Alcohol Isn’t the Only Cause of Driving Impairment

When it comes to DWI, many people automatically think “alcohol.” However, a myriad of drugs—illegal, prescription, and over-the-counter—can also impair one’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and subject a person to DUI charges. In addition, adding alcohol to ingestion of drugs (legal or illegal), in combination can also lead to DWI. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that in 2014, approximately 22 percent of drivers involved in fatal auto accidents were impaired by drugs. In over half those cases, prescription drug usage was involved.