@article{ref1,
title="Role of drugs in traffic accidents",
journal="British medical journal: BMJ",
year="1980",
author="Honkanen, R. and Ertama, L. and Linnoila, M. and Alha, A. and Lukkari, I. and Karlsson, M. and Kiviluoto, Olli and Puro, M.",
volume="281",
number="6251",
pages="1309-1312",
abstract="Serum samples from 201 drivers who presented at emergency departments within six hours after being injured in a road accident and 325 control drivers selected randomly at petrol stations were screened for drugs by combined thin-layer and gas chromatography. Blood alcohol concentrations were also measured, and a questionnaire on the subjects' state of health and use of drugs administered. At interview 30 patients (15%) and 44 controls (13%) said that they had taken drugs in the previous 24 hours. Four patients (2%) and six controls (2%) said that they had taken psychotropic drugs, but serum analysis detected psychotropic drugs in 10 patients (5%) and eight controls (2.5%). Diazepam was found in 16 of the 18 subjects in whom psychotropic drugs were detected. Alcohol was detected in 30 patients (15%) and three controls (1%). Drug use appeared to be somewhat lower in Finland than in other Western countries, and illness to be a more important traffic hazard than drugs in general. Interview was not a reliable method of establishing whether drivers had taken psychotropic drugs. Taking diazepam may increase the risk of being involved in a traffic accident, but alcohol was the most powerful risk factor.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0959-8138",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}