ALCOHOL AND DRUGS IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS
244 traffic accident victims, all motor-vehicle drivers, cyclists or pedestrians over the age of 15 and treated at the emergency wards at two hospitals in Western Sweden, were subjected to a questionnaire regarding drug use and their blood analysed on admission to the hospital for the presence of alcohol (244) or other drugs (176). 18 percent of the injured persons had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 0.05 percent. The higher the BAC, the more serious the injury. Seven percent had measurable concentrations of a drug in their blood. In only one case was the level found to be higher than the therapeutic range (digoxin). Only four percent of the persons on whom blood analyses were made had measurable concentrations of drugs usually regarded as hazardous from the traffic-safety point of view, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates and antiepileptic drugs. In no case did the measured levels exceed the therapeutic range for these drugs. There was no connection between drug and alcohol (use) in the traffic population studied. The use of drugs is more widespread among older drivers, cyclists or pedestrians than among younger traffic participants. The older drug users often sustained more serious injuries than the younger ones. According to the results of the study presented, drugs seem to be a very small risk factor in traffic, especially as compared to alcohol.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11198060
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Corporate Authors:
International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine
Huddinge University Hospital Center, Traffic Medicine Center
Stockholm, Sweden 141 86 -
Authors:
- JACOBSON, B
- Ysander, L
- Ojerskog, B
- Hansson, P
- Kinberger, B
- NILSSON, L
- Publication Date: 1983-6
Media Info
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: p. 28-33
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Serial:
- Journal of traffic medicine
- Volume: 11
- Issue Number: 2
- Publisher: International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine
- ISSN: 0345-5564
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Age; Blood alcohol levels; Crash victims; Cyclists; Drivers; Drugs; Injuries; Pedestrians; Questionnaires
- Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00382503
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-035 607
- Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM