Effects of benzodiazepines and alcohol on driving

About this study

This study aims to evaluate the combined effect of common prescription benzodiazepines and alcohol on driving performance and eye movements during driving.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• are aged 21–40 years
• are fluent in written and spoken English
• have normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• are a social drinker (more than two alcoholic drinks on a single occasion)
• are a regular driver (more than 4,000km/year) with a full driver’s licence (no P plates)
• have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5–29.9
• have no history of drug or substance dependence or abuse, or current illicit drug abuse
• have no history of neurological conditions or cardiac, endocrine, gastrointestinal or bleeding disorders
• have no previous or current history of psychiatric conditions (except where free from depression or anxiety diagnosis and treatment for more than two years)
• aren't pregnant, potentially pregnant or lactating
• aren't taking medication (excluding prophylactic antibiotics or the contraceptive pill).
   

What’s involved?

Participation will involve attending the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology on five separate occasions: 

• one screening session for a maximum of 1.5 hours
• four testing sessions, one week apart, for three hours each.

In each testing session you will receive either alprazolam (1mg) and alcohol (0.04% BAC), alprazolam and a placebo, alcohol and a placebo, or a placebo only. You will be reimbursed for your time and travel with a $50 Coles Myer voucher at the completion of each testing session. 

If you’re interested in participating, please complete the form below and we will be in touch.