Kh. Schiwybochat et al., TRENDS IN OCCURRENCE OF DRUGS OF ABUSE IN BLOOD AND URINE OF ARRESTEDDRIVERS AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN THE BORDER REGION OF AACHEN, Forensic science international, 71(1), 1995, pp. 33-42
The region of Aachen is located in a triangle on the German, Dutch and
Belgian borders and is heavily exposed to drug traffic, due to the di
fferences in national drug policies. The analysis of toxicological cas
ework in the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Aachen was undertaken f
or the period 1987-1993, i.e. 6 years before and 1 year after the part
ial suspension of the border control due to the Maastricht Treaty; 265
3 cases were registered, among them 988 automobile drivers. The profil
e of the casework has changed after the opening of the border: up to 1
992 most cases were obtained from the customs. In 1993 the prevalence
of police samples was noticed. In the population of drivers, blood sam
ples were only taken in 30% of all the cases. In other cases, concerni
ng mainly motorized drug smugglers, only urine samples or seized drugs
have been sent for examination. The urine samples in this group were
mostly drug-positive. Drug-smuggling drivers appeared to be a risk-gen
erating group for road traffic safety. The analyses of blood and urine
samples revealed multiple drug use in most of the cases. Since 1992,
a steep increase in the frequency of cocaine-positive blood samples am
ong drivers was noticed. The results of the study indicate that the ab
olition of the border control affected the road traffic safety in the
region of Aachen.