Among those drivers responsible for injury-producing traffic crashes in a town of northern Italy (Modena) and its surrounding territory, we evaluated the percentage that was positive for alcohol or other drugs affecting CNS function. A total of 115 crash-responsible injured drivers (90 males and 25 females) consecutively presenting to the emergency department at the University Hospital of Modena were enrolled. A urine sample was requested from each driver; the presence of alcohol or drugs was detected by means of various procedures (enzyme immunoassay, liquid or gas chromatography, mass spectrometry). Among the 115 enrolled drivers, 46 (40%) were positive for at least one drug and/or alcohol. Of these 46 drivers, 66% were positive for a single drug, 25% for two drugs, 9% for three or more drugs. Recent use of marijuana was found most frequently (19% out of the total 115 enrolled drivers), surpassing alcohol (10%), amphetamines (7%) and cocaine (6%); 11 drivers (about 10%) tested positive for benzodiazepines. The majority of drivers positive for benzodiazepines were 41-70 years old, while most drivers positive for alcohol or other drugs were 21-40 years old. Thirty-nine (85%) of the positive injured drivers were males and seven (15%) were females. The present data confirm that a significant percentage of injury-producing traffic crashes involves drivers who are under the influence of drugs of abuse, alcohol, or other drugs affecting the CNS. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of abuse of alcohol and other drugs among injured drivers presenting to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Modena, Italy / D., Giovanardi; C. N., Castellana; S., Pisa; B., Poppi; Pinetti, Diego; Bertolini, Alfio; Ferrari, Anna. - In: DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE. - ISSN 0376-8716. - STAMPA. - 80(1):(2005), pp. 135-138. [10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.04.010]

Prevalence of abuse of alcohol and other drugs among injured drivers presenting to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Modena, Italy

PINETTI, Diego;BERTOLINI, Alfio;FERRARI, Anna
2005

Abstract

Among those drivers responsible for injury-producing traffic crashes in a town of northern Italy (Modena) and its surrounding territory, we evaluated the percentage that was positive for alcohol or other drugs affecting CNS function. A total of 115 crash-responsible injured drivers (90 males and 25 females) consecutively presenting to the emergency department at the University Hospital of Modena were enrolled. A urine sample was requested from each driver; the presence of alcohol or drugs was detected by means of various procedures (enzyme immunoassay, liquid or gas chromatography, mass spectrometry). Among the 115 enrolled drivers, 46 (40%) were positive for at least one drug and/or alcohol. Of these 46 drivers, 66% were positive for a single drug, 25% for two drugs, 9% for three or more drugs. Recent use of marijuana was found most frequently (19% out of the total 115 enrolled drivers), surpassing alcohol (10%), amphetamines (7%) and cocaine (6%); 11 drivers (about 10%) tested positive for benzodiazepines. The majority of drivers positive for benzodiazepines were 41-70 years old, while most drivers positive for alcohol or other drugs were 21-40 years old. Thirty-nine (85%) of the positive injured drivers were males and seven (15%) were females. The present data confirm that a significant percentage of injury-producing traffic crashes involves drivers who are under the influence of drugs of abuse, alcohol, or other drugs affecting the CNS. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
2005
80(1)
135
138
Prevalence of abuse of alcohol and other drugs among injured drivers presenting to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Modena, Italy / D., Giovanardi; C. N., Castellana; S., Pisa; B., Poppi; Pinetti, Diego; Bertolini, Alfio; Ferrari, Anna. - In: DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE. - ISSN 0376-8716. - STAMPA. - 80(1):(2005), pp. 135-138. [10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.04.010]
D., Giovanardi; C. N., Castellana; S., Pisa; B., Poppi; Pinetti, Diego; Bertolini, Alfio; Ferrari, Anna
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/594966
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