NIJ Examines Drug-Impaired Driving and the Impact of Emerging and Undertested Drugs
The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice published an article today detailing NIJ-funded research that studied the impact of emerging and undertested drugs on impaired driving, and compared the results to testing recommendations by the National Safety Council.
Impaired driving is often associated with alcohol, but the use of illicit drugs and abuse of prescription medications may also impair a driver’s abilities. In 2007, NSC introduced a testing standardization for impaired driving cases and traffic fatalities to improve testing consistency.
NIJ-funded researchers examined blood samples of driving under the influence of drugs cases. The goal was to create a picture of impaired driving cases and compare the results to NSC’s testing recommendations. Researchers also analyzed drug presence in blood alcohol concentrations and “stop limit testing” — when a lab doesn’t perform additional drug testing if a sample meets or exceeds a pre-determined blood alcohol threshold.
| Title: | Drug-Impaired Driving: The Contribution of Emerging and Undertested Drugs |
| Authors: | National Institute of Justice |
| Where: | https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/drug-impaired-driving-contribution-emerging-and-undertested-drugs |
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
About the National Institute of Justice
The National Institute of Justice is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. NIJ’s mission is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation to enhance the administration of justice and public safety. More information about NIJ can be found at www.nij.ojp.gov.
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