Citation

Brady JE, Li G. Addiction 2013; 108(1): 104-114.

Affiliation

Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York; Mailman School of Public Health, New York.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03993.x

PMID

22725100

Abstract

AIMS: This study aims to examine the prevalence of alcohol and/or other drugs (AOD) in a large sample of fatally injured drivers. DESIGN: Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2005-2009, the authors examined the prevalence of AOD detected in fatally injured drivers in the United States. SETTING: Fatal motor vehicle crashes occurring on public roads. PARTICIPANTS: Drivers who died within one hour of the crash in 14 states that performed toxicological testing on more than 80% of these drivers. MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence of AOD and multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR). FINDINGS: Of the 20,150 fatally injured drivers studied, 57.3% tested positive for AOD, including 19.9% being positive for two or more substances. Alcohol was the most commonly detected substance, present in 40.2% of the fatally injured drivers, followed by cannabinols (10.5%), stimulants (9.0%), narcotics (5.7%), and depressants (4.0%). Multivariable analysis revealed that AOD was significantly more prevalent among drivers who died in single-vehicle crashes [aPR 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.62-1.76], or nighttime crashes (aPR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.39-1.47), or who had a driving-while-intoxicated conviction within the past three years (aPR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.35-1.47), and less prevalent among drivers who were 65 years or older (aPR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.42-0.49), Asian (aPR 0.47, 95% CI 0.41-0.53), or female (aPR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.85-0.91), or who were operating a motor carrier (aPR 0.41, 95% CI 0.34-0.48). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of fatally injured drivers in the United States had been using AOD and approximately 20% had been using polydrugs. The prevalence of AOD use varies significantly with driver and crash characteristics.

Language: en