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Alcohol and/or benzodiazepine use in injured road users
Author(s) -
Kurzthaler Ilsemarie,
Wambacher Markus,
Golser Karl,
Sperner Gernot,
SpernerUnterweger Barbara,
Haidekker Alexander,
Pavlic Marion,
Kemmler Georg,
Fleischhacker W. Wolfgang
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.498
Subject(s) - benzodiazepine , blood alcohol , diazepam , alcohol , medicine , alcohol consumption , driving under the influence , blood alcohol content , poison control , injury prevention , emergency medicine , anesthesia , chemistry , biochemistry , receptor
Blood samples of all patients (269) involved in a traffic accident and admitted to the Emergency Room of the University Hospital of Trauma Surgery in Innsbruck were analysed for alcohol and benzodiazepines. The large majority were drivers (55%) followed by passengers (19.7%), cyclists (12.6%) and pedestrians (12.3%). Alcohol was obviously the most commonly found drug in all groups (drivers: 36.9%; passengers: 15.1%; cyclists: 29.4%; pedestrians: 18.2%), with a mean BAC (blood alcohol concentration) high above the legal limit at the time of the study in Austria of 0.8 g/l (drivers: 1.49 ± 54 g/l; passengers: 1.52 ± 71 g/l; cyclists: 1.72 ± 51 g/l; pedestrians: 1.67 ± 25 g/l). The percentage of alcohol users was highest in drivers. Concerning BAC levels no significant differences were found between the groups. The most commonly detected benzodiazepine was diazepam. Benzodiazepine consumption (drivers: 8.1%; passengers: 5.7%; cyclists: 8.8%; pedestrians: 3%) as well as plasma levels (drivers: 68.7 ± 62.6 μg/l; passengers: 61.0 ± 69.3 μg/l; cyclists: 135.7 ± 118.3 μg/l; pedestrians: 18 μg/l) were nearly equal in all groups. Concerning alcohol or benzodiazepine use, females showed lower frequencies of both alcohol and benzodiazepine positive blood samples. The frequency of alcohol use was higher in patients ≤ 60 years of age. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.