Citation

Khanjani N, Mousavi M, Dehghanian A, Jahani Y, Soori H. Traffic Injury Prev. 2017; 18(6): 573-576.

Affiliation

Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran .

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15389588.2017.1279736

PMID

28095031

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Traffic accidents and traffic-related injuries and mortality have become a major public health concern over the current years 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 from 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 which 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 also 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 OR of having a crash for opium, cannabis and metamphetamine were 1.94 (95% 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 ORs 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.

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving

Language: en

Keywords

alcohol use; case-crossover; collisions; drug use