Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis: A 10-Year Study of Age and Gender Differences in the Concentrations of Tetrahydrocannabinol in Blood

This study compares age, gender and the concentrations of THC tetrahydrocannabinol) in blood of individuals apprehended for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) in Sweden, where a zero-tolerance law is in effect. The authors subjected specimens of blood or urine to a broad screening analysis by enzyme immunoassay methods. THC positives were verified by analysis of blood by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with a deuterium-labeled internal standard (d(3)-THC). All toxicology results were then entered into a database (TOXBASE) along with the age and gender of apprehended drivers. The results showed that, over a 10-year period (1995-2004), between 18% and 30% of all DUID suspects (n = 8794) had measurable amounts of THC in their blood, either alone or together with other drugs. The mean age of cannabis users was 33 years, plus or minus 9.4 years (range 15-66 years), with a strong predominance of men (94%, n = 8238). The age of offenders was not correlated with the concentration of THC in blood. THC concentrations in blood were higher when this was the only psychoactive substance present (n = 1276). The authors conclude that the concentration of THC in blood at the time of driving is probably a great deal higher than at the time of sampling (30-90 minutes later). They offer a brief discussion of the implications of their findings and of the difficulties of finding agreement about the levels of concentration of a psychoactive substance in blood that leads to impairment in the vast majority of people.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09652140
• Authors:
  • Jones, A Wayne
  • Holmgren, Anita
  • Kugelberg, Fredrik C
• Publication Date: 2008-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 452-461
• Serial:
  • Addiction
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Blackwell Publishers
  • ISSN: 0965-2140
  • EISSN: 1360-0443
  • Serial URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1360-0443

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Blood alcohol levels; Blood analysis; Drugs; Drunk driving; Gender; Highway safety; Law enforcement; Marijuana; Toxicology; Zero tolerance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Substance abuse
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01103568
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 24 2008 11:42AM