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Citation |
Li G, Brady JE, Chen Q. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2013; 60: 205-210. |
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Affiliation |
Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: GL2240@columbia.edu. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
24076302 |
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Abstract |
Drugged driving is a serious safety concern, but its role in motor vehicle crashes has not been adequately studied. Using a case-control design, the authors assessed the association between drug use and fatal crash risk. Cases (n=737) were drivers who were involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes in the continental United States during specific time periods in 2007, and controls (n=7719) were participants of the 2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. Overall, 31.9% of the cases and 13.7% of the controls tested positive for at least one non-alcohol drug. The estimated odds ratios of fatal crash involvement associated with specific drug categories were 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39, 2.39] for marijuana, 3.03 (95% CI: 2.00, 4.48) for narcotics, 3.57 (95% CI: 2.63, 4.76) for stimulants, and 4.83 (95% CI: 3.18, 7.21) for depressants. Drivers who tested positive for both alcohol and drugs were at substantially heightened risk relative to those using neither alcohol nor drugs (Odds Ratio=23.24; 95% CI: 17.79, 30.28). These results indicate that drug use is associated with a significantly increased risk of fatal crash involvement, particularly when used in combination with alcohol. Language: en |