Relation between alcohol consumption and traffic violations and accidents in the region of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State.
In recent years, alcohol consumption has been considered an important public health problem. Ethanol, the alcohol used in beverages, is a drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and impairs driving skills and co-ordination, increasing risk of deaths and injuries derived from crashes and road accidents. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is implicated with premature deaths, injuries and damages caused by motor vehicle crashes, which result in high costs to government and society. Considering that alcohol consumption is the main responsible factor for deaths and disabilities in young people, the aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of blood alcohol in offenders and/or fatal and non-fatal victims of traffic occurrences in the region of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, from 2005 to 2007. The results revealed that in 2134 cases investigated, blood alcohol positivity was generally found in young adults, 25-45 years old and male. The study showed the high risk of drinking and driving and the importance in establishing actions of prevention and intervention to promote the reduction in the number of traffic occurrences related to consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Rafael Eduardo
RE
Pereira
Gleici da Silva Castro
Gda S
Perdoná
Lucila Costa
LC
Zini
Maria Bernadete Schieber
MB
Cury
Maria Angela Martins
MA
Ruzzene
Carmen Cinira Santos
CC
Martin
Bruno Spinosa
BS
De Martinis
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol