Eight million persons aged 12 or older reported driving under the
influence of illegal drugs during the past year - a 3.6 percent
increase from 2000, according to the National Household Survey
on Drug Abuse.
The report also showed that rates of drugged driving increased
from 2000 to 2001 for young adults aged 18-34.
Among adults aged 18 or older, those who were unemployed were
more likely than full- or part-time workers to report driving
under the influence of illegal drugs. Overall, drugged driving
increased from 3.1 percent in 2000.
"Drugged driving is under-reported because it is under-recognized,"
SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said.
"Young people, as well as parents, need to know that driving under
the influence of any illegal drug is just as dangerous as driving
under the influence of alcohol."
This report was released on Tuesday, Nov. 19 by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Additional information, data and tables as well as copies of the
full report can be found on-line at:
www.DrugAbuseStatistics.samhsa.gov or by calling 1-800-729-6686.