Consumption, risk factors, and the impact of psychoactive substances in road transport by professional drivers: a review

Aldo Pacheco Ferreira,Ellen De Moraes E Silva,Eduardo Dias Wermelinger

doi:10.4025/actascihumansoc.v43i2.58057

Aldo Pacheco Ferreira, Ellen De Moraes E Silva + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actascihumansoc.v43i2.58057

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Abstract

Traffic accidents are a serious public health problem, especially in developing countries. Driving under the influence of psychoactive substances, such as illicit drugs, can significantly increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents. This fact potentiates the probability of serious traffic accidents occurring, making it necessary to combat them with seriousness and urgency. Many road traffic crashes are related to sleepiness and/or fatigue. In addition to long driving hours, important contributors to fatigue among professional drivers are insufficient night-time sleep and insufficient rest breaks. Research data on the topic show that several psychoactive drugs alter the motor and cognitive capacity of users, however, most of these studies pointed out such outcomes based on the prevalence of illicit drug use in professional hospitalized drivers. Despite the existence of laws against driving doped, the effectiveness of these laws in controlling the problem is questionable. For this research, the study was conducted to highlight and discuss, by a descriptive review, the consumption of psychoactive substances among professional drivers, and the role of working conditions in the prediction of such use. Data about drug use were obtained in this review aims to contribute for the development of preventive measures, especially public policies on the risks of driving while under the influence of psychoactive drugs.

Highlights

Long-distance professional drivers are considered a special interest group in terms of drug driving research and policy due to high rates of use, the involvement of drugs in truck accidents, and the link between drugActa Scientiarum
Whilst drink driving has long been considered a social problem worthy of substantial research and campaign efforts, it is only relatively recently that increasing attention has been given to the issue of drug driving
Statistics are emerging which demonstrate the extent of the problem of drug driving including the types of drugs used whilst driving, and how these affect performances (Riva, Marchett, Giupponi, & Mosconi, 2010)

Summary

Introduction

Long-distance professional drivers are considered a special interest group in terms of drug driving research and policy due to high rates of use, the involvement of drugs in truck accidents, and the link between drugActa Scientiarum. To avoid drowsiness and tiredness caused by work, many professional drivers use illicit drugs (cannabinoids, stimulants, and amphetamines) and psychoactive drugs belonging to the classes of antihistamines, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, and anorexigenic, which leads them to stay awake for many hours straight (Knauth, Pilecco, Leal, Seffner, & Teixeira, 2012). They usually work in stressful conditions that favour unhealthy lifestyles and medical disorders. With the interruption of the substance may occur signs and physical symptoms (abstinence syndrome), usually contrary to the effects produced by drugs (Ahlm, Bjornstig, & Ostrom, 2009)

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