Author/Editor | Koser-Zore, Majda | |
Title | Vozniška sposobnost pacientov na vzdrževalnem metadonskem programu | |
Translated title | Driving ability of patients on maintenance treatment with methadone | |
Type | monografija | |
Place | Ljubljana | |
Publisher | Medicinska fakulteta | |
Publication year | 2002 | |
Volume | str. 117 | |
Language | slo | |
Abstract | The demands made on motor vehicle drivers in road traffic nowadays often represent a critical test of their psychophysical capabilities. The driver must be able to concentrate on driving, perceive links between phenomena, appraise the situation, anticipate the sequence of actions, maintain emotional stability etc. Illicit drug use constitutes one of the most important social and public health problems throughout the world, also in Slovenia. In the context of road traffic, this problem may arise during evaluation of a person's capacity for safe driving at a given moment (traffic accident, police surveillance) and during medical examinations of driving license applicants. In addition to persons driving under the influence of illicit drugs, subjects on methadone therapy have represented a growing threat to road safety for the past few years. In the Road Transport Safety Act of the Republic of Slovenia, methadone is considered as a drug. Driving under the influence of drugs and other psychoactive substances that impair driving ability is forbidden. In our study, we evaluated the use of drugs and their influence on driving ability in a group of treated drug users enrolled in a methadone maintenance programme, a group of students, and a group of patients attending a general out-patient clinic. We found that apart from methadone, also heroine, marijuana and alcohol were common causes of driving impairment among the treated drug users. Involvement in traffic accidents and certain violations were more frequent in those treated addicts who used alcohol and/or one, two, three or four other drugs concurrently with methadone. Alcohol was the principal cause of impaired driving among the students and the patients. Many therapists feel that driving privileges should not be withheld from treated drug users who behave responsibly while on methadone therapy. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters). | |
Descriptors | AUTOMOBILE DRIVER EXAMINATION SUBSTANCE ABUSE STREET DRUGS METHADONE ACCIDENTS, TRAFFIC AUTOMOBILE DRIVING MARIJUANA ABUSE ALCOHOL DRINKING PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS QUESTIONNAIRES |