title: The frequency of alcohol, illicit and licit drug consumption in the general driving population in South-East Hungary.
abstract: In the framework of the DRUID (Driving under the Influence of Drugs, Alcohol, and Medicines) EU-6 project, a roadside survey was performed in South-East Hungary to determine the incidence of alcohol and the most frequent illicit and licit drug consumption (amphetamines, THC, illicit and medical opiates, cocaine, ketamine, benzodiazepines, zopiclone and zolpidem) in the general driving population. All 3110 drivers stopped between 01 January 2008 and 31 December 2009 were checked for alcohol, and among them 2738 persons (87.7%) participated in the further examinations, on a voluntary basis. Licit and illicit drugs were determined from their oral fluid samples by GC-MS analysis. Illicit drugs were detected in 27 cases (0.99%), licit drugs in 85 cases (3.14%), and alcohol (cut off: 0.1g/l) was found in 4 (0.13%) cases. Illicit drug consumption was the highest among men of the ages 18-34, during the spring, and on the week-end nights. With respect to licit drugs, the highest incidence was found among women over the age of 50, during the summer, and on the week-days. All alcohol positive cases were men over the age of 35. In comparison to international European averages, the alcohol and illicit drug consumption was low, but the licit drug consumption was over the European average.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Szeged, Kossuth L. sgt. 40., H-6724 Szeged, Hungary. institoris.laszlo@med.u-szeged.hu
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Institóris
authors.forename: Anita Réka
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Zsófia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arok
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kereszty
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000032:analysis; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000032:analysis; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol