Driving under the influence of drugs can have adverse impacts.

Many substances, including prescription medications and illegal drugs, can affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle, by affecting the brain and central nervous system. When you drive under the influence of drugs, you don't just put yourself at risk — you also endanger pedestrians, bikers and other drivers.

Knowing the effects of drugs on the body can help you find out if you are able to operate a motor vehicle safely. Always choose safety. Consult your doctor if you have questions about the drugs you are taking.

What drugs cause driver-impairment

The drugs listed below are some known to affect a driver's reaction time, ability to pay attention, coordination, perception, motor skills and equilibrium.

Even drugs a doctor has prescribed to you may affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle. When your ability to drive is affect, you are at risk for a DWI.  Knowing what your prescription is and the effects on your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely is important before you decide to get in the driver's seat.

Not every person reacts the same or has similar effects from different types of substances. Body weight, tolerance, metabolism, mixture of drugs and other factors play a role in how a person reacts. Mixing substances can cause different reactions, increase impairment and can even be deadly is some cases.

Use the list as a reference, but always consult your doctor or pharmacist about how prescribed or over-the-counter medications can affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Consequences of drugged driving

​Drugged driving is just like alcohol-impaired driving. It doesn’t matter if the substance is obtained legally; impaired driving is always illegal. If you feel different, you drive different.

When you choose to drive impaired, you face many significant consequences. Deciding to drive while impaired puts yourself, as well as others, at risk.

In Minnesota, it is against the law for a person who is under the influence of alcohol, controlled or hazardous substances to operate a motor vehicle. The severity of your offense increases depending on your level of impairment, past convictions for DWI and other aggravating factors.

Penalties for drugged driving are treated the same for alcohol-impaired driving.

Refusal to submit to a chemical test may result in a fine and jail time.

Along with possible fines and jail time, your driver's license will be revoked.  You may also lose your license plates and your car.

Minnesota law enforcement officers are on the roads to protect you and the public from being victims of drugged drivers. They are trained to identify drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs. If you choose to operate a motor vehicle while impaired from alcohol or drugs, you will face the consequences for doing so.