Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 Source: Northern News (CN ON) Copyright: 2014 Northern News Contact: http://www.northernnews.ca/letters Website: http://www.northernnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2315 Author: Rick Owen DRUGS AS BAD AS ALCOHOL WHEN IT COMES TO DANGERS OF DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED A recent national study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free Canada has come up with some startling results about what parents of teenagers think. Almost 25 percent of parents of teenagers do not consider driving high while on cannabis, to be as bad as drinking and driving. I just can't fathom that parents would believe that taking any mind altering drug before driving would not impair a person's ability to drive. Marijuana can alter a person's sense of depth and speed, both of which would definitely affect a person's ability to drive safely, as well as their attention span, concentration, it slows reaction time and decreases strength and hand steadiness. How could parents think this is less impairing than drinking alcohol and driving? This national study also showed that 32 percent of teens do not consider driving while under the influence of cannabis is as bad as drinking and driving. While I find this result less shocking, as teens a have less life experiences and are more often influenced by what their peers think, it is still very problematic. Teens driving impaired, or for that matter anyone, no matter what the drug or substance, is just asking for trouble, unnecessary tragedy, and in worse case scenarios death. This study is not the only one that has pointed out this problem. A 2007 addiction survey conducted by Health Canada showed twice as many youth 16 to 24 (40 %) reported driving under the influence cannabis than alcohol (21 %). As well more youth (40 %) reported being a passenger with someone under the influence of cannabis, versus alcohol (33 %). Partners for a Drug Free Canada also point out another fact that should really wake up parents about the dangers of driving impaired, whether it be with drugs or alcohol. In Canada drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 years old account for the most driver fatality cases and are equally split between drinking and driving (27.6 %) and drug positive driver fatalities (26.9%). Parents need to wake up, they need to realize that driving impaired by either drugs or alcohol is not only wrong, it can and often is deadly. Parents need to wake up, they need to realize that driving impaired by either drugs or alcohol is not only wrong, it can and often is deadly. The driving sober message has to get to our teenagers and they need to hear it now, before another teen is killed, seriously injured, disabled for life or their actions result in one or more of their friends ending up dead or seriously injured. I believe this message must start at home and it must come from teen to teen. Unfortunately this recent study shows that one quarter of parents aren't getting the message and if they aren't getting the message then their children aren't. The Partnership for a Drug Free Canada points out, "most teens agree that drinking and driving is unacceptable, but those same teens think nothing of smoking a joint and grabbing the care keys. There are countless examples on social media of teens bragging about driving while high on drugs." Fortunately in the Kirkland Lake area, the Kirkland Lake Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition has recognized that driving while impaired by drugs is a real problem for everyone on the road. To this end the Kirkland Lake Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition partnered with the Road Safety Coalitions in Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard, to raise the awareness of this problem. These groups designed billboards, one at the northern entrance to New Liskeard and the other on Highway 66 coming into Kirkland Lake, that carry the message that driving high is impaired driving. Locally we have organizations and individuals who are working on educating people that driving while under the influence of drugs is impaired driving. As well they have worked on getting that message out through various methods to both teens and older people. Hopefully people are getting the message, and lives are being saved. The Kirkland Lake OPP also have officers that are specially trained to detect drivers that are under the influence of drugs. While hopefully people will get the message before they drive, for those who don't and think they will beat it in court - think again. The charges are sticking and people are being found guilty. I commend the area organizations that have taken on the task, of educating parents, young people, and the entire community about the problem of people driving while under the influence of drugs. When you drive impaired, whether it be by drugs, other substance or alcohol, not only do you put yourself at risk, you put innocent people at risk. Could you really live with yourself, knowing that your actions led to the death or permanent disability of one or more innocent people? Think about that next time you have used drugs or alcohol and think you are OK to drive. Think again and don't drive. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom