Presence of illegal drugs in drivers involved in fatal road traffic accidents in Spain.

Carmen del Río, M; Alvarez, F J · Drug Alcohol Depend · 2000

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

This study investigated the presence of illegal drugs in the blood of 285 fatally injured drivers in Spain. Illegal drugs were detected in 10.2% of all samples. Illicit drugs alone were detected in 2.5% and together with other substances in 7.7%. Cocaine was the most common drug detected. The mean number (+/- S.D.) of substances detected was 2.6 +/- 1.2: consisting of 46 illegal drugs, 14 alcohol cases and 16 medicines. Three concentration levels of the different substances have been established: low, medium and high-toxic. In 68.9% of the samples in which an illegal drug was detected, a substance was also found at the high-toxic level. The results show that illegal drugs are commonly detected in road accident victims.

Medical subject headings