No sleep and drug use on ski fields poses accident risk
13 July 2003
A study on the prevalence of substance use in alpine snowfield settings has found that many skiers took large quantities of different drugs during a visit to the snowfields and many drove home despite a severe lack of sleep.
The study surveyed 1084 people at snowfields in Australia and was presented in May 2003 at the 4th International Conference on Drugs and Young People in Wellington, New Zealand.
Dr Mark Doverty, the Director of a health service which encompasses ski fields in New South Wales, organised research at the snowfields to follow up anecdotal reports of significant numbers of people using psychoactive substances.
Dr Doverty reported that for many visitors a skiing holiday these days involved high-risk drug taking and alcohol consumption.
He said accidents on the ski fields and on the trip home in the car were more likely to occur as a result of the drug and alcohol consumption or binge.
Last Reviewed: 14 July 2003
