|
We all know that being under the influence of any drug can affect our behavior. But while a person may
know how cocaine or alcohol affects him or her independently, not very many people are aware of how a combination of the drugs may influence their behavior and harm their health. Why? Because when a person ingests this combination, the body produces a metabolite called cocaethylene (also known as ethylbenzoylecgonine,) in the liver about two hours after the person has ingested the second of the two drugs. This chemical can cause a longer lasting and more intense symptomology for both drugs due to the cocaethylene both (1) being harder to eliminate from the body (the liver isn't as efficient at filtering it out,) and (2) slowing the reuptake of dopamine. Studies have shown that people who use these two drugs together often binge drink, which then causes additional heath issues such as: (as you would expect) liver damage, alcohol poisoning, general poor judgment, and (as you may not expect) cardiovascular issues and nerve damage. In the context of criminal law, a potential defendant should be aware that when under the influence of cocaethylene, they may suffer from increased anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression. Further, they are at a greater risk of stroke, heart attack (because it negatively impacts the heart muscle's ability to properly to contract,) can increase the potential for long-term ever damage, and may suffer from seizures. In fact, the chances of suffering from a sudden death increase between 18-25 times higher than using cocaine alone. All of the following text and statistics have been taken from the NHTSA's website:
Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and illegal drugs may cause impairment alone or in combination with each other and/or with alcohol. In every State and the District of Columbia, impaired driving is illegal. Whether by drugs — legal or illegal — alcohol, or a combination of both drugs and alcohol, impaired driving puts the driver, their passengers, and other road users at risk. In NHTSA’s National Roadside Survey conducted in 2013-2014, 20 percent of drivers surveyed tested positive for potentially impairing drugs. [That study] found an increase in the number of drivers testing positive for marijuana and other drugs that can impair driving skills compared to the 2007 survey findings. In the 2013-2014 survey, nearly one in four drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could potentially affect safe driving skills. ** Overall, 22.3 percent of daytime drivers were drug-positive and 22.5 percent of nighttime drivers were drug- positive in the combined oral fluid or blood. ** The Midwest had the highest percentage of daytime drug-positive drivers... ** The percentage of daytime drug-positive drivers was significantly higher in the Midwest than in the West... ** The Midwest had the highest percentage of nighttime drug-positive drivers as well (30.4%) which was significantly higher than in the West... ** Nighttime drivers in the South (22.9%) were also significantly more likely than drivers in the West to be drug-positive... ** Results of overall drug prevalence by time of day and gender [] reveal no statistically significant differences... ** Both males and females aged 21-34 had the highest rates of drug presence.... ** Comparisons by race and ethnicity [] show that the prevalence of drug positive driving was significantly lower for Asian drivers compared with White drivers in the daytime sample (23.4% versus 6.4%, respectively, []), but not in the nighttime sample... ** The prevalence of drug-positive driving was significantly lower for Hispanic drivers compared with White drivers in the nighttime sample (13.5% vs. 22.2%, respectively)... ** There were no statistically significant drug prevalence differences among daytime drivers of various vehicle types []. At night, pickup drivers had a lower drug prevalence than passenger vehicle drivers, which was statistically significant (16.5% versus 24.3%, respectively.)... ** The prevalence of THC-positive, THC-positive-only, and THC-positive plus any other drug in the Midwest was significantly higher than in the West among both daytime and nighttime drivers... ** In the daytime, there was a significantly higher prevalence of THC-positive and THC-positive-only among male drivers than female drivers (12.1% males versus 5.5% females, and 9.7% males versus 4.1% females, p < .05). Males also had a significantly higher THC-positive and THC-positive only prevalence in the nighttime sample (14.6% males versus 9.4% females, and 11.7% males versus 7.4% females, p < .05) There were no other statistically significant differences by drug class, gender and time of day. ... The prevalence of illegal drugs-only was significantly higher among males compared with females among both daytime and nighttime drivers The full report can be found here. |
AuthorDevina strives to make information relevant to the lives of her clients easily accessible. Archives
August 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
Proudly serving Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Mendocino and Lake Counties (and occasionally venturing as far as Yolo, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties).
|
This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site. Using this site or communicating with the Law Office of Devina Douglas through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship. This site is legal advertising. Please review the full disclaimer for more information. (LINK TO FULL DISCLAIMER PAGE)