The perceived effects of cocaine on the driving performance of long-term users

Abstract

While there is a relatively large body of research on the effects of alcohol and cannabis on driving, the impact of cocaine on driving performance and behaviour has been neglected. This exploratory empirical study addresses this shortcoming by examining middle-aged, socially established long-term cocaine users who habitually drive or used to drive under the influence of this drug. Thirty interviews were conducted with cocaine users from six German cities of different sizes. One common theme to emerge from the interviews was that cocaine is perceived a performance enhancement for driving, although a negative impact on concentration was also noted. Interviewees ignored and rejected the real dangers to self and others, and were instead afraid of losing their driver's licence. Moreover, driving immediately after consumption or drug use while driving were perceived as unproblematic unless police controls were expected. Finally, expanded driving under the influence of drugs controls over the past decade have motivated changes in drug driving behaviour, although not leading to complete cessation of either drug use or drug driving. The immense concern about loss of driver's licence among socially established long-term users suggests that it might be worthwhile continuing current law enforcement efforts.

Notes

1. This study is primarily concerned with consumption patterns in this milieu, with drug driving appearing only as an ancillary topic.

2. Cocaine drivers appear at least not to neutralize their behavior as possibly legal like it is known from alcoholized drivers that are not always aware of the specific legal situation (Sykes et al., 2010). They know that neither the possession and the consumption nor driving under the influence of cocaine is allowed in any way in Germany (Zdun, 2014).

3. The German law on DUID has not changed in recent years neither in respect of cocaine nor other illegal drugs. In contrast to alcohol use, there is no tolerated limit for illegal substances. Moreover, a driver can lose his or her license not only for driving while intoxicated, but as long as any trace of an illegal drug can be detected, which is approximately two to four days in the case of cocaine.

4. Wipe tests and urine tests became common practice in Germany in the early 2000s.

5. This rather small amount of money was usually just sufficient to cover travel costs and was less than the interviewees could have earned in the same time through their work. This was therefore considered not to create an ethical problem in terms of supporting cocaine use.

6. No interviewee was able to provide exact information on earlier consumption quantities, which may have exceeded 10 grams per day. Current occasional cocaine use did usually not exceed two to three grams.

7. The gender (M = male, F = female) and age of the interviewee is provided after each quote.

8. The same attitude was found among those who sometimes used cocaine at work and or while driving for work.

9. However, few participants perceived public transport as an appropriate means of transport; the majority preferred taxis. This did not differ between urban and rural areas and was instead a matter of affordability.