DRUG AND ALCOHOL-USE AMONG INJURED MOTOR-VEHICLE DRIVERS IN SWEDEN - PREVALENCE, DRIVER, CRASH, AND INJURY CHARACTERISTICS

Injured motor vehicle drivers who were hospitalized (Ume (a) over circ le: n = 130) and fatally injured drivers who were autopsied (Ume (a) o ver circle, Northern Sweden: n = 111; Gothenburg, Western Sweden: n = 136) from May 1991 through December 1993 were tested for alcohol and f or both licit and illicit drugs. Nineteen percent of the Ume (a) over circle-hospitalized drivers (UHDs), 26% of the Ume (a) over circle fat ally injured drivers (UFDs), and 21% of the Gothenburg fatally injured drivers (GFDs) tested positive for drugs and/or alcohol. Ten percent of the UHDs, 8% of the UFDs, and 6% of the GFDs tested positive for dr ugs. Almost 5% of the UHDs, had illicit drugs, and 6% had licit drugs. Only 3% of the GFDs and none of the UFDs had illicit drugs. Benzodiaz epines, followed by opiates, tetrahydrocannabinol, and amphetamine wer e the most common drugs detected. Twelve percent of the UHDs, 24% of t he UFDs, and 17% of the GFDs tested positive for alcohol. Two percent of the UHDs, 6% of the UFDs, and 2% of the GFDs had a combination of d rugs and alcohol.