The role of drug and alcohol use and the risk of motor vehicle crashes in Shiraz, Iran, 2014: A case-crossover study

• Published in: Traffic injury prevention 2017-08, Vol.18 (6), p.573-576
• Main Authors: Khanjani, Narges, Mousavi, Masoomeh, Dehghanian, Amirreza, Jahani, Yunes, Souri, Hamid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcohols; Cannabis; case-crossover; Check lists; collisions; Crashes; Cross-Over Studies; Demographics; Drivers; Driving ability; Driving Under the Influence - statistics & numerical data; Drug abuse; drug use; Drugs; Emergency medical services; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Male; Marijuana; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Morphine; Motor vehicles; Public health; Risk; Risk reduction; Self Report; Substance Abuse Detection - statistics & numerical data; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Traffic; Traffic accidents; Traffic accidents & safety; Trauma; Urine; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1538-9588; 1538-957X
• DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2017.1279736

Background: Traffic accidents and traffic-related injuries and mortality have become a major public health concern in Iran. This study aimed to examine the role of drug and alcohol use in motor vehicle accidents in Iran. Methods: This case-crossover study was conducted on 441 drivers who survived a road traffic crash and were taken to the emergency department of Shahid Rajaee trauma hospital in Shiraz, southern Iran. Data were collected using checklists that included demographic characteristics and drug and alcohol use prior to driving. Alcohol and drug use was identified through self-report, and cannabis, morphine, and methamphetamine urine tests were used to confirm drug abuse among drivers. Results: In total 17.9% of drivers reported using drugs (cannabis, opium, or metamphetamine) and 8.84% of drivers reported consuming alcohol prior to the collision. The crude odds ratios (ORs) for having a crash for opium, cannabis, and metamphetamine were 1.94 (95% interval confidence [CI], 1.11-3.38), 2.37 (95% CI, 1.03-5.42), 5.5 (95% CI, 1.21-24.81), respectively, and for all drugs was 3.83 (95% CI, 2.28-6.43). The OR for alcohol was 3.5 (95% CI, 1.73-7.06) based on self-report. Conclusion: Drug and alcohol use are increasing the risk of traffic crashes in Iran. Risk-reducing programs must be designed and implemented.