Academic Journal
Driving under the influence of opioids in 2024: a narrative review of science and pandemic policy updates.
| Τίτλος: | Driving under the influence of opioids in 2024: a narrative review of science and pandemic policy updates. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Kirsch C; Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA., Wintergalen P; Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA., Cohen SP; Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA., Mirzadeh Z; Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA neurobup@barrowneuro.org., Farber SH; Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA., Wilhelmi BG; Department of Neuroanesthesia, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. |
| Πηγή: | Regional anesthesia and pain medicine [Reg Anesth Pain Med] 2026 Mar 05; Vol. 51 (3), pp. 261-270. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 05. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: BMJ Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9804508 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1532-8651 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10987339 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Reg Anesth Pain Med Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2018- : [London, United Kingdom] : BMJ Original Publication: Secaucus, NJ : Churchill Livingstone, c1998- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Analgesics, Opioid*/adverse effects , Driving Under the Influence*/legislation & jurisprudence , Driving Under the Influence*/prevention & control , Opioid-Related Disorders*/epidemiology , Opioid-Related Disorders*/diagnosis , Pandemics*/legislation & jurisprudence , Automobile Driving*/legislation & jurisprudence , COVID-19*/epidemiology , Accidents, Traffic*/prevention & control , Accidents, Traffic*/legislation & jurisprudence , Health Policy*/trends , Public Policy*, United States/epidemiology ; Humans |
| Περίληψη: | Background/importance: Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) refers to operating a vehicle after consuming drugs or medications other than alcohol that impair the ability to drive safely. There is no consensus on legal limits for drug intoxication while driving in the USA. Balancing the benefits of prescription medications, such as opioids, with traffic safety remains an ongoing public health challenge. Objective: This article examines DUID policy and provides recommendations for policy improvement and unification grounded in scientific evidence on opioid-related impairment and driving risks. Evidence Review: A literature review of epidemiologic data, psychomotor effects, and public policy related to opioid use and driving was conducted. A total of 38 epidemiological studies, 21 studies on psychomotor effects, and pertinent laws and policies were reviewed. Findings: Epidemiological data reveal an increasing prevalence of opioid-positive drivers and an association between opioid use and elevated risk of motor vehicle collisions. Psychomotor studies show mixed results, with some indicating impairment in opioid users and others suggesting minimal effects on driving ability. State laws regarding DUID remain heterogeneous, with trends toward expanded testing powers, lower impairment thresholds, and limitations on prescription-based defenses. The lack of standardized opioid testing limits and inconsistent policy approaches across states hinder effective management of opioid-related impaired driving. Conclusions: A balanced public health approach can reduce opioid-involved crashes through education, prevention, enhanced enforcement tools, and rehabilitation. In drafting future DUID laws, policymakers must analyze evolving opioid research when balancing the pain relief of opioids with public roadway safety. (© American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2026. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.) |
| Competing Interests: | Competing interests: None declared. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: COVID-19; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; EDUCATION; Opioid-Related Disorders; Public Health |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Analgesics, Opioid) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250216 Date Completed: 20260307 Latest Revision: 20260330 |
| Update Code: | 20260330 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/rapm-2024-105955 |
| PMID: | 39956556 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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