PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION DO NOT ALWAYS MIX

Over the recent years we have seen numerous high-profile deaths occur using prescription drugs.  For example, we have seen an actor who died of an overdose of prescription drugs and a doctor on trial for the death of a famous musician who died because of an overdose of a prescribed medication.

As managers of commercial drivers, we need to be aware of the medications that our drivers are taking as they may have a direct effect on their driving skills and operation of a CMV. Prescription medications have increased substantially in the last 50 years.

In 1950, on average each person had two prescriptions dispensed per year. In 1994, 7.9 was the average and in 2009 it increased to 12.6. It is also alarming to see that Hydrocodone, an opiate-based painkiller, was the largest single prescription dispensed in 2004 at 92.7 million prescriptions.

Incidentally, this is one of the five drug groups that are tested for in the FMCSA Controlled substance-testing program.

So, what can you do to guard against prescription drug use in your vehicles? Keep reading...