Drug driving detections “are soaring” in Ireland, according to a leading consultant in emergency medicine.

On The Hard Shoulder today Dr Chris Luke said there are now over 500 different drugs circulating in Europe as recreational use is at an all-time high.

It comes as Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said gains made in reducing the number of drunk drivers on roads have almost been offset by a rise of drug drivers.

Figures

Dr Luke said the figures made for “pretty impressive” reading.

“About 7,500 people were arrested throughout 2023 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and over a third of those were found to have drugs in their system,” he said.

“Figures available from the Road Safety Authority suggest that over a third of drivers who are killed on the road these days have drugs in their system.

“That had been 10% three years previously so there is no doubt at all that figures are soaring.”

Survey

Dr Luke said this is backed up by findings from a recent survey.

“A recent survey of third-level students found 50% of students were intermittent drug users, they weren’t hardcore - but there was a lot of dabbling and recreational use," he said.

“The most popular drugs are cannabis and cocaine -which has dislodged ecstasy as the second most popular drug.

“There are well over 500 drugs circulating in Europe now according to the drug monitoring agency in Lisbon.”

A drug-driving test.

A new “drug-testing gadget” was brought in by Gardaí in 2022, according to Dr Luke.

“It seems to have reduced the testing time down to a few minutes,” he said.

“You swab the inside of the driver’s mouth and it tests for six of the most commonly used drugs; cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines – all of which can impact your ability to drive safely.

“Drug taking nowadays, it has become entirely normalised to have cocktails of drink, sleeping tablets, cannabis and cocaine – and so forth.”

Societal problem

Dr Luke said drug taking is a problem society needs to tackle.

“You can get bogged down in the morals and politics of it but there is no doubt there is a huge growing burden in terms of injury and debts arising from drug taking.

“My big thing is impulsive interpersonal violence on the streets – that is a big worry.”

Some 35 people have died on Irish roads so far this year.