Rise in Prescription Drug-Related Car Crashes in Nevada County
Posted on November 3, 2009In Washoe County, Nevada, law enforcement officers say that the recent rise in traffic crashes due to drugged driving are causing a new threat to motorists. Police estimate that one in three to one in five driving under the influence arrests are related to prescription drug impairment.
Laurel Stadler, president of the Nevada chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said police officials at MADD conferences present drugged driving as “a huge, huge component to impaired driving.”
Those who abuse prescription medication often ignore the warnings on their prescriptions that caution against driving. Because the medications are legally prescribed, many people don’t consider it to be drug abuse. However, sedatives and muscle relaxers mimic the affects of alcohol.
“People don’t associate impaired driving with taking medications,” Reno police Lt. Dave Evans said. “No doubt it happens more than we know. The biggest issue is people have to make sure that whatever they take will allow them to still function. It really requires effort on the driver to make sure they can operate safely and within the law.”
Impaired parents who drive with their children are also facing child neglect or endangerment charges.
“In their minds, they don’t think they are a threat to society, but people really need to take a second look at what they are doing,” said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Chuck Allen. “Every DUI, whether from alcohol or drugs, is preventable. You can choose to make a good choice and not drive while you’re impaired.”
“When they mix their medicine with alcohol that’s a whole other problem,” Ahrens said. “It basically doubles the affects. It makes you sleepy. We find people passed out at intersections at stop lights and in parking garages. When you are that wasted on medications and alcohol, there is absolutely no thought of calling a cab, or taking the bus. You just want to go sleep. There is no way you can maintain a lane, and you crash into everything. These drivers have the potential to kill tons of people.”
Ahrens said he recently investigated a crash in which a driver had taken five impairment-causing medications, known to police as prescription “cocktails.” Another motorist directed police to his location.
“He got out staggering like a drunk, but he had no alcohol on board,” he said. “That is a major menace on the roadway.”
Sparks police Sgt. Pat Dyer said officers are concerned about the level of impairment and not what kind of medication is consumed.
“They don’t seem to understand they are impaired because of the medication,” Dyer said. “They think they are doing something that is OK, when it states right on the bottle not to drive. Get another ride or take a cab. Society has become more medicated now, and we have to watch out for abusers on the road.”
