Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a dangerous and illegal act that poses significant health and financial risks, including injury and even death. Each year it costs society billions in medical costs, hospital visits and lost work time costs.
Canadian impaired driving incidents tend to peak between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on weekends.
Alcohol
Alcohol remains the leading cause of impaired driving deaths in Canada. Each year an estimated 1,200 Canadians die and 71,000 are injured in alcohol-related crashes on our roadways; this figure far surpasses that seen across wealthy nations.
Alcohol-impaired driving rates typically spike on weekends and late evenings; however, drunk-driving incidents occur all across the United States.
An alcohol drink may reduce a driver’s abilities significantly. Even small amounts can impede with normal brain and body function and result in loss of control of vehicle as well as reduced reaction times.
Most provinces consider drivers legally impaired if their blood-alcohol content (BAC) exceeds 80 mg/100 ml; however, many people remain unaware that certain medications can also interfere with driving ability and cause their BAC to go above 80 mg/100 ml; driving under the influence of drugs is illegal and carries penalties such as fines and driving bans.
Marijuana
Canadian law stipulates that anyone caught driving with two nanograms or more of THC (the primary psychoactive component of marijuana) detected using standard breathalyzer or oral fluid tests is guilty of driving while impaired, which may be punished with fines, imprisonment time or suspension of licence.
As many youth who consume cannabis do, DUIC incidents are all too frequent among these youngsters. Eighty percent of male youth and seventy-five percent of female youth reported riding in vehicles driven by someone under the influence of cannabis.
Legalizing marijuana has normalized and increased access to it, according to one participant (Urban Transgender Boy Consumer 64). Furthermore, cannabis can be difficult to detect as its scent doesn’t stand out like alcohol does and many consumers consume it via products like edibles that have no scent at all.
Methamphetamines
Methamphetamines (commonly referred to as meth or crank) are stimulant drugs used to stimulate the central nervous system and may be taken orally, nasally, intravenously or via injection into the bloodstream. Meth can come in powder form or chunky crystal form known as “ice.” Injection can also involve mixing it with drain cleaner or battery acid and injecting through skin punctures or directly smoked.
Methamphetamines, like other stimulant drugs, can produce feelings of euphoria and energy, increased alertness, decreased appetite, feelings of agitation and paranoia and can even produce tremors, blurred vision and severe dental conditions like gum disease and tooth decay.
Long-term meth use can result in serious brain and cardiovascular damage, including high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms and elevated body temperatures that may result in stroke, organ failure or death from overheating. Furthermore, meth can also lead to violent behavior as well as mental health symptoms like confusion, anxiety and hallucinations as well as insomnia and extreme sleep deprivation.
Other Drugs
People driving under the influence of illicit drugs face a much higher risk of accidents compared to drivers without drugs in their system, especially young drivers who lack experience behind the wheel. Illicit drugs may hinder driving by slowing reaction times and changing depth perception as well as altering how one perceives their environment.
These drugs include stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines and caffeine; hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin; as well as sedatives such as morphine heroin methadone or barbiturates. While the rate of people driving while under the influence has remained relatively steady over time, its continued use remains concerning.
Driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs is a serious offense that may incur fines or jail time depending on its circumstances. Even first time offenses may lead to license suspension and court-mandated drug abuse treatment programs – this may have serious repercussions for young drivers as they will need alternative means of travel in order to reach school and work.
Impaired driving caused death and injury tо thousands оf Canadians every year, with alcohol and drugs being the main culprits. The legalization оf marijuana has normalized and increased access tо it, but іt can also be difficult tо detect, making іt a growing concern оn the roads.
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