title: Effects of dexamphetamine with and without alcohol on simulated driving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In party circuits dexamphetamine is frequently used in combination with alcohol. It is hypothesized that co-administration of dexamphetamine to alcohol might reduce the sedative effects of alcohol, but may potentiate risk-taking behaviour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was aimed at assessing the effects of alcohol, dexamphetamine and the combination of both on simulated driving and cognitive performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subjects participated in a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study employing four conditions: 10 mg dexamphetamine, 0.8 g/kg alcohol, 10 mg dexamphetamine + 0.8 g/kg alcohol, and placebo. Fundamental driving skills and risk-taking behaviour were assessed in a driving simulator. Subjects also completed vigilance and divided attention tasks, and subjective ratings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BAC levels during simulated driving were between 0.91‰ and 0.64‰. Subjects using alcohol showed a significantly larger mean standard deviation of lateral position and shorter accepted gap time and distance. Use of alcohol or dexamphetamine + alcohol was associated with a higher frequency of red light running and collisions than the dexamphetamine or placebo conditions. Performance of vigilance and divided attention tasks was significantly impaired in the alcohol condition and, to a lesser degree, in the dexamphetamine + alcohol condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single doses of 0.8 g/kg alcohol increased risk-taking behaviours and impaired tracking, attention and reaction time during a 3-h period after drinking when BACs declined from 0.9 to 0.2 mg/ml. The stimulatory effects of co-administration of dexamphetamine 10 mg were not sufficient to overcome the impairing effects of alcohol on skills related to driving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, TNO Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, P.O. Box 23, 3769 ZG, Soesterberg, Netherlands. ries.simons@tno.nl
authors.forename: Ries
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramaekers
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krul
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klöpping-Ketelaars
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skopp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000431:Ethanol; D003913:Dextroamphetamine
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