NCJ Number
190825
Journal
Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 77-81
Date Published
June 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the prevalence of three major classes of illicit drugs (opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids) in the urine of drivers aged 18-34 killed or injured in road accidents in a Paris (France) suburb.
Abstract
The emergency department and forensic emergency unit of Jean Verdier University teaching hospital participated in the 1996 study. The drivers in the study sample were either killed in road accidents (n=25) or injured (n=38) and brought by a rescue team to the emergency unit. The injured or killed comprised either car or motorcycle drivers. All of the motorcyclists wore helmets. Seat belts were mostly worn, but drivers were not excluded for not wearing a seat belt. Cannabinoids were present in the urine of 35 percent of the sampled drivers. Opiates were found in 8 percent of the drivers' urine samples, and cocaine urine metabolites were found in 13 percent of the subjects. More than 17 percent of urine samples from all drivers showed the association of cannabinoids above the NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) cut-off to alcohol over the legally admitted level. This percentage reached 28 percent in samples from drivers killed. This study thus confirms the high prevalence of illicit drug use in young urban adults involved in road accidents in France. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 11 references