PSYC 3403 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Blood Alcohol Content, Central Nervous System, Carisoprodol
22 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Presentation overview: background, magnitude of the problem in canada, drug evaluation and classification program, research on indicators of drug use among drivers. Alcohol has dominated the field of impaired driving. In 1982, 62% of drivers killed in crashes had been drinking. Public outrage and government concern about impaired driving reached unprecedented levels. Despite progress, alcohol-related deaths and injuries remain unacceptably high. 37. 5% of dead drivers test positive for alcohol. 81% of alcohol-positive cases have a blood alcohol concentration (bac) > 80 mg/dl. Drugs are a different and more complex issue: many research challenges. Requires sample of urine, oral fluid or blood. Complexities require a different approach to enforcement and adjudication of drug-impaired drivers. Working definition: a drug is any substance which, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability of the person to operate a vehicle safely. Antihistamines e. g. , diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine: muscle relaxants e. g. , carisoprodol, meprobamate, butalbital.
