DRUGS DETECTED IN FATALLY INJURED DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

An analysis was made of fluid and tissue specimens from drivers and pedestrians fatally injured in Ontario, Canada between 1 April 1978 and 31 March 1979. At least 90 psychotropic drugs and other substances were detected. Of the 1031 victims, 47% met all the criteria for inclusion in the study (age, time of death, sample submission, other factors). Of the 401 drivers and 83 pedestrians in the study sample, 328 (68%) tested positive for one or more drugs, including alcohol. Alcohol was present at over twice the frequency of all other substances combined; 55% of the victims had positive blood alcohol concentrations and 26% of drivers and 29% of pedestrians were positive for other drugs. The substances detected most frequently were: cannabinoids (i.e. marijuana), salicylate, and diazepam. Excluding these three substances, the drugs most frequently detected were members of the following drug groups: tranquilizers/antidepressants, antihistamines, and narcotics. The majority of the drugs detected were present in concentrations considered to be consistent with normal therapeutic dosages. The dominant multiple drug combination was alcohol with other drugs; 54% of the victims who were positive for other drugs were also positive for alcohol. Excluding alcohol, the most common multiple drug combinations involved salicylate and/or codeine, either together or with other drugs, particularly antihistamines or tranquilizers/antidepressants.

• Corporate Authors:

  Ministry of Solicitor General

  George Drew Building, 11th Floor, 25 Grosvenor Street
  Toronto, ONo M7A 1Y6,   Canada 

  Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF)

  Ottowa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Cimbura, G
  • Warren, R A
  • Bennett, R C
  • Lucas, D M
  • Simpson, H M
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 129 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholic beverages; Drivers; Drugs; Fatalities; Pedestrians
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386115
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 159
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM