Drivers On Codeine Risk Accidents
Many drivers are not aware that their driving could easily become impaired after smoking marijuana or using drugs regardless of whether they are prescription, over the counter or even illegal substances.
While drink-driving is becoming a major concern in Britain, authorities and industry experts now claim that motorists getting behind the wheels after taking drugs such as codeine could create a bigger safety crisis on roads across UK.
Previous research has failed to give consistent results when assessing the link the risks posed by drugs such as codeine and tramadol to road traffic accidents. However, it is believed that codeine users face a much higher risk of being involved in a crash which results in apersonal injury compared to non-users.
Codeine and tramadol are common painkillers. They are in the opiate group and are used to fight mild to moderate pain. In Norway, codeine is included in Paralgin forte and Pinex forte, and tramadol, amongst others, in Nobligan. Reports show that Norway records a higher consumption of codeine preparations than other European countries.
Measuring the risk factor
According to a newly published report by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, drivers using codeine on a moderate or irregular basis alone are not open to higher risk. The survey’s anonymised data from the Norwegian Prescription Database and Road Traffic Accident Register was used to determine whether codeine- or tramadol users faced a greater threat of being involved in a traffic accident with personal injury.
During the research, which took 33 months to complete, 181 road traffic accidents were registered with personal injury where the driver had been exposed to codeine and 20 after exposure to tramadol. In the report, “Exposure” is defined as the first 7 days following the dispensing of a prescription for a codeine- or tramadol preparation.
The Norwegian study further suggests that the possibility of having a road traffic accident with personal injury was twice as high in the period after having a prescription for codeine was dispensed. The danger was three times more for drivers who took more than 400 tablets per year.
The report also crucially highlighted the fact that becoming involved in a crash was significantly reduced in cases where drivers avoided the use of other potential impairing medicines. It is clear from the study that sporadic codeine users had no added risk of accident. Equally, the risk for tramadol was not significantly increased.
The problem with drug driving
Other studies claim that nearly a quarter (22%) of people killed in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in the UK have illegal drugs in their bloodstream. The number of RTAs involving the presence of drugs in a motorist’s body has risen and experts believe that this is behind the accidents.
Drug driving is thought to be widespread among motorists between the ages of 20 to 24 and clubbers have been singled out as the most likely group to drive while in a chemically altered state. Antihistamines (often used in flu and hayfever remedies) and tranquillisers (used to treat anxiety, depression and sleeping disorders) are known to reduce reaction times and cause drowsiness.
A survey by the Scottish Executive’s Road Safety Campaign found that 81% of clubbers took control of the wheels after taking recreational drugs. Worryingly, many assume that smoking cannabis would not affect their driving skills, while others believed that using amphetamine could better their driving skills.
By: mildred
If you have suffered any kind of personal injury in a car accident where the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you could have a solid compensation claim.
While drink-driving is becoming a major concern in Britain, authorities and industry experts now claim that motorists getting behind the wheels after taking drugs such as codeine could create a bigger safety crisis on roads across UK.
Previous research has failed to give consistent results when assessing the link the risks posed by drugs such as codeine and tramadol to road traffic accidents. However, it is believed that codeine users face a much higher risk of being involved in a crash which results in apersonal injury compared to non-users.
Codeine and tramadol are common painkillers. They are in the opiate group and are used to fight mild to moderate pain. In Norway, codeine is included in Paralgin forte and Pinex forte, and tramadol, amongst others, in Nobligan. Reports show that Norway records a higher consumption of codeine preparations than other European countries.
Measuring the risk factor
According to a newly published report by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, drivers using codeine on a moderate or irregular basis alone are not open to higher risk. The survey’s anonymised data from the Norwegian Prescription Database and Road Traffic Accident Register was used to determine whether codeine- or tramadol users faced a greater threat of being involved in a traffic accident with personal injury.
During the research, which took 33 months to complete, 181 road traffic accidents were registered with personal injury where the driver had been exposed to codeine and 20 after exposure to tramadol. In the report, “Exposure” is defined as the first 7 days following the dispensing of a prescription for a codeine- or tramadol preparation.
The Norwegian study further suggests that the possibility of having a road traffic accident with personal injury was twice as high in the period after having a prescription for codeine was dispensed. The danger was three times more for drivers who took more than 400 tablets per year.
The report also crucially highlighted the fact that becoming involved in a crash was significantly reduced in cases where drivers avoided the use of other potential impairing medicines. It is clear from the study that sporadic codeine users had no added risk of accident. Equally, the risk for tramadol was not significantly increased.
The problem with drug driving
Other studies claim that nearly a quarter (22%) of people killed in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in the UK have illegal drugs in their bloodstream. The number of RTAs involving the presence of drugs in a motorist’s body has risen and experts believe that this is behind the accidents.
Drug driving is thought to be widespread among motorists between the ages of 20 to 24 and clubbers have been singled out as the most likely group to drive while in a chemically altered state. Antihistamines (often used in flu and hayfever remedies) and tranquillisers (used to treat anxiety, depression and sleeping disorders) are known to reduce reaction times and cause drowsiness.
A survey by the Scottish Executive’s Road Safety Campaign found that 81% of clubbers took control of the wheels after taking recreational drugs. Worryingly, many assume that smoking cannabis would not affect their driving skills, while others believed that using amphetamine could better their driving skills.
By: mildred
If you have suffered any kind of personal injury in a car accident where the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you could have a solid compensation claim.
posted by Hugh Harris-Evans at 7:09 AM
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