Creencias sobre los efectos de las sustancias psicoactivas sobre la conducción de vehículos en consumidores de drogas encarcelados

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to analyze beliefs about the effects of drug use on driving and the relationship of drugs with previous motor vehicle accidents. The sample consisted of 30 incarcerated drug addicts. An ad hoc questionnaire was developed to evaluate the following variables: (a) driving under the influence of drugs, (b) number of motor vehicle accidents experienced while under the influence of drugs, (c) number of consequences resulting from the motor vehicle accidents, (d) attribution of the accidents to the effects of drug use, and (e) type and number of attributions of consequences to the different types of drugs. All subjects admitted having driven at some time while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Seventy-seven percent acknowledged the negative effects of psychoactive substances on driving. However, 65% of the attributions were inadequate. Attributions that included negative appraisals of the effects of drug use on driving correlated positively with the number of motor vehicle accidents experienced. Implications of these results are analyzed.