[Benzodiazepines in blood samples with 0 alcohol content sent to the Institute of Forensic Chemistry].
The Institute of Forensic Chemistry, Copenhagen, receives approximately 29,000 blood samples annually for alcohol determination from drivers suspected of drinking and driving. The incidence of benzodiazepines were estimated in the 877 alcohol-negative samples from six months (01.01-07.31 1983). Eight samples had to be excluded because of insufficient material. Screening for benzodiazepines was made by means of a radioreceptor-method. Quantification and identification of the benzodiazepines was performed by gas- and liquid-chromatography. 15% of the samples were found to be positive for benzodiazepines (13% positive for diazepam and desmethyldiazepam), while an earlier investigation of the same type of material, but including all blood samples, both alcohol-positive and negative showed only 5.8% of the samples positive for benzodiazepines (5.5% positive for diazepam). These findings are in agreement with the results of other investigations. 59% of the diazepam cases had a total concentration of diazepam and desmethyldiazepam higher than 1 mumol/kg. 69% were men and 31% were women. Most cases were found in the age group 20-30 years old. In only 22% of the cases, had the police required analyses for benzodiazepines. Due to the known difficulties in instituting proceedings against drivers influenced by drugs, it is feared, that the drug problem in connection with driving will be forgotten, all the while it is increasing steadily.
Københavns Universitet, Retskemisk Institut.
K
K
Worm
A
A
Steentoft
H
H
Christensen
D001334:Automobile Driving; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000097:blood*; D003718:Denmark; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol
Benzodiazepiner i blodprøver indsendt til alkoholbestemmelse på Retskemisk Institut, og hvor alkoholpromillen var 0.