NUMBER OF CANADIANS WHO HAVE DRIVEN STONED DOUBLES

OTTAWA - Canadians who say they have driven after smoking drugs has
more than doubled since the late 1980s, according to a study, which
reports young men drive while high just as often, or even more, than
they drink and drive.

Almost 5% of the 4,639 drivers surveyed said they had driven within
two hours of using marijuana or hashish in the previous year an
average of 24 times, said the Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse.

"The evidence we have is that the behaviour is increasing," said Doug
Beirness, senior research associate for the federally sponsored agency.

"Another factor that makes us believe it's an issue of concern is that
it seems to be most concentrated among young people."

Research remains inconclusive, however, on whether the hike in
drug-impaired driving has contributed to car crashes causing injuries
or death, said the study.

"The extent to which cannabis use by drivers contributes to serious
road crashes is difficult to determine, largely because of the poor
rates of testing for drugs other than alcohol," the report said.

"Nevertheless, it can be expected that as the prevalence of driving
under the influence of cannabis increases, the number of resulting
collisions will inevitably increase as well."

The survey was released a month after a federal bill was tabled to
catch drivers who smoke drugs before climbing behind the wheel.

The average age of those who drive under the influence of cannabis was
28.7 years, compared to 39.8 years for drinking and driving.

Twenty per cent of drivers under 20 reported they have driven under
the influence of drugs.

The study also reported that men were 3.6 times more likely than women
to smoke drugs and drive.

There is also reason to believe the overall numbers are much higher,
since people are reluctant to confess to illegal activity, Mr.
Beirness said.

The study, based on data from the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey,
revealed people feel a "false sense of security" that smoking drugs
does not affect their driving ability.

Also, they feel they are unlikely to get caught because, unlike the
Breathalyzer test for alcohol, there is no reliable test to detect
drug-impaired driving.