Long distance truck drivers are considered 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. Qualitative interview data was collected from 35 long haul truck drivers in South East Queensland and analysed using NVivo 2.0. High rates of licit and illicit drug use (particularly amphetamines) were reported. However, unlike previous studies which focus on fatigue, this research found overlapping and changing motivations for drug use during individual lifetimes. Using Becker's model of a drug use 'career' it was revealed that some drivers begin illicit drug use before they begin truck driving. As well as fatigue, powerful
motives such as peer pressure, wanting to fit the trucking 'image', socialisation, relaxation and addiction were reported. These may need to be considered along side fatigue in the development of effective drug prevention or cessation policies for truck drivers.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/265012 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Richards, Naomi |
| Publisher | Queensland University of Technology |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright 2005 Naomi Richards |
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