[Driving under the influence of amphetamine and metamphetamine].

BACKGROUND The CNS stimulatory agents amphetamine and methamphetamine are often detected in blood samples from apprehended subjects driving under the influence of drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Relevant literature was identified through searches in PubMed and Google Scholar. The current state of knowledge regarding effects of amphetamines on traffic behaviour is reviewed and discussed. RESULTS Limited epidemiological data and a small number of experimental studies using low doses of amphetamines are available. Low amphetamine doses have been associated with enhanced performance in studies of sleep-deprived subjects. Theoretical considerations and empirical observations suggest that higher doses may impede performance, but not in accordance with usual concentration/effect relationships. INTERPRETATION There is a conspicuous lack of data on how to handle cases of driving under the influence of amphetamines.