Medicines and Psychoactive Agents in Traffic Users -- The Medico-Legal Problem in Poland

Commonly abused medications, including sedatives, psychotropic medications, and analgesics, contribute to traffic accidents in Poland. This article reports on a study of these agents and their role in human psychophysical efficiency in avoiding traffic crashes. The study was conducted in the Forensic Medicine Department, Silesian University of Medicine, Katowice, Poland. The research included individuals involved in traffic crashes and accidents who either were or were not under the influence of ethyl alcohol or the concentration of ethanol was low (1%). Regulations in Poland demand that traffic users be tested for the presence of agents including ethyl alcohol and agents similar to ethyl alcohol. Results showed positive tests most often showed only one type of medication: barbiturates, benzodiazepine, or opiates. There were some cases that showed combinations, including barbiturates and benzodiazepines, benzodiazepines and opiates, as well as derivatives of benzodiazepine and tricyclic antidepressants. Blood concentrations of all these medications were in a wide range of therapeutic doses. The authors conclude by noting that without additional data, it is impossible to determine the role of medicines or drugs on the traffic accidents. However, they call for the removal from driving of any drivers found under the influence of medicines and psychoactive agents.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03790738
• Authors:
  • Chowaniec, C
  • Rygol, K
  • Kobek, M
  • Albert, M
• Publication Date: 2005-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: pp S53-S55
• Serial:
  • Forensic Science International
  • Volume: 147S
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0379-0738
  • EISSN: 1872-6283
  • Serial URL: http://fsijournal.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Antidepressants; Barbiturates; Crashes; Drugs; Drunk driving; Medication; Opioids; Psychotropic agents; Risk assessment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Benzodiazepine; Opiates
• Geographic Terms: Katowice (Poland)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01003970
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 23 2005 7:09AM