1 in 10 Manitoba drivers test positive for marijuana, meth, other drugs

Manitoba Public Insurance says it is extremely concerned about the number of drivers who are operating vehicles under the influence of drugs.

Based on cheek swab and breathalyzer samples collected voluntarily from drivers in September, MPIfound 124 out of the 1,230 participants one in 10 were driving under the influence of a drug.

Prairie ResearchAssociateswas contracted by Manitoba Public Insurance to collect data for theroadsidesurvey and the samples were destroyed after testing.

While 1,230 agreed to be tested,503 declined to give a sample.

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The resultsmean10 per cent of drivers tested had drugs in their system, compared to only 2.4 per cent found to have alcohol in their system a fact that surprisedWard Keith, communications vice-president withManitoba Public Insurance.

"At 10 per cent, the prevalence of drugs in the tested drivers is significantly more common and extremely concerning," said Keith.

According to the September survey, 53 per cent of drivers testing positive for drugs had cannabis in their system, 31 per cent had cocaine, 12 per cent had opioidsand two per cent tested positive for benzodiazepines (a class of drugs that includesValium) and amphetamines (a common treatment for ADHD) or methamphetamines (commonly known as meth or crystal meth).

Of the drivers who tested positive, 22 per centhad taken more than one drug.

Car crash rates can increase when drugs are present, according to MPI.

The latest data on the subject, collected in 2013, showsabout 40 per cent of drivers killed in road collisions who were tested had drugs in their system.

The study, Keith said, will help MPI develop a baseline for druguse ahead of changes to Canada's marijuana legislation expected this spring.

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ManitobaAttorney General Heather Stefanson said the province is introducing a bill Thursday ahead of the new legislation that will address marijuana safety and health issues.

The billwill include changes to Manitoba's Highway Traffic Act, she said.

Drugged driving risks complex, says doctor

Dr. Andrea Furlan, a pain specialist with Toronto Rehab and former advisor to Health Canada on opioid prescription, urgescaution before concludingall those driving with drugs in their system areimpaired.

"It has to be individualized. We can't throw a blanket statement that everybody on these drugs are impaired," she said.

With opioids, for example, she said a patientwith chronic pain may drive better on the drugs thanin pain. It all depends whether the opioids a patient is taking are short-acting or long-acting and thepatient's tolerance level.

"It's the same with people who have ADHD. A lot of adults, they have adult ADHD, and if they don't take their stimulant they drive bad," she said.

Furlan said marijuana can be a different story, since it causes impairment even for long-term users for the first three hours after smoking or vaporizing the plant.

Keithconceded the resultsof the survey don't necessarily tell MPI the level of drug impairment.

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He noted, however, that the study did find 62 per cent of drivers who tested positive for marijuana had 10nanogramsor more in their system, which can be enoughto impair driving.

Furlansaid measuringnanogramscan be a little misleading, as peoplemetabolizecannabis differently.

Her team at Toronto Rehab is currently developing tests that can be conducted by clinicians in a doctor's officeto determine the extent of impairment caused by prescription medication on a specific patient, she said.