Drugged Driving Margaret Hague

New Epidemic Drinking and driving has been a major concern for a long time. Not only is texting and driving becoming a almost as worse as drinking and driving, drugged driving is emerging as a major hazard for the roads millions of people drive on.

Main Substances The majority of drugged drivers are on these three drugs Marijuana -26.9% Cocaine – 11.6% Methamphetamine and amphetamine – 5.6%

Current Major Issue The major issue related to drugged driving is mandating additional training for officers to be able to test urine samples, which is the only way to test for present drugs in the system.

Some Facts 1 and 8 weekend nighttime drivers tested positive for illicit drugs 1 and 10 high school seniors self-reported driving after smoking marijuana

Major Positions Really the only position on this topic is against drugged driving. The Office of National Drug Control Policy is creating a National Drug Control Strategy which includes reducing drugged driving in the United States 10% by the year 2015.

National Drug Control Strategy This strategy includes Encouraging states to adopt certain drug laws Collecting data on drugged driving Educating more on drugged driving Increase training to law enforcements Developing methods for drug testing to see if drugs are in presence

More Facts A study finds that in 44,000 United States drivers who are involved in fatal single- vehicle car crashes between 1998 and 2009 about 25% were tested positive for drugs in their system

Consequences for Drugged Driving People who are found to be drugged drivers can expect a punishment much like a punishment to a drunk drivers.

Per Se Standard About 1/3 of the states has adopted the per se laws which means that any detectable amount of controlled substance, expect doctor prescribed medication, in a drivers body fluids is evidence of a drugged driving violation.

A True Story My Husband was killed by a 19yr old who was high on 4 different drugs at 8am Sept 18, This 19yr left me a widow at 26 and about to raise a child on my own (my husband and I just found out we were expecting the month prior). It's hard enough being a victim but even harder to get to the truth and if it weren't for our Victim Advocate through MADD I don't know what we would have done. My husband's killer had several other drug charges, another DUI, and a list of other charges (over 12 charges at the age of 19) that somehow were not noticed or brought up to the courts until we did. The 19yr then overdosed (still alive today) a month later because he was free to go home and still use drugs after killing my husband. I can only hope that this new law and enforcement will not only help take these impaired drivers off the road, but keep them off the road! My husband's killer is already up for parole and could be back out on the road to take another life before we know it.

A True Story My daughter and her best friend were killed by a driver taking medication for the treatment of prescription drug addiction which is also a controlled substance. He admitted to the officer he was on the drug yet no blood was drawn from him because he did not "appear impaired". There should be more education for the officers and also madatory blood draws on all fatality accidents. It is a sad day when the only blood drawn is on the victims during an autopsy! In cases like this where is the justice for the victims. And the driver is still on the road today just another accident waiting to happen!

References United States of America. Office of National Drug Control. Web... "Police Focusing on Drugged Driving." FindLaw Knowledge Base. N.p., Web. 2 Dec Withers, Jan. "Drugged Driving:A growing Threat on our Roadways." MADD. N.p., Web. 4 Dec Melnick, M. "Drugged Driving." Time : n. page. Web. 4 Dec "Drugged Driving Laws." Stop Drugged Driving. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec