The RCIPS have done a terrific job of heightening awareness here on driving under the influence of alcohol even if there are idiots who take no notice. One of the unspoken related problems of drunk driving is drivers falling asleep while intoxicated. Now there is a new epidemic – drivers driving under the influence of the prescription sleep medication such as zolpidem (Ambien, Stillnox).

In the USA it has become almost an epidemic. Ten state toxicology labs that test for the presence of zolpidem rate it as one of the top ten drugs found in impaired drivers. In the Cayman Islands we do not even test for the drug.  In the USA zolpidem had over 28 million prescriptions issued in 2010 with $2.5 billion in sales.

Following their arrests many of the drivers claim to have no recollection of getting behind the wheel. In many of the cases the drug was taken incorrectly either as an overdose or in addition to other drugs such as alcohol!

Bizarre behaviour often accompanies the misuse of the drug. The label warns of combining the drug with alcohol and possible sleepwalking side effects. Those warnings apparently have been relatively ineffective because broad misuse continues.

Additionally, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders that continue to grow provide another source of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. A study showed that people with sleep apnea were seven times more likely to have multiple car accidents.

If you are taking zolpidem be extra careful when driving and don’t drink alcohol! Not even one.