The occurrence of drugged driving in Norway - Existing problems and solutions

A marked increase in the number of apprehended drugged drivers has been recorded in Norway (1983: 800-900, 1998: 4417), while the number of drivers apprehended due to alcohol only has decreased (10500 in 1983 to approximately 5300/year). The legal blood alcohol concentration, is 0,05%, while there is no legal limit for drugs. Drug impairment has to be proven for the court. The most commonly detected drags are tetrahydrocannabinol (psychoactive compound in cannabis), amphetamine, benzodiazepines, morphine, 6-mono-acetylmorphine (6-MAM, metabolite of heroin). The number of amphetamine positive cases has increased more than 5 times since 1990 (230-1285). 6-MAM was detected in 320 cases in 1998, but only occasionally found among apprehended drivers in 1990. A typical drugged driver is a man (85-90% of the cases), 25-35 years old and frequent multi-drug user. The majority has earlier been arrested for the same offence and has high probability to be rearrested. The death rate is about 25 times higher than normal population at the same age. In 1995, Norway had 4-15 times more apprehended drugged drivers compared to other Nordic countries. The high frequency of rearrests, requires other reactions in addition to fines, imprisonment and lose of driving licence. DWI