Pubdate: Sat, 12 Nov 2005
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Carly Weeks, Ottawa Citizen

ECSTASY MOST COMMON DRUG AMONG DRIVERS WITH ROAD RAGE

Those Often Angry At The Wheel Are Mostly Young Males, Substance 
Abuse Research Finds

OTTAWA -- Frequent road ragers tend to have drinking problems and use 
illicit drugs more than those who stay cool at the wheel, a new study says.

Researchers were surprised to learn that ecstasy, more than any drug, 
is most common among frequent road ragers, compared to those who 
exhibit road rage occasionally or not at all, according to a study by 
the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

The study looked at previously compiled data from 2,279 people who 
fit into five groups, ranging from frequent road ragers to those who 
had never experienced it. It found those who showed signs of road 
rage occasionally or frequently were also likely to have used 
cocaine, cannabis and alcohol at some point in their lives.

In the Ontario-wide survey, road ragers also had a significantly 
higher incidence of psychological problems than those who keep their 
emotions in check when driving, according to Reginald Smart, project 
manager and senior scientist at the mental health centre and author 
of the study.

While understanding the motivation for road rage is a complex 
process, it seems likely that drugs and alcohol are the main cause of 
the angry, erratic behaviour some people display while driving, Smart said.

"We're not quite sure what leads to what, but it's probably a 
complicated situation where drugs are a cause of road rage," Smart 
said. He noted the study found young males are the most common road ragers.

The details of Smart's findings will be presented at a national 
substance abuse conference that begins Sunday in Toronto, where 
addiction experts will discuss preventive measures and rehabilitation 
strategies for people dependent on drugs and alcohol.

An earlier study by Smart, published in 2003, found that 39 per cent 
of men and 27 per cent of women admitted to committing an act of road 
rage in the previous year, while 49 per cent of men and 44 per cent 
of women said they were victims of intimidating behaviour while 
driving. That phone survey looked at 2,600 individuals who were 
representative of Ontario adults aged 18 and older.

Another conference topic will be the alarming rates of binge drinking 
and drug use among Canadian university students, said Michel Perron, 
executive officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman