Different types of drug affect your skills in different ways

Cannabis – marijuana, weed, hash

After using cannabis your reactions slow down and you take longer to respond. The effects can alter your perception of distance and time as well as lowering your concentration, coordination, alertness and ability to react.

A very real problem is that you often don’t realise your driving is affected until you’re faced with an unexpected situation. Only then do you find you can’t make a quick or correct decision.

Psycho-stimulants - speed, ecstasy, cocaine

If you take stimulants such as ecstasy, cocaine or any form of amphetamine (speed, crystal meth, base) you may:

Believe you drive better than you really can.

Drive aggressively and take more risks.

Be overstimulated and lose concentration.

Have blurry or limited vision.

See things on the road that aren’t where you think they are.

Driving when you’re coming down is also very dangerous. When the effects of stimulants are wearing off, your driving is even more affected.

Opiates - heroin, methadone, codeine

Using heroin and other opiates such as morphine, codeine and methadone:

Makes you very sleepy

Slows your reaction times.

Makes you lose balance, coordination and concentration.

Takes your attention away from what’s happening on the road.

Combining alcohol and opiates multiplies the depressant effects of both drugs, even if only small quantities are used. You will feel sleepy and uncoordinated and have an even higher risk of falling asleep at the wheel.