This paper summarises the literature on the prevalence of illicit drugs in road traffic in different European countries. Although a total of 23 studies published in the time period 1990-1998 were collected, only four large scale studies have been discussed in more detail. The results of these studies are not expected to completely reflect the present situation in different countries, but will indicate the scale of the magnitude of the problem in the driver populations involved in these studies both for illicit and licit drugs. It will be discussed why cross-national comparisons are impossible due to different approaches to the scope of the investigations (focus on particular driver populations), sample collection and data collection. The results of the four large scale studies indicate that cannabis and opiates are the most frequently detected drugs (less than 1% in the general driver population, and less than 7.5% in collision-involved drivers). The prevalence of licit drugs such as benzodiazepines (tranquillisers, hypnotics) is significantly higher than for illicit drugs. Therefore, it has been stressed that the contribution of medicinal drugs to the overall problem of drugs and driving cannot be ignored when discussing illicit drugs and road traffic.
Abstract