NCJ Number
200781
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2002 Pages: 553-566
Date Published
2002
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the medical and psychological testing of German youths suspected of driving while under the influence of marijuana.
Abstract
German law stipulates that a driver may be punished with a prison term of up to 2 years for driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. This article presents summaries of several cases of youths imprisoned and fined for driving under the influence, and notes that driving under the influence of cannabis is a significant enough problem to override arguments against the intrusions of drug testing. A table detailing the types of drugs used, by gender, of individuals with and without drivers’ licenses is presented. Questioning 2,244 individuals with drivers’ licenses concerning whether they drive under the influence, the authors conducted a survey in order to ascertain drug-related automobile accidents and other dangers associated with driving under the influence. The authors found that while marijuana use is a common feature in the lives of German youths, traffic accidents associated with cannabis use are low in number. New German driving regulations and traffic actions taken against cannabis users are actually a defensive strategy of fearful adults against German youths. Tables, figures, reference