The influence of drug abuse on traffic safety in Slovenia was analysed in terms of the number of commissioned toxicological examinations for drugs and psychoactive medicines in cases involving traffic accidents and suspected driving under the influence of drugs. The study included 462 records, 420 (91 per cent) men and 42 women (9 per cent). Between 1991 and 1997 a marked increase in commissioned toxicological examinations was observed. A traffic accident had occurred in 169 (36.6) of the records, while 293 (63.4 per cent) drivers were suspected of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) as a result of police controls. One or more psychoactive drugs were found in 54.3 per cent of the samples. The majority (64.1 per cent) of positive cases presented one drug in biological samples, 24.3 per cent two, 11.6 per cent three or more. Cannabinoids were found in 33.2 per cent, opiates in 23.8 per cent, methadone in 19.4 per cent, benzodiazepines in 14.1 per cent, cocaine in 3.9 per cent, amphetamines in 2.1 per cent of positive cases. Current traffic legislation classifies driving under the influence of methadone prescribed by a doctor as a minor offence. Drug addicts, including those attending methadone programmes, do not meet the criteria prescribed for holders of driving licenses. (Author/publisher)
Abstract