Citation

Rivara FP, Mueller BA, Fligner CL, Luna G, Raisys VA, Copass M, Reay DT. J. Trauma 1989; 29(4): 462-470.

Affiliation

Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2565405

Abstract

We examined the prevalence and characteristics of drug use in a large sample of fatally and nonfatally injured trauma victims. Routinely collected urine specimens from 452 emergency room patients and 160 persons autopsied at the Medical Examiner's Office (MEO) were analyzed for the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepines using EMIT enzyme immunoassays. Blood alcohol levels were also measured. Tests were positive for at least one drug in 40.3% of the ER and 18.7% of the MEO samples. Marijuana was the most commonly detected drug in both groups. Specimens were more likely to be positive in younger persons and in males, and in victims of assaults and traffic accidents. Alcohol was present in the blood in more than one third of ER and MEO samples. Only 39.8% of ER samples and 52.3% of MEO samples were negative for both alcohol and drugs.


Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; Ethanol impaired driving