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Citation
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Pelição FS, Peres MD, Pissinate JF, de Paula DM, de Faria MD, Nakamura-Palacios EM, De Martinis BS. Traffic Injury Prev. 2016; 17(7): 663-667. |
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Affiliation
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Departamento de Química , Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , SP 14050-140 , Brazil . |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use among victims of fatal traffic accidents in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória, ES - Brazil, during the period of 2011-2012.
METHODS: Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of drugs from 391 deceased victims of traffic crashes that occurred in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória, ES - Brazil. The victims were constituted of drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, day of the week and period of the year in which the accidents happened were recorded. The analyses were performed by a gas chromatography-flame ionization method for alcohol, and by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer method for amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis.
RESULTS: 44.8% (n = 175) of all cases were positive for alcohol and/or illicit drugs. The detection of alcohol and/or drugs was more frequent in young males, aged 17 to 34, whose samples were positive in 46.8% of cases. Small differences among drivers, passengers and pedestrians were observed (drivers = 45.9%, passengers = 46.4% and pedestrians = 45.6%). In general, the most prevalent drug was alcohol, with 141 positive cases (36.1%), followed by cocaine, with 47 positive cases (12%). Amphetamines and cannabis had positivity rates of 4.1% and 4.3%, with 16 and 17 positive cases, respectively. The combined use of alcohol and other drugs was found in 36 cases (9.2%). Crack cocaine use was observed in 27.7% of the positive cases for cocaine.
CONCLUSIONS: For the effective reduction of traffic accidents related to driving under influence of drugs (DUID), we suggest the intensification of enforcement actions against the use of alcohol by drivers, the definition of which illicit drugs should be surveyed as well the cut-off values, the promotion of changing legislation to obligate drivers to provide samples for toxicological testing, the establishment of public information programs and specific actions aimed at young drivers to promote behavioral changes.
Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving
Language: en |