DRUGS USAGE OF DRIVERS SUSPECTED OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND OR DRUGS - A STUDY OF ONE WEEKS SAMPLES IN 1979 AND 1993 IN FINLAND/

The extent of drug use among drivers suspected of driving under the in fluence of alcohol and/or drugs in Finland was studied. All blood samp les submitted to the laboratory during 1 week in two study periods, in 1979 (n = 298) and 1993 (n = 332), were analyzed for alcohol and psyc hotropic drugs. Drugs classified as hazardous to traffic safety were d etected in 7.0% of the samples in 1979 and 26.8% in 1993. Benzodiazepi nes were the most frequently found drugs in both years: 6.0%, of the c ases in 1979 and 22.9% in 1993. Illegal drugs were found in 4%, of the cases in 1993. Of the samples tested, 296 in 1979 and 317 in 1993 wer e from drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol onl y. In 1979 every fourteenth and in 1993 every fourth of these suspecte d drunken drivers had drugs in their blood. Drugs, other than alcohol, were found six times more often than expected by the police. The resu lts indicate that the trend of drug use, multidrug use and drug abuse is increasing among cases suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs.