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Drug Driving – Drugalyser – Or? Intervene, Before It Happens

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Worried that a loved one is drug driving?

We routinely attend court as part of a mitigation plea regarding a person’s untreated addiction to alcohol or drugs, an untreated condition that is best treated, rather than punitive punishment measures. When the court hears that a persons drink or drugs use was a problem that went untreated long before this episode in court, and the person is responding to a treatment plan, then they appear to support the recovery and sentence accordingly.

Why Wait For An Episode Of Drink Or Drug Driving That Is Now A Court Case?

We prefer to organise Family and Workplace drug or alcohol interventions, bringing a person into a safe way of living before this happens. Either way, treatment, education, monitoring etc are the best ways to save a person from their own dangerous and out of control process. We help with family recovery systems, referral into treatment, aftercare, recovery coaching, and of course formal Interventions.

An Intervention, a preventative family or workplace process allows for treatment before a person hits a rock bottom, in whatever form. Loss of a driving licence and a criminal record will impact on a persons life and potential opportunities. For those with the psychology of addictive personality traits: minimising, denial, alibi systems and unreasonable irrational thinking, a knock back like loss of license can be used as a “poor me, poor me, pour me a drink or drug” type thinking.

So, you are concerned for another person. You believe they use drugs and then drive. You know that the UK police force are now testing for drug use on the roadside with the Drugalyser test. They also do Field Impairment tests, and then they can prosecute.

UK Police – Drugalyser & The Law

The new Drugalyser tests in use alongside a Field Impairment Test mean the following:-

https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law

It’s illegal to drive if you’re unfit to do so because you’re on legal or illegal drugs.
If the police stop you and think you’re on drugs they can do a ‘Field Impairment Assessment’. This is a series of tests, like asking you to walk in a straight line and checking the size of your pupils.
If they think you’re unfit to drive because of taking drugs, you’ll be arrested and will have a blood test at a police station. If the test shows you’ve taken drugs you could be charged with a crime.
You don’t have to be on illegal drugs to be unfit to drive – many prescription or over-the-counter drugs can also impair your ability to drive. If you’re on legal drugs and not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional before driving.

Penalties for drug driving

If you’re convicted of drug driving you’ll get:

  • a minimum 1 year driving ban
  • a fine of up to £5,000
  • a criminal record
  • Your driving licence will also show you’ve been convicted for drug driving. This will last for 11 years.

The penalty for causing death by dangerous driving is a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Other problems you could face

  • A conviction for drug driving also means:
  • your car insurance costs will increase significantly
  • if you drive for work, your employer will see your conviction on your licence
  • you may have trouble travelling to countries like the USA

UK Law Limits – Drugalyser Tests

The limits in full (micrograms of substance per litre of blood)
• Benzoylecgonine 50mcg/L
• Clonazepam 50mcg/L
• Cocaine 10mcg/L
• Cannabis & Cannabino 2mcg/L
• Diazepam 550mcg/L
• Flunitrazepam 300mcg/L
• Ketamine 20mcg/L
• Lorazepam 100mcg/L
• LSD 1mcg/L
• Methadone 500mcg/L
• Methamphetamine 10mcg/L
• MDMA & Ecstasy 10mcg/L
• Heroin 5mcg/L
• Morphine 80mcg/L
• Oxazepam 300mcg/L
• Temazepam 1,000mcg/L

Drug Testing In The Family

We use Alcoscan Breathalysers, ToxCup or InstAlert urine tests for Drugs. As part of a family recovery contract and supported process these are useful in keeping loved ones safe.