Recent use of alcohol and drugs in victims of work related accidents

Background: Twenty to twenty two percent of work related accidents have a d irect or indirect relationship with recent alcohol use. Aim: To detect rece nt alcohol or drug use in patients who required hospitalization for severe work related accidents. Patients and methods: blood and urine samples were obtained from patients admitted to a hospital within 6 hours of an accident severe enough to require hospitalization. Blood alcohol and urinary metabo lites of cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines and benzodiazepines were measured . Patient identity was kept confidential throughout the study. Once patient s were stabilize, they were interviewed by a psychologist that was blind to laboratory results. Results: Two hundred thirty men and 18 women were stud ied and 29% (30% of men and 17% of women) had recent use of alcohol or drug s was found in 21% of professional, in 33% of other occupational levels, ha lf of agricultural workers and 25% of commerce workers. Only two of 60 posi tive cases, admitted substance use during the interview. Most of negative c ases admitted the use of alcohol or other drugs during the month prior to t he accident. Conclusions: Recent use of alcohol and drugs is frequent among severe work related accident victims. Probably, a high proportion of these subjects are problem drinkers. The combination of alcohol and benzodiazepi nes is an additional risk factor.