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Psychoactive Substances and Driving: State of the Art and Methodology

NCJ Number
149494
Journal
Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1994) Pages: 1-55
Author(s)
S D Ferrera; R Giorgetta; S Zancaner
Date Published
1994
Length
55 pages
Annotation
This article defines the role of the intake of drugs, drugs of abuse, and alcohol in determining the disability to drive.
Abstract
The analysis correlates and combines findings from epidemiological studies examining the incidence of drugs in various subpopulations of drivers and includes a search of the literature between 1984 and 1992 relating to psychomotor performance and drugs. The article focuses on studies addressing the interaction between drugs and between drugs of abuse and alcohol. Following a preliminary examination of the general mechanisms of drug reactions and the best-known types of interaction among classes of psychoactive substances, the article discusses the more complex problem of pharmacological interaction. Finally, the article covers some issues of methodology, particularly as they relate to epidemiology, man- machine interaction, and the role of the toxicology laboratory. 17 tables, 40 figures, and 225 references