Cannabis increases car-crash risk
- From: A.Melon <juicy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 04:13:10 -0700 (PDT)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4498419.stm
Heavy cannabis users are 10 times more likely to be injured, or to injure
others, in car accidents, researchers have found.
The scientists from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, say their study is
the first proof that there is a link between using cannabis and accidents.
Previously, there was only laboratory research and post mortem evidence to
suggest a connection.
UK experts said the Addiction study showed more education was needed.
Doctors had believed there was a link between cannabis use and accidents for
some time, but had been unable to prove a connection.
The New Zealand team surveyed 571 drivers of cars involved in crashes in which
at least one occupant was hospitalised or killed and a control group of 588
drivers randomly selected from cars driving in Auckland.
They were asked if they had taken cannabis in the three hours prior to the
crash or survey and were also asked about their use of cannabis over the
previous 12 months.
It was found that habitual cannabis users were 9.5 times more likely to be
involved in crashes, with 5.6% of people who crashed having taken the drug
compared to 0.5% of the control group.
Their risk of an accident was increased whether or not they had used cannabis
immediately before the accident.
The researchers, led by Dr Stephanie Blows, said: "The prevalence of self-
reported recent cannabis use in the Auckland driving population was less than
1%, and those who did use marijuana prior to driving were highly likely to be
habitual users.
"This suggests that interventions targeting high risk marijuana use groups may
be more cost-effective than random roadside testing."
Professor Robert West, editor of Addiction, said: "People have been saying for
some time that drugs increase your risk of an accident, but there was no good
evidence to show that.
"It shows public information campaigns would be a good idea."
Martin Barnes, chief executive of Drugscope, said: "Cannabis can impact on your
perception and your responses."
He added: "Obviously if you have been taking drugs you should really not be
driving."
.
- Prev by Date: Nutritionist to tackle unruly classrooms
- Next by Date: Re: Ping Alan
- Previous by thread: Nutritionist to tackle unruly classrooms
- Next by thread: Re: OT - Pender Harbour Website
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
