POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 107 Driving under the influence continued Prescription Drugs Prescription drugs like painkillers, depressants or stimulants should never be taken without a prescription from a doctor and they should be used under medical supervision. The effects of specific drugs differ depending on how they act in the brain, but all impair faculties necessary for the safe operation of a vehicle. These faculties include motor skills, balance and coordination, perception, attention, reaction time, and judgment. These drugs cause feelings of euphoria, drowsiness, and relaxation and decrease the sensation of pain. The Bottom Line Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or a combination of the two is very dangerous for anyone. The use of any psychoactive (mindaltering) drug makes it highly unsafe to drive a car and is illegal—just like driving after drinking alcohol. Driving under the influence of drugs endangers not only the driver’s life but also the lives of passengers and other road users. 1 2017 https://www.canada.ca/en/healthcanada/services/pu blications/drugshealthproducts/canadiancannabissu rvey2017summary.html 2Cannabis Health effects, 2018 https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/ marijuanacannabis/healtheffects.html 3 LowerRisk Cannabis Use Guidelines: Fischer et al, AJPH August 2017, Vol 107, No. 8 http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJP H.2017.303818 4 Alcohol, Marijuana & Driving Risk SoberSmartDriving.tirf.c 5 https://wotr.ca/ 6 Traffic Injury Research Foundation – Drug Impaired Learning Centre 7Policereported crime statistics in Canada, 2017 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dailyquotidien/1807 23/dq180723beng.pd www.drugfreekidscanada.org/issues/drugsanddriving/ www.freepik.com
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