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Drug driving charges rocket by 140% after tough new laws introduced

Despite the rise in arrests, one-fifth of motorists do not know it is an offence to drive while impaired by prescription drugs

Tuesday 17 May 2016 17:05 BST

Campaigners and researchers say no false drugs have so far been detected and the overwhelming majority of drugs have been found to be safe and effective (Joe Raedle/Getty)

The number of motorists being charged for drug driving offences has soared by 140 per cent in the last 12 months, new figures show.

According to data from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by Confused.com, more than 2,090 drivers from across the UK were charged with driving while under the influence of drugs in 2015, compared to just 870 in 2014.

This huge rise coincides with new drug driving laws put into place in March 2015, which added a number of prescription drugs to the list of banned substances.

The changes to the law also gave police new 'drugalyser' devices, which they can use to test drivers for cannabis, cocaine and other drugs at the roadside.

While the most common drugs used by arrested drivers were illegal substances, prescription medications like diazepam and codeine also made it into the list.

According to the website's research, around 12 per cent of British motorists have admitted to driving while under the influence of prescription drugs - however, 20 per cent of those surveyed said they did not know it is an offence to drive while impaired by certain medications.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Show all 10

1/10World's 10 deadliest street drugs

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Whoonga

Whoonga is a combination of antiretroviral drugs, used to treat HIV, and various cutting agents such as detergents and poisons. The drug is widely available in South Africa due to South Africa’s high rate of HIV sufferers, and is believed to be popular due to how cheap it is when compared to prescribed antiretrovirals. The drug is highly addictive and can cause major health issues such as internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and ultimately death

Getty

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Scopolamine

Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Heroin

Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the world’s oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Crack cocaine

Crack cocaine first came about in the 1980’s when cocaine became a widespread commodity within the drug trafficking world. Originally cocaine would have attracted a high price tag due to its rarity and difficulty to produce, but once it became more widespread the price dropped significantly. This resulted in drug dealers forming their cocaine into rock like shapes by using baking soda as a way of distilling the powder down into rock form. People were doing this because it allowed for them to sell cocaine at a lower quantity and to a higher number of people. The side effects of crack cocaine include liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as permanent damage to blood vessels, which can often lead to heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Crystal meth

Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

AH-7921

AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was previously available to legally purchase online from vendors until it became a Class A in January 2015. The drug is believed to have 80% of the potency of morphine, and became known as the ‘legal heroin’. While there has only been one death related to AH-7921 in the UK, it is believed to be highly dangerous and capable of causing respiratory arrest and gangrene

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Flakka

Flakka is a stimulant with a similar chemical make-up to the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. While the drug was originally marketed as a legal high alternative to ecstasy, the effects are significantly different. The user will feel an elevated heart rate, enhanced emotions, and, if enough is digested, strong hallucinations. The drug can cause permanent psychological damage due to it affecting the mood regulating neurons that keep the mind’s serotonin and dopamine in check, as well as possibly causing heart failure

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Bath salts

Bath salts are a synthetic crystalline drug that is prevalent in the US. While they may sound harmless, they certainly aren’t the sort of salts you drop into a warm bath when having a relaxing night in, they are most similar to mephedrone, and have recently been featured throughout social media due to the ‘zombification’ of its. The name comes from the fact that the drug was originally sold online, and widely disguised as bath salts. The side effects include unusual psychiatric behaviour, psychosis, panic attacks and violent behaviour, as well as the possibility of a heart attack and an elevated body temperature

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Purple Drank

One of the more unusual drugs around at the moment, purple drank was popularised in 90s hip hop culture, with the likes of Jay Z and Big Moe all mentioning it in their songs. It is a concoction of soda water, sweets and cold medicine, and is drunk due to cold medicines high codeine content, which gives the user a woozy feeling. However it can also cause respiratory issues and heart failure

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Krokodil

Krokodil is Russia’s secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at £20 a gram while heroin is sold for £60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

As summer approaches and millions of Britons stock up on antihistamines to combat hayfever, the research may have broad implications.

Despite the drowsiness they can cause, 64 per cent of hayfever sufferers admitted to driving while using antihistamines. Worryingly, 7 per cent of respondents said their ability to drive has been impaired while using them, with around one in 20 admitting they have had an accident as a result of driving under the influence of the medicine.

The prescription drugs which you can be arrested for driving under the influence of are:

Amphetamine
Clonazepam, often used to treat seizures
Diazepam, typically prescribed for anxiety
Flunitrazepam, a sleeping medicine
Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety drug
Methadone, a substitute drug used to treat heroin addiction
Morphine or other opiate and opioid-based drugs, like codeine, tramadol and other painkillers
Oxazepam, often used for anxiety disorders
Temazepam, another sleeping drug

Most doses of these prescription drugs fall under the legal limit, and if you've been prescribed these drugs and they're not impairing your driving, they are legal to use. If they affect your performance on the road, however, you may break the law.

The penalties for drug driving include a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to 6 months in prison and a criminal record.

Matt Lloyd, a Confused.com motoring expert, said it was reassuring to see that more drug drivers are being dealt with by the police.

"There is, however, another area for concern around the level of awareness among drivers when it comes to how certain medications can affect a person's driving ability," he said.

"This is particularly alarming given the current time of year, especially as more than a third of motorists admit to suffering from hayfever, with many resorting to medication to help combat the symptoms - despite the potential risks of drowsiness and reduced concentration levels."

With hayfever season fast approaching and drug driving arrests on the rise, many drivers would do well to play it safe when using certain medications.

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