TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - The incidence and temporal patterns of use of amphetamine-type stimulant use in traffic-related ambulance attendances from 2015 to 2020 in Victoria, Australia
JO  - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
A1  - Hayley, Amie C.
A1  - Ogeil, Rowan P.
A1  - Faulkner, Agatha
A1  - Beard, Naomi
A1  - Downey, Luke A.
A1  - Smith, Karen
A1  - Lubman, Dan I.
A1  - Scott, Deborah
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE:    Amphetamine-type stimulants are increasingly implicated in road-trauma incidents. Although ambulances are typically first to attend these emergencies, limited research has utilised paramedic clinical data to examine the contribution of amphetamine use to road-trauma related ambulance attendances. We describe the clinical and temporal risk profiles associated with amphetamine-related harm in road trauma incidents requiring paramedic attendance in the Australian state of Victoria.     Methods:    This cross-sectional, retrospective observational study examined the Victorian component of a national surveillance dataset (National Ambulance Surveillance System) of alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related ambulance attendances to determine the incidence and temporal profile of amphetamine use in traffic-related ambulance attendances from January 2015 to December 2020.     Results:    Throughout the observation period, Victorian paramedics attended a total of 6,665 alcohol, pharmaceutical or illicit drug-related cases involving a road trauma. Almost one quarter (22.6%) of these attendances were deemed related to the use of pharmaceutical and/or illicit drugs. Amphetamine alone was involved in nearly one-third (29.6%) of non-alcohol-related road-trauma attendances, and co-consumption of amphetamine with drugs other than alcohol occurred in over one-third of all AOD-related traffic incidents. Amphetamine related road-trauma attendances predominantly occurred on the weekend (Fri-Sun) during late night/early morning in metropolitan Melbourne. Between 2015 and 2020, the incidence of amphetamine-related road trauma ambulance attendances increased by 86.8%, from 1.1 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 1.9 per 100,000 population in 2020.     Conclusions:    Amphetamine-type stimulants are increasingly implicated in road trauma. Co-consumption with other potentially impairing substances reflects a concerning trend of poly-substance use among Victorian drivers.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 1937-1888
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.15288/jsad.22-00050
ID  - ref1
ER  -