Limits for 20 illegal drugs and for medicines with an abuse potential have been introduced by the government, a release from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said Monday.
While a legal limit for alcohol has been in effect since 1936, there have been no similar limits for illegal drugs and for medicines such as sedatives and painkillers with an abuse potential.
Impairment levels have been set for benzodiazepines, stimulants like amphetamine and cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens and opiates.
The limits not apply to therapeutic use of medicines with an abuse potential prescribed by a doctor, officials said.
Currently, reliable rapid tests that can be used roadside to indicate the influence of drugs other than alcohol are not available, and police will still have to evaluate impairment by means of field sobriety tests, they said.
In cases where police suspect driving under the influence of drugs, a blood sample will be sent for analysis by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health using the new legislated limits.
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