In this dissertation 6 studies are described that deal with the interface between drugs, particularly cannabis and ecstasy, and road traffic safety. Cannabis and ecstasy are widely used drugs, especially by young people. These drugs are also regularly encountered in the blood of drivers. Epidemiological studies showed an increased risk of being involved in or being responsible for an accident was demonstrated for cannabis, benzodiazepines, amphetamines (including ecstasy), heroin and cocaine. Driving under the influence of cannabis and ecstasy is common practice and threatens traffic safety. Previous research has demonstrated that cannabis impairs driving performance in occasional users. However, the effects of cannabis on driving performance in heavy users have not been extensively investigated yet. Furthermore, the effects of ecstasy on driving performance have rarely been investigated, but one study showed that ecstasy has stimulating properties when tested during daytime. However, ecstasy is most often used in the evening and during the night. The effects of sleep deprivation in combination with ecstasy on driving performance and psychomotor functions are largely unknown. The studies in this dissertation focus on the relation between drug intake (THC and MDMA, the psychoactive substances of cannabis and ecstasy respectively) and traffic safety. The effect of orally administered and smoked THC in occasional and/or heavy cannabis users on actual driving performance and psychomotor functions was experimentally investigated. The effect of ecstasy on driving performance and psychomotor performance was experimentally studied in combination with sleep deprivation. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting