Citation

Steentoft A, Worm K. J. Traffic Med. 1996; 24(3-4): 73-76.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the frequency of benzodiazepines, morphine, amphetamine and cocaine in Danish road users. Methods: Negative blood alcohol samples from Danish traffic cases for half a year in 1991, totally 294 cases, were analysed for the above mentioned drugs. Results: Drugs were detected in 78 (27%) of the cases, but analyses for drugs were only requested by the police in 28 of these. The average age in the drug positive cases was 34 years, and females represented 13% of the cases. From the classification of the cases performed by the police it was evident, that it was impossible for the police to distinguish between being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 23% of the cases were positive for benzodiazepines with diazepam being by far the most fequently occurring drug followed by flunitrazepam. Morphine was detected in 7% of the cases, amphetamine in 5% and cocaine in only one case. Conclusion: Compared with a similar investigation in 1983 the frequency of benzodiazepines has increased from 15% to 23%.

Keywords

Drug impaired driving