Alcohol and drugs in seriously injured drivers in six European countries

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Sara-Ann Legrand
  • Cristina Isalberti
  • Trudy Van der Linden
  • Inger Marie Bernhoft
  • Tove Hels
  • Simonsen, Kirsten Wiese
  • Donata Favretto
  • Santo Davide Ferrara
  • Marija Caplinskiene
  • Zita Minkuviene
  • Alvydas Pauliukevicius
  • Sjoerd Houwing
  • René Mathijssen
  • Pirjo Lillsunde
  • Kaarina Langel
  • Tom Blencowe
  • Alain G. Verstrate
The objective of this study was to determine the presence of alcohol and drugs in drivers severely injured in traffic crashes in
six European countries. Data were collected from 2492 seriously injured drivers of cars and vans in Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
Italy, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, between 2007 and 2010. Toxicological analysis was performed with chromatographic
techniques on whole blood for 23 substances. The percentage of drivers positive for at least one psychoactive substance
ranged between 28% (Lithuania) and 53% (Belgium). Alcohol (=0.1 g/L) was the most common finding with the highest
percentage in Belgium (42.5%). Among the alcohol-positive drivers, 90.5% had a blood alcohol count (BAC) =0.5 g/L and
65.7% had a BAC =1.3 g/L. Benzodiazepines (0.0–10.2%) and medicinal opioids (0.5–7.8%) were the most prevailing medicinal
drugs, but half of the concentrations were lower than therapeutic. Cannabis (0.5–7.6%) was the most prevailing illicit drug.
Alcohol was found in combination with drugs in 2.3-13.2% of the drivers. Drug combinations were found in 0.5–4.3% of the
drivers. This study confirms the high prevalence of psychoactive substances in injured drivers, but we observed large differences
between the participating countries. Alcohol was the most common finding, followed by cannabis and benzodiazepines.
Notable are the many drivers having a BAC = 1.3 g/L. The majority of the substances were found in combination with another
psychoactive substance, mostly alcohol. The high prevalence of high BACs and combinations (compared to roadside surveys)
suggest that those drivers are most at risk and that preventive actions should target them preferentially.
Original languageEnglish
JournalDrug Testing and Analysis
Volume5
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)156-165
Number of pages9
ISSN1942-7603
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

ID: 45663475