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About one-quarter of fatal car accidents involve drugs, alcohol

By Staff Writer

A recent study by researchers at Rutgers University shows that about one in every four fatal car crashes occurred when the driver was previously using drugs or alcohol.

In order to come to this conclusion, the researchers analyzed data for fatal car accidents in states where more than 79 percent of drivers were tested for drug and alcohol use and the results were recorded.

The data revealed that about 25 percent of the drivers had tested positive for drug use. This was almost double the figure presented by the National Roadside Survey in 2007. Of these individuals who were using drugs, about one-quarter used cannabinoids and an additional one-quarter took stimulants.

This information may particularly impact teens, as a recent survey shows that many adolescents experiment with drugs and alcohol. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, about 73 percent of teens have drunk alcohol, 37 percent have smoked marijuana and 15 percent have abused prescription drugs.

Teens who feel they need extra support in reducing a drug or alcohol habit may want to consider enrolling in therapeutic schools.  

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