DUI Officers [Tampa Police, Tampa, FL, USA] were trained to use two rapid immunoassay devices to test DUI suspects for recent drug use. In addition to routine breath-alcohol concentration determinations (BACs), urine specimens were collected by police officers from persons placed under arrest for suspicion of driving-under-the-influence (DUI). Two hundred and twenty seven urine specimens were collected and analysed by one of two "on-site" immunoassay kits being evaluated. Results indicate that 89% of the subject population was legally drunk (BACs equal to or greater than 0.08) and 30% also tested positive for one or more illegal drugs. Fifty-five percent of those individuals who were able to pass the breathalyzer test with legal levels of alcohol (i.e. BrAc <0.08) were positive for one or more illegal drugs. Marijuana and cocaine were the primary drugs detected. Results support the feasibility of using rapid immunoassay kits for detection of driving under the influence of drugs, and provide insights as to the prevalence of drivers under the influence of illegal drugs.
Samenvatting