Truckers and Amphetamine Use
During the Second World War, a drug named amphetamine rose to popularity among bomber pilots who were expected fly missions over long periods of time. As the drug became an accepted part of the war effort, the struggle to keep it from affecting the population was more difficult for federal agents to attend to, requiring more technological advancements in drug detection. By the 1980s, urine analysis became reliable enough for government agencies to use it to crack down on amphetamine abuse. This has widely affected the way some commercial trucker drivers have operated.
If you have been charged with a DUI, contact the Seattle DUI defense lawyers of the Cowan Kirk Gaston Law Firm at 1-866-822-1230 to discuss the facts of your case.
Dangers of Amphetamine Abuse
Truckers have been undergoing more intense job expectations as the United States has seen economic growth. Following World War II, truckers were often expected to driver farther, longer, and in less time than before. As a result, amphetamines entered into the trucking scene as a means to keep drivers awake over long hauls. The effects of amphetamine use include:
- Lowered feelings of hunger or tiredness
- Increased heart rate
- Headache
- Anxiety
- A boost of social extroversion
In the Reagan era, federal law shifted to new policing procedures that randomly monitored truckers and Department of Transportation employees alike. Through urine tests, drug traces could be found in a trucker’s system, leading to subsequent legal action.
Contact Us
DUI charges are devastating for anyone undergoing the process, but are especially detrimental to truckers. If you are facing the wrath of the law, you could consult a strong law team to help formulate your legal defense. Contact the Seattle DUI defense attorneys of the Cowan Kirk Gaston Law Firm at 1-866-822-1230 to discuss your rights and options today.
