Citation

Maxwell HG, Dubois S, Weaver B, Bedard M. Can. J. Public Health 2010; 101(5): 353-357.

Affiliation

St. Joseph's Care Group, Research Department, Thunder Bay, ON. maxwellh@tbh.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Canadian Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21214047

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between the combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines and the risk of committing an unsafe driver action. METHODS: We used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (1993-2006) on drivers aged 20 or older who were tested for both alcohol and drugs. Using a case-control design, we compared drivers who had at least one unsafe driver action (UDA; e.g., weaving) recorded in relation to the crash (cases) to drivers who did not (controls). RESULTS: Drivers who tested positive for intermediate- and long-acting benzodiazepines in combination with alcohol had significantly greater odds of a UDA compared to those under the influence of alcohol alone, up to blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.08 and 0.05 g/100 ml, respectively. The odds of a UDA with short-acting benzodiazepines combined with alcohol were no different than for alcohol alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines can have detrimental effects on driving beyond those of alcohol alone. By describing these combined effects in terms of BAC equivalencies, this study also allows for the extrapolation of simple, concrete concepts that communicate risk to the average benzodiazepine user.

Language: en