August is Impaired Driving Month and Alberta Transportation is sending out a warning not just for drunk driving, but driving high as well.

On average over the past five years, approximately 8,600 people were convicted of impaired driving either from drugs or alcohol in Alberta each year.

Last year in Alberta, nearly half of hall 24-hour licence suspensions were due to drug impairment, according to Alberta Transportation.

Sergeant Jennifer Brewer, Cochrane RCMP, says the growing rates of drug impairment suspensions may be due to increased awareness.

"We have more officers in our Integrated Traffic Units that are drug recognition officers, as well as field sobriety ones," she says. "That can lead to higher statistics than before because we have more members trained in it."

Sgt. Brewer reminds everyone that driving high carries the same legal consequences as driving drunk.

"You are charged under the same section in the Criminal Code if you are found to be driving with drugs in your system, and the punishment is the same, you will have the same amount of time suspended, you will have the same amount of time in jail if that's what the finding is, the fines are the same as well."

Brewer explains drugs affect the brain the same way alcohol does, slowing coordination, judgement, and reaction time.

She adds how important it is to think about the consequences before you get into a car with a driver impaired by drugs, alcohol, or both.

"You're allowing someone who you probably care deeply for to commit a criminal offense, and if that person did get into a collision, you also have to think about how you would feel if you knowingly let someone drive while their ability is impaired."

For more information on impaired driving laws in Alberta click here.