TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - What non-alcohol drugs are used by drinking drivers in Sweden? Toxicological results from ten years of forensic blood samples
JO  - Journal of safety research
A1  - Jones, Alan Wayne
A1  - Holmgren, Anita
SP  - 151
EP  - 156
VL  - 43
IS  - 3
N2  - INTRODUCTION AND METHOD: Using a forensic toxicology database (TOXBASE), the toxicological results from 10years of forensic blood samples from people arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs were reviewed. RESULTS: Alcohol was the only drug identified in blood in N=35,704 cases at a median blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 1.63mg/g. The mean age (±SD) of these offenders was 40±15years and 89% were male. The median BAC was lower (1.30mg/g) in drivers who had consumed alcohol and used a prescription drug before driving (N=1,251). The mean age of this group of traffic offenders was 38±13years and 85% were male. Both the median BAC (0.97mg/g) and the mean age were lowest (36±11years, 92% male) in N=3,153 drivers who had consumed alcohol and used illicit drugs before driving. Cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and morphine (metabolite of heroin) were the commonest illicit drugs identified in blood samples. Sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines) were the major prescription drugs co-ingested with alcohol. Poly-drug use was a common finding in these traffic delinquents, although individuals who only drank alcohol had a higher median BAC and were also several years older than drinking drivers combining alcohol with other drugs before driving. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Zero-tolerance legislation did not deter hard-core offenders. In future there should be more focus on treatment for alcohol and substance abuse disorder rather than conventional punishments for this type of traffic crime.    Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving  <p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-4375
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2012.05.002
ID  - ref1
ER  -