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

This study investigated the presence of illegal drugs in the blood of 285 f atally injured drivers in Spain. Illegal drugs were detected in 10.2% of al l samples. Illicit drugs alone were detected in 2.5% and together with othe r substances in 7.7%. Cocaine was the most common drug detected. The mean n umber (+/- S.D.) of substances detected was 2.6 +/- 1.2: consisting of 46 i llegal drugs, 14 alcohol cases and 16 medicines. Three concentration levels of the different substances have been established: low, medium and high-to xic. In 68.9% of the samples in which an illegal drug was detected, a subst ance was also found at the high-toxic level. The results show that illegal drugs are commonly detected in road accident victims. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.