'After the high is gone': Police deliver dark message to parents about school drop off

South Australian police have issued a grim warning to drivers, reminding motorists not to take meth the day before dropping the kids off at school.

In a rather dark advertisement posted to its Facebook page, police sought to drive home the message that drugs can stay in your system for longer than the effects appear to last.

The image shows a female driver, covered in a smoky mist, as a young boy sits in the back seat.

“Meth can stay in your system for at least 24 hours, maybe longer depending on the individual, and even the slightest amount detected can cost you your licence,” police wrote alongside the advert.

“Get caught at the school drop off, long after the high is gone.”

The ad was part of a new push by the state government to crackdown on drug driving, with a new campaign launched earlier this month.

Superintendent Bob Gray said the campaign has been named ‘Long after the high is gone’ and is aimed at the 24 per cent of fatalities that involve drugs as well as the numerous serious injury collisions where drugs are a contributing factor.

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Penalties for drug-driving

According to authorities, one in nine people drug tested returned a positive result.

For first time offenders caught with traces of drugs in their system while behind the wheel face an on the spot fine of $587 and the disqualification of their licence. Depending on the severity, drivers could also face a court penalty and a fine between $900 and $1300.

The anti drug-driving push “aims to highlight the fact that drugs remain in your system well after being consumed and continue to impair your ability to operate a motor vehicle,” Superintendent Gray said in a statement on January 2.

“We don’t want to see a repeat of last year’s number of lives lost – so we are starting the year with a new campaign aimed specifically at drug driving.”

The campaign includes ads which are appearing on TV, radio, social media and billboards around the state.

In 2010, South Australia saw 113 people lose their lives on the road, up from an all-time record low of 80 deaths the previous year.

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