The study presented in this scientific poster provides a sample of drivers with all levels of injury. Drivers brought to Emergency Departments (EDs) by ambulance directly from the scene of a motor vehicle crash were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were obtained from all drivers whose condition warranted a blood draw for diagnostic purposes. Drivers with less serious injuries were asked to participate in the study including providing a blood sample and completing a brief interview. Blood was tested for approximately 60 substances, and 888 blood samples were included in the analyses. The results show that one in three drivers treated for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash had one or more substances present in their bloodstream at the time of that crash. The most commonly detected substances (ethanol, THC, benzodiazapines, and cocaine), all have the potential to impair driving ability. These rates of drug use in drivers have dramatic implications for impaired driving. Since these drivers are rarely detected in normal ED procedures, the results indicate a need for improved identification, enforcement and referral procedures for drug impaired injured drivers.
Samenvatting