With the recent reform, the Highway Code has changed the procedures for detecting the possible use of drugs by those driving the vehicle
Restriction on driving after taking drugs. The review of Traffic Lawsin force from Saturday 14 December, on the one hand removes the wording “in a state of psycho-physical alteration“, thus giving a consistent limit to possible appeals based on the presence of traces of narcotic substances in the body without these influencing the individual’s behavior. The way in which cases of positivity are managed also changes. The text of the new article 187 introduces the possibility of carrying out fluid sampling oral cavityin addition to those of the mucosa already carried out previously. To get to the test, it remains necessary for the agent to carry out the tests first non-invasive tests. These are checks that require the driver to balance, raise his arms or count, all aimed at evaluating his behavior. In case of suspicions, the police can proceed with the toxicological tests. “They are based on the analysis of biological samples such as saliva, blood, urine or hair to detect the presence of narcotic substances or their metabolites, i.e. substances derived from a biotransformation process at the liver level” he explains Danilo De Gregorioassociate professor of Pharmacology at the Vita Salute San Raffaele University and project leader of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit of the San Raffaele Hospital.
toxicological tests
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The ones most used in case of checks are i rapid tests, on saliva and mucosa, to be carried out on site. “But the limit of these tests is that they only detect recent use with a time window of approximately 24 hours” continues De Gregorio. They are more precise blood testscapable of detecting substances that are still active, and urinewhich have a wider time window, even several days, but do not distinguish between recent use and past use. THE hair testhowever, they are more useful in cases of chronic use than for roadside checks, precisely because of their ability to identify the presence of substances up to several weeks after intake. The detection times, then, do not only depend on the test used, but also on the substance taken. “For example the Thcwhich is the active ingredient of cannabis, the one that produces the so-called euphoria, may remain detectable in urine for days or weeksespecially in regular consumers. While cocaine and opioids are detectable for a shorter period, typically a couple of days.”
False positives
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They are reliable tests, but not infallible. “There may be false positives caused by common drugs or foods, for example poppy seeds can create a false positive for the use of opiates. Therefore, to avoid errors, we use confirmed in the laboratory with more advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry”. Even for substances that can be used both for pharmacological therapies and for recreational use, as in the case of drugs for narcolepsy or ADHDthe outcome can be positive without necessarily reducing the driver’s capabilities. The case of the antihistamineswhich cause drowsiness, and benzodiazepine. “They are drugs that belong to the class of hypnotic sedatives” explains the Professor, “used for insomnia but also for the treatment of anxiety, but which can cause alterations in driving.”
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Alcohol and drugs
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Among the substances to avoid before getting behind the wheel, alcohol must also be included. It is one of the most dangerous, due to its greater accessibility and because it “slows down reflexes and it is the substance that has the most immediate effect on the driver, even if taken in small quantities”. According to the latest Istat data in 2023 the8.5% of injury crashes were related to drunk drivingcompared to 3.2% of narcotic substances, which still have extremely dangerous effects. “Cannabis has a dissociative effect, especially in the first hours after consumption.” While cocaine “increases arousal and aggression by inducing risky and impulsive behavior that can increase the risk of collisions.” “The effects can then be even more devastating if alcohol is combined with cocaine.” Both for the simultaneous effect of the substances and for the reduction of the feeling of danger. “Another risky interaction is that of alcohol with cannabis, because alcohol enhances the psychoactive effects, with a greater alteration of coordination and reflexes and a significant reduction in judgement” concludes De Gregorio.
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