Drugs and Fatal Accidents Survey: Screening for Consumed Substances

Enquete Stupefiants et Accidents Mortels (SAM): Recherche des Substances Consommees

This article reports on a study that used data from fatal accidents in France between October 2001 and September 2003. This data collection was mandated by a law passed in June 1999 that requires all drivers involved in an immediately fatal accident must submit to a urine screening test and, when impossible or when screening was positive, to a blood sample to screen for drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines. The results were appended to the usual police records (accident reports), including blood alcohol levels about the legal limit. The data covers 10,000 accidents involving more than 17,000 drivers. This article reports on an analysis of data involving approximately 11,000 subjects. Results on the substances consumed before driving showed that alcohol above the legal limit was present in 20% of drivers involved in an accident (killed, injured or unharmed). Cannabis was the illicit psychoactive substance most frequently detected, with a prevalence of 6.7%; it was detected particularly in younger drivers. Approximately 40% of drivers under the influence of cannabis also had an illegal blood alcohol level. The other drugs, alone or in combination with cannabis, were relatively rare. The authors conclude with a discussion of intervention and prevention actions, particularly those focused on younger drivers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/16204522
• Authors:
  • Biecheler, Marie-Berthe
  • Facy, Francoise
  • Martineau, Helene
  • Peytavin, M Jean-Francois
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English
• French

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 297-309
• Serial:
  • Alcoologie et Addictologie
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Princeps Editions
  • ISSN: 1620-4522

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Alcohol abuse; Alcohol effects; Amphetamines; Automobile drivers; Cocaine; Drug abuse; Drugs; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Heroin; Marijuana
• Uncontrolled Terms: Age factors; Prevalence
• Geographic Terms: France
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01079783
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 22 2007 2:56PM