Citation

Gjerde H, Christophersen AS, Morland J. J. Traffic Med. 1992; 20(1): 21-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Amphetamine was found in blood samples from 380 suspected drugged drivers arrested during 1989 and 1990 in Oslo, Norway. Ninety-two percent of these drivers had blood amphetamine concentrations higher than normally found after therapeutic use (>0.1 mg/l), and 79 percent had other drugs present in blood in addition to amphetamine. Clinical tests of impairment were performed at time of blood sampling in 248 cases, 84 percent of the drivers were found to be impaired. The reasons for apprehension were known in only 164 cases. Thirty-nine percent of these drivers were arrested due to irregular or dangerous driving, or due to involvements in road traffic accidents. It seems that amphetamine abuse may cause impairment which in some cases may lead to irregular driving, dangerous driving and involvement in road traffic accidents.