Illicit drugs take still another toll - death or injury from vehicle-associated trauma

While the association between alcohol intoxication and vehicular fatalities has received much attention, researchers are just beginning to examine the role of illicit drug use in automobile accidents. Data are being collected from hospital emergency departments and trauma centers concerning drug test results of patients treated for injuries sustained in accidents. The most recent study found that, out of all injured drivers admitted to a shock trauma center, 7.1 percent had used cocaine and 4 percent tested positive for phencyclidine. Of the injured motorcycle drivers admitted, 10 percent had cocaine in their system, and 10 percent were positive for phencyclidine. A study of 643 New York City drivers, who died within two days of a car accident, showed that 18.2 percent had used cocaine. Of the 379 drivers that lived for less than two hours after the crash, 8 percent tested positive for cocaine only, 11 percent for alcohol and cocaine, and 50 percent for alcohol only. One study of patients, who were brought directly to a trauma center from the accident scene, revealed that out of approximately 1,000 individuals, one third had used marijuana and the same percentage tested positive for alcohol. The National Transportation Safety Board conducted a study of 182 accidents involving large trucks in which a total of 210 people died. Of the truck drivers tested for drug use, 13 percent had used marijuana, another 13 percent had consumed alcohol, and 7 to 9 percent had used cocaine, stimulants and amphetamines. Researchers are just beginning to define the problem of drug use and vehicular accidents. Some of the issues that need to be addressed are the nature of the impairment caused by various combinations of drugs; ways of preventing individuals from driving while using drugs; and how best to treat the chemical dependency of trauma patients who are recovering from their injuries. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)