Joseph Alexander
Current Event Posting: # 1
Topic: Health
Title: Drugs common in fatal car crashes
Writer: David Martin
Publication Name: CNN, the chart
Date of Publication: Nov 30, 2010
Length: 439 words
David Martin, the Senior medical producer at CNN, researched the link between car accidents and drug use. This was the first ever drug analysis of drivers performed in 2009, as reported by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
These studies have shown that 1/3 of every person killed in an accident in America, had been under the influence of drugs. This article sheds light on the fact that driving under the influence of drugs can be just as, if not more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. This study has shown that illegal drugs are not the only type of drugs that can impair you enough to cause an accident that could have been prevented. Prescription drugs have also been known to cause impairment in drivers, causing accidents.
Although drug companies deny taking any responsibility for the accidents caused by consumer drug consumption, this study has linked the cause-effect relationship between over-the-counter and prescription drugs to car accidents.
Gil Kerlikowse, director of the national drug control policy said that the percentage should serve as a wakeup call for people who drive under the influence of drugs. For example the 10.5 million people age 12 or older reported driving under the influence illicit drugs during the past year. Or the about 4 percent of the population. Hopefully people will wake up and stop driving under the influence of drugs.
It is more than important for people to know the effets of the drugs they are taking. Common side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness can cause major damage for someone that does an activity that has potential risks, such as driving. No one should ever drive under the influence of drugs, especially illegal ones, which took away most sense of observation and reaction. Driving safe is not only for your safty, but other's as well.
ReplyDeleteBoth driving under drugs and alcohol are bad. Especially when people drive after consuming illegal drugs, their lives are in danger. I think drivers should raise awareness for drugs!
ReplyDeleteI agree that people need to be aware of the risks they are taking by driving under the influence. It is also important for people to realize how common accidents are and how it can happen to anyone. Driving under the influence endangers others as well as yourself.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is incredibly important for people to understand the side effects and the risks of taking certain drugs. People do not take the side effects as seriously as they should. Many think that they are exempt of the side effects, or that the drug will not affect them very much, but that has been shown otherwise in these statistics.
ReplyDeleteDrugs, both legal and illigal, can harm the person who uses it regularyand put their life in danger. When the drug consumers drive under the influence, not only the driver is in danger, but the people nearby also have the risk of being injured, or possibly killed. The driver mustknow that there are other people on the road.
ReplyDeleteSafety is the number one priority when it comes to driving a vehicle. This is why i think people who multitask when driving are in danger of harming themselves and others. Driving under the influence is worse because drugs can decrease your reaction time. People need to hear the statistics so that they can change their habits
ReplyDeleteThere is always a primary effect and side effect when you take any medicines. Most of the drugs and medicines have warning notice that after you take them, it attempts to make person sleepy. While it fixes any of the symptoms, that sleep is the side effect of taking the drug. And while it is in effect, people may feel unconscious about themselves and not be not aware of any visionary information they can see. It's obvious. Drugs tries to make people a change. They can't be normal while the drug is effective.
ReplyDeleteLike most people have said driving under any sort of chemical influence is a bad idea and honestly stupid. It doesn't come as a surprise that car accidents are also instances of driving under the influence. Drugs are not meant to be taken by the human body on a regular basis unless for special circumstance or medical need. People should know better.
ReplyDeleteThe side effects of illegal drugs are probably more impairing than those of alcohol, except alcohol is more widely used. However, prescription drugs should not be used around "heavy machinery" meaning cars, because side effects can include drowsiness which can lead to accidents.
ReplyDeletePeople need to learn that driving under the influence refers to drugs as much as alcohol. So many lives could be saved if people would make the right decision and not drive if they are in any way impaired by such things. It's better to be safe than sorry.
ReplyDeleteI think people often overlook the influence of drugs and often just see the influence of alcohol especially when it comes to driving. This is a common made mistake, but with education and more awareness I think it would be easy to teach the rest of society. It is obviously proven to be a very fatal and dangerous risk and I hope people begin to see the trend and learn how important it is to not drive under any influence because not only does it put you in danger but it puts everyone else around you in danger as well. So it is selfish in my opinion to drive under any influence.
ReplyDeleteAwareness for driving under the influence of illegal substances should definitely be prodigiously spread. Agreeing with Maddy, people don't see firsthand that illegal drugs may be the cause of a fatal accident. Furthermore, these issues are appearing more commonly, though sporadic. If people were to spread this kind of news, I believe there could be a reduction in such situations.
ReplyDeleteI think that most people are aware of the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs, but when they are actually under the influence of the drugs, their judgement is impaired, which is why there are so many drug related accidents. I agree with Amy that is there is more publicity about drug related accidents, people might not drive while under the influence as often.
ReplyDeleteI think that people sometimes feel that one little sniff wont hurt. Or one hit wont make me crash. But people need to understand that once you give your mind and body to drugs, its no longer in your control. Driving under influence is dangerous to yourself and especially others.
ReplyDeleteDriving under the influences of drugs and alcohol are both horrible. not only it is going to cause you major accidents or arrest, it might take away other persons life. you should always think before you put into action.
ReplyDeleteIt's astounding how many people choose to drive under the influence. Driving is a task laden with accidents even when your mind is clear, and the studies are conclusive that when you drive under the influence you are at a pre-disposition for accidents.
ReplyDelete