Drivers using synthetic drugs as drug-drivers overtake drink-drivers
DRUG drivers say they are increasingly swapping to synthetic substances to try avoiding police detection, as the number of drug drivers attending therapy overtakes drink drivers.
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DRUG-DRIVERS say they are increasingly swapping to synthetic substances to avoid police detection, as the number of drug-drivers attending court-imposed education has overtaken drink-drivers at Victoria’s major training centres.
And many motorists who say they take pride in not driving while drunk, are confessing to drug counsellors they feel they are safer drivers under the influence of ice.
The revelations come as a new education and behavioural therapy program will be trialled to reduce the number of repeat drug-drivers.
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Chris Hynan, of St Vincent’s Hospital, said that in the past two years, the number of drug-driving education courses had overtaken their drink-driving sessions, as the need to quash “scary mythologies” about drug-driving grew.
“All drugs act on your central nervous system, so there’s an impairment irrespective of the substance you use,” he said.
St Vincent’s is on track to double attendees to its court-mandated course. As of this month, 144 people have attended 12 courses this year, up from 140 for the whole of 2016.
Last year, 18 people attended drink-driving classes.
Over the past three years, Victoria Police has almost doubled the number of roadside drug tests it conducts, now at more than 100,000 motorists annually. Three million drink-driving tests are performed.
Cannabis accounts for half the drivers attending the mandatory course after losing their licences — typically men aged 18 to 24 years — with methamphetamines making up about 30 per cent.
“We’ve had mums who have taken methamphetamines the night before, pick their kid up from school and lose their licence,” Mr Hynan said.
Victoria Police data shows that drugs overtook alcohol as the leading factor in the road toll three years ago.
“We’re hearing stories of an increased use of synthetic drugs in people who anticipate they may be stopped road side,” Mr Hynan said.
“Synthetics have a high risk of impact on physical and mental health, so it’s a worrying trend.”
Brandon Jones, the manager of clinical education programs at treatment and education agency Uniting ReGen, said they had seen a 10-fold increase in drug-driving education attendances since 2009. Uniting ReGen is trialling the VicRoads-led program for recidivist drivers.
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