| When most people hear the dreaded words Driving | | | | had 26.6 million prescriptions last year with $2.2 billion in |
| under the Influence they see dollar signs because of | | | | sales according to the article. |
| the costs involved anymore. Organizations like M.A.D.D. | | | | According to the report, following their arrests many of |
| and S.A.D.D. have done a terrific job of heightening | | | | the drivers claim to have no recollection of getting |
| awareness across the country on driving under the | | | | behind the wheel. In many of the cases the drug was |
| influence of alcohol. States like New Mexico have | | | | taken incorrectly either as an overdose or in addition to |
| come the furthest but only because it seemed like | | | | other drugs such as alcohol-HELLO! |
| they were a safe haven for drunk drivers. Today | | | | Bizarre behavior often accompanies the misuse of the |
| there is a new problem! | | | | drug. The label warns of combining the drug with |
| One of the unspoken related problems of drunk driving | | | | alcohol and possible sleepwalking side effects. Those |
| is drivers falling asleep while intoxicated. Now there is a | | | | warnings apparently have been relatively ineffective |
| new epidemic sweeping the country in the form of | | | | because broad misuse continues. |
| "sleepwalking" drivers-driving under the influence of the | | | | Additionally, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders |
| most popular prescription sleep medication in the U.S. - | | | | which continue to grow in the U.S. provide another |
| Ambien. | | | | source of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. A study |
| Drivers who are unaware they are asleep at the | | | | showed that people with sleep apnea were seven |
| wheel are a rising threat on U.S highways according to | | | | times more likely to have multiple car accidents. |
| a recent NY times article. In Washington State alone in | | | | So it's not just your alcohol DUI any more. Drugs, legal |
| 2005, for example, 78 impaired drivers were arrested, | | | | and illegal, and a host of sleeping disorders are turning |
| up from 56 the previous year, with Ambien in their | | | | the streets into a nightmare for drivers falling asleep at |
| bloodstream. According to the Times article, ten state | | | | the wheel all across the country. There are a variety |
| toxicology labs that test for the presence of the drug | | | | of devices that can keep drivers awake if they are |
| rate it as one of the top ten found in impaired drivers | | | | suspect, but maybe the best thing to do is not |
| yet most states do not even test for the drug. Ambien | | | | drive-what a concept! |