Role of drugs and alcohol in impaired drivers and fatally injured drivers in the Strathclyde police region of Scotland, 1995–1998

• Published in: Forensic science international 1999-07, Vol.103 (2), p.89-100
• Main Authors: Seymour, Alison, Oliver, John S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - mortality; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcohol; Alcoholic Intoxication - complications; Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning; Alcohols; Benzodiazepines; Biological and medical sciences; Biological properties; Biological samples; Blood; Breath tests; British Isles, Scotland; Cannabis; Chromatography; Driving; Driving ability; drug abuse; Drug addictions; Drugs; Ethanol - blood; Ethanol - urine; Female; Forensic Medicine; Forensic science; Humans; Immunoassay; Impairment; Injury analysis; Male; Marijuana; Medical sciences; Methadone; Middle Aged; Morphine; Narcotics; Occupant injuries; Police; Retrospective Studies; Scotland - epidemiology; Street Drugs - blood; Street Drugs - urine; Substance-Related Disorders - complications; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Tetrahydrocannabinol; THC; Toxicology; Traffic accidents; Traffic accidents & safety; traffic safety; Urine
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/S0379-0738(99)00061-4

During the 4-year study period, 1995–1998, the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science, University of Glasgow received a total of 752 biological samples from drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs in the Strathclyde region of Scotland. The majority of samples were blood and had been primarily obtained from males. Drugs were detected in 68 and 90% of blood and urine samples, respectively. Toxicological analyses revealed that cannabis was the most frequently encountered illegal drug which was detected in 39% of all drug positive blood samples. Benzodiazepines were detected in the majority of drug positive samples with 82% containing at least one member of this group. Polydrug use was prevalent, with the average number of drugs detected per sample increasing from 2.0 in 1995 to 3.1 in 1998. For comparison, the results of toxicological analyses from 151 fatally injured drivers are described. Although the majority of samples tested negative for the presence of drugs and alcohol, drugs were found to be present in 19% and alcohol was detected in 33%. As the majority of drugs had been prescribed or administered post-accident, this study shows that alcohol was the main causative factor conducive to fatal road traffic accidents.