As South Korea intensifies its crackdown on drunk driving, a new and perhaps more insidious danger has come sharply into focus: drug-impaired driving, particularly involving prescription medications. While the image of a driver under the influence may conjure thoughts of alcohol or illicit substances, recent studies and police reports reveal that legal drugs—such as sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medications, and painkillers—are increasingly at the heart of impaired driving cases on the nation’s roads.
According to a comprehensive analysis published on April 6, 2026, in the latest issue of Police Science Research, a team led by Park Mi-jung at the National Forensic Service examined 1,046 cases of suspected drug-impaired driving between 2023 and 2025. Their findings were eye-opening: a staggering 55% of the substances detected in drivers were medical narcotics, not illegal drugs. Zolpidem, a commonly prescribed sleeping pill, topped the list, appearing in 370 cases—the most among any single substance. Benzodiazepine-type sedatives, such as alprazolam and flunitrazepam, also featured prominently, with 144 and 126 detections respectively.
These findings are not isolated. As reported by Ksilbo, the rise in drug-impaired driving coincides with a broader societal shift. South Korea has seen a marked increase in psychiatric treatment accessibility, leading to more people being prescribed medications that can impair driving ability. In 2023 alone, about 2.68 million people received psychiatric treatment—a jump of 630,000 over five years. The number of patients prescribed hypnotics, such as sleeping pills, reached 9.72 million in 2025, reflecting an 8.1% increase over the same period. The surge in sleep disorder diagnoses—up by nearly 310,000 in just four years—has only added to the prevalence of such prescriptions.
But what makes these medications so risky behind the wheel? The answer lies in their direct effects on the central nervous system. Drugs like zolpidem and benzodiazepines are designed to induce sleep or reduce anxiety, but they also cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired cognition. As highlighted by the police, these side effects can severely diminish a driver’s alertness, reaction speed, and attention, making even routine driving hazardous. Quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication detected in 108 cases, is another example; its sedative properties are well-documented, and it can leave drivers feeling lethargic and unfocused.
Law enforcement agencies have responded to this growing threat with a multi-pronged strategy. Unlike drunk driving, which can be gauged by a simple breathalyzer, drug-impaired driving requires a more nuanced approach. Officers look at a combination of factors: erratic driving behavior (such as lane departures, sudden stops, or signal violations), field observations (like pupil response, speech patterns, and balance), hospital test results, and prescription records. If a driver is found to have caused an accident while under the influence of such drugs, the consequences are severe—criminal charges and civil liability often follow, and for professional drivers, the fallout can include license suspension and workplace disciplinary action.
“The key issue is not just the presence of drugs, but whether the driver could maintain normal driving ability,” said an official quoted in Ksilbo. “Even if a medication was prescribed, if it leads to drowsiness or cognitive decline, and the driver’s ability is compromised, it becomes a legal matter.” The law is clear: after an accident, claims of having been in a normal state are rarely accepted as grounds for reduced responsibility.
Recent legislative changes have further raised the stakes. The revised Road Traffic Act, which took effect on April 2, 2026, imposes stiff penalties for those caught driving under the influence of drugs that impair normal function. Offenders face up to five years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won. The police, in tandem with the National Forensic Service and the Korea Road Traffic Authority, are working to establish precise blood concentration limits and clearer enforcement guidelines, with a major update expected by the end of May 2026.
In the meantime, a two-month special crackdown on drug-impaired driving is underway. Police have advised the public to check with their doctors or pharmacists about the safety of driving after taking any medication, especially those known to cause drowsiness. “If your medication warning mentions drowsiness or you feel sluggish after taking it, it’s safest to avoid driving altogether,” police urge. Officers also stress that enforcement is not about punishing people for taking medicine, but about preventing accidents caused by impaired driving ability.
Yet, the issue is not without its complexities. Experts caution that heightened awareness of drug-impaired driving must not tip into excessive fear, which could deter patients from seeking necessary psychiatric treatment. Professor Lee Hae-guk of Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital pointed out, “Anti-anxiety medications are prescribed not only by psychiatrists but also by internists and other specialists. Because they can reduce alertness, patients need to be especially careful about driving.” However, Lee warned, “If people become too afraid of legal consequences, they may avoid treatment altogether, which isn’t the outcome anyone wants.”
Professor Lee Beom-jin of Ajou University’s College of Pharmacy echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the rise in drug-impaired driving cases is partly due to the growing complexity of illnesses and the increased availability of medical narcotics. “People sometimes have to drive for work even while on medication,” Lee said. “It’s important that prescribers provide detailed guidance on how long drugs remain in the system and when it’s safe to drive, so that public safety and patients’ basic rights are both protected.”
Interestingly, while the focus is often on prescription drugs, illegal substances like methamphetamine, marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids accounted for just 4% of drug-impaired driving cases in the recent study. The vast majority of cases involved legal, medically prescribed substances—underscoring the need for both medical and legal systems to adapt to this evolving challenge.
What does all this mean for the average driver? Prevention and proactive decision-making are key. Drivers are encouraged to read medication leaflets carefully, heed any warnings about drowsiness or cognitive impairment, and err on the side of caution when it comes to getting behind the wheel. If stopped or involved in an incident, experts recommend calmly and objectively documenting what medications were taken, when, and under what circumstances—rather than responding emotionally or dismissively.
As South Korea grapples with this new frontier in road safety, the message from authorities and experts alike is clear: drug-impaired driving is not a lesser offense than drunk driving. In fact, because it often involves a total loss of normal driving ability, it can be even more dangerous. Recognizing the risks, staying informed, and making responsible choices will be crucial as both laws and medical practices continue to evolve.
For now, the safest route remains simple: if in doubt about your medication’s effects, leave the driving for another day.