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In a CBS news report July 31, 2017, lead researcher Stanford Chihuri, a staff associate in the department of anesthesiology at the Columbia University Medical Center College of Physicians and Surgeons said, "The significant increase in the proportion of drivers who test positive for prescription pain medications is an urgent public health concern. Prescription pain medications’ use and abuse may play a role in motor vehicle crashes.”  

The American Journal of Public Health researchers found that the prevalence of drivers with prescription opioids detected in their systems at the time of death surged from 1.0 percent in 1995 to 7.2 percent in 2015 (latest available data). This increase is likely due to the rise in use of these types of drugs, as prescriptions for opioid painkillers have risen from 76 million to nearly 300 million. Oxycodone, morphine, and codeine were the most commonly detected drugs in the study, according to USA Today on August 3, 2017. 

Is there an opiate epidemic? 

The studies have found that an estimated 92 million adults use opioid painkillers in the United States each year. Often those taking the painkillers may not realize the effects that these drugs can have on the safety of routine activities like driving, especially when they are mixed with other drugs and alcohol. Driving under the influence of prescription painkillers can be a danger not just to drugged drivers, but also to everyone else on the road. 

How do opioids affect a driver’s ability to drive? 

Drugabuse.gov reports that in recent years, drugs, other than alcohol, that act on the brain have increasingly been recognized as hazards to road traffic safety. It depends on the specific drug on how it may act in the brain; however, they all cause some impairment of faculties which are necessities when driving. These faculties include motor skills, balance and coordination, perception, attention, reaction time, and judgment. Even small amounts of some drugs can have a measurable effect on driving ability. 

What is being done to curb opioid use? 

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) expanded its mission to include drug-impaired driving in 2015 issuing the following statement: 

“MADD is concerned about the rise of opiates across the nation and the effect it has on the safety of our roadways," said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD's national president, whose own son died in a car crash where the driver was later found to have both alcohol and drugs in her system. "There is absolutely no doubt that drugged driving is a serious problem." 

In 2016, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) published its CDC Guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain to help stymie the epidemic, recommending that physicians in primary care settings prescribe non-opioid therapies such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain except for during active cancer treatment, palliative care or end-of-life care, according to USA Today in July 2017. 

Florida laws prohibit driving under the influence of drugs 

A Florida motorist can be convicted of a drug DUI for driving or being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle while under the influence of certain “harmful chemicals” or “controlled substances.” (Florida Statute Ann.§ 316.193) 

Florida’s list of controlled substances is extensive and includes: opioids, opiates, stimulants, hallucinogens, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine heroin and painkillers are some of the more common examples.  (Florida Statute Ann. § 893.03) 

“Being injured in a vehicle accident can be devastating. After seeking medical attention, please contact us to determine your rights,” said Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney, Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.