ROAD RAGE AND DRUG USE LINKED, SAYS STUDY

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

And 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.

Psychological Problems

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, who
authored 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.

Preventative Measures

The details of Smart's findings will be presented at a national
substance abuse conference that begins Sunday in Toronto, where
addiction experts will gather to 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 topic at the substance abuse 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, which is hosting the event.