Fatigue and beyond: patterns of and motivations for illicit drug use among long-haul truck drivers.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to investigate the illicit drug use patterns of long-distance truck drivers. This population is considered to be a special interest group in terms of drug-driving research and policy due to high rates of use, involvement of drugs in truck accidents, and the link between drug use and work-related fatigue.


METHODS
Qualitative interview data were collected from 35 long-haul truck drivers in Southeast Queensland and analyzed through grounded theory techniques. Interviews were conducted at truck stops and loading facilities in both metropolitan and regional cites throughout Queensland.


RESULTS
High rates of licit and illicit drug use (particularly amphetamines) were reported by the majority of the sample. However, unlike previous studies that focus on fatigue, this research found overlapping and changing motivations for drug use during individual lifetimes. Becker's model of a drug use "career" was utilized to reveal that some drivers begin illicit drug use before they commence truck driving. As well as fatigue, powerful motives such as peer pressure, wanting to fit the trucking "image," socialization, relaxation, and addiction were also reported as contributing factors to self-reported drug driving.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that these additional social factors may need to be considered and incorporated with fatigue factors when developing effective drug prevention or cessation policies for truck drivers.
Davey
Jeremy
J
Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Carseldine, Australia. j.davey@qut.edu.au
Richards
Naomi
N
Freeman
James
J
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014186:Transportation; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance