drugs has a bigger effect on the driving capacity of a person.

A British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study revealed the link between the use of psychotropic drugs for a period of time and the increasing number of car accidents. St. Louis car accident lawyers remind us that psychotropic drugs, which are used in the treatment of insomnia, depression, anxiety, and similar psychiatric problems, can affect the mental processes of a person. Antidepressants, insomnia medication, and benzodiazepines can have a negative effect on the driving capacity of a person.

Understand Your Legal Rights

If you or someone close to you has been injured because of a person driving under the influence of prescription drugs, you should consult with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 to understand your legal rights.

More resources:

rear end collision

car accident lawyer near

who is at fault in a t-bone collision?

Legal Articles Additional Disclaimer

Lawyer.com is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice. Content posted on Lawyer.com is the sole responsibility of the person from whom such content originated and is not reviewed or commented on by Lawyer.com. The application of law to any set of facts is a highly specialized skill, practiced by lawyers and often dependent on jurisdiction. Content on the site of a legal nature may or may not be accurate for a particular state or jurisdiction and may largely depend on specific circumstances surrounding individual cases, which may or may not be consistent with your circumstances or may no longer be up-to-date to the extent that laws have changed since posting. Legal articles therefore are for review as general research and for use in helping to gauge a lawyer's expertise on a matter. If you are seeking specific legal advice, Lawyer.com recommends that you contact a lawyer to review your specific issues. See Lawyer.com's full Terms of Use for more information.