Tiger Woods Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

Tiger Woods was arrested early morning Monday, May 29, after police in Jupiter, Florida, found him asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz. According to a CNN news report, police found the golfer’s car running on the side of the road, its brake lights illuminated and right turn signal flashing. He was by himself in the vehicle and wearing his seatbelt.

Woods Blames Prescription Meds

The arrest report said Woods had to be woken up and that his speech was slurred. Woods told police he was coming from golfing in Los Angeles and didn’t know where he was. He later changed his story and asked how far he was from his house. Woods has a home on Jupiter Island. The report stated Woods told police he takes several prescription medications. He took a Breathalyzer test registering a 0.000 and a urine test. Woods said in a statement that alcohol was not involved and that what happened seems to have been an “unexpected reaction to prescribed medications.”

Woods is currently rehabbing from back surgery and said he did not realize that the mix of medications he took could affect him in this manner. He added that he understands the severity of his actions and takes full responsibility. Woods is set to make a court appearance July 5. He was cited for DUI and improper parking, and records said there was no crash or damage to any property. The 41-year-old golfer has undergone multiple back surgeries and hasn’t played competitive golf since he was forced to pull out of the Dubai Desert Classic in February. Just about a month ago, he underwent fusion surgery on his back.

It is indeed fortunate that no one was injured as a result of Woods’ impairment. This could have been different had he been involved in a single-car collision or in a crash involving other vehicles.

If You Are Taking Medications

Impairment can be brought about by both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Any type of medication could make you drowsy. If you are taking a cocktail of prescription drugs for medical conditions, it is particularly crucial that you stay away from driving because you may not know the effect it can have on your driving abilities. If you are taking prescription drugs, here are a few tips to ensure your safety and that of others on the roadway:

• Understand the potential side effects of the drugs you are taking. Some common side effects that can make it difficult for you to drive include drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness, inability to focus and nausea.
• Some steps you can take if you must drive include adjusting the dosage of your medicine, changing the time you take the drug and switching your medication to one that doesn’t cause drowsiness.
• Ask your doctor if you should drive, especially when you first take the medication.
• Talk to your pharmacist and ask him or her to go over the medicine’s properties and side effects.
• Monitor yourself to see how your body reacts to the medicine.