Drugs, Substance Use Disorder and Driving: Intervention of Health Professionals in the Treatment of Addictions

Abstract

Without a doubt, driving with the presence of drugs in the body is a real problem associated with a higher risk of being involved in road traffic collisions. Thus, intervention aimed at preventing drug driving is a top priority (Álvarez & González-Luque, 2010; DRUID, 2012; Schulze et al., 2012). In this article, we use the concept injuries due to road traffic collisions and not the inadequate term, traffic accidents. Most injuries resulting from road traffic collisions are preventable (Álvarez, 2005; Redelmeier & McLellan, 2013), hence the aim of this article: making professionals aware of the fact that these injuries are avoidable, particularly professionals who treat patients for any Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and that they can and should intervene in the prevention of injuries due to road traffic collisions. Like the slogan of the 2004 World Health Day: “Road safety is no accident”