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Citation
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Hayley AC, Ogeil RP, Faulkner A, Beard N, Downey LA, Smith K, Lubman DI, Scott D. J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Copyright
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(Copyright © 2022, Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey) |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE:
Amphetamine-type stimulants are increasingly implicated in road-trauma incidents. Although ambulances are typically first to attend these emergencies, limited research has utilised paramedic clinical data to examine the contribution of amphetamine use to road-trauma related ambulance attendances. We describe the clinical and temporal risk profiles associated with amphetamine-related harm in road trauma incidents requiring paramedic attendance in the Australian state of Victoria.
Methods:
This cross-sectional, retrospective observational study examined the Victorian component of a national surveillance dataset (National Ambulance Surveillance System) of alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related ambulance attendances to determine the incidence and temporal profile of amphetamine use in traffic-related ambulance attendances from January 2015 to December 2020.
Results:
Throughout the observation period, Victorian paramedics attended a total of 6,665 alcohol, pharmaceutical or illicit drug-related cases involving a road trauma. Almost one quarter (22.6%) of these attendances were deemed related to the use of pharmaceutical and/or illicit drugs. Amphetamine alone was involved in nearly one-third (29.6%) of non-alcohol-related road-trauma attendances, and co-consumption of amphetamine with drugs other than alcohol occurred in over one-third of all AOD-related traffic incidents. Amphetamine related road-trauma attendances predominantly occurred on the weekend (Fri-Sun) during late night/early morning in metropolitan Melbourne. Between 2015 and 2020, the incidence of amphetamine-related road trauma ambulance attendances increased by 86.8%, from 1.1 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 1.9 per 100,000 population in 2020.
Conclusions:
Amphetamine-type stimulants are increasingly implicated in road trauma. Co-consumption with other potentially impairing substances reflects a concerning trend of poly-substance use among Victorian drivers. |