Drug use and fatal motor vehicle crashes: a case-control study.
Drugged driving is a serious safety concern, but its role in motor vehicle crashes has not been adequately studied. Using a case-control design, the authors assessed the association between drug use and fatal crash risk. Cases (n=737) were drivers who were involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes in the continental United States during specific time periods in 2007, and controls (n=7719) were participants of the 2007 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. Overall, 31.9% of the cases and 13.7% of the controls tested positive for at least one non-alcohol drug. The estimated odds ratios of fatal crash involvement associated with specific drug categories were 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39, 2.39] for marijuana, 3.03 (95% CI: 2.00, 4.48) for narcotics, 3.57 (95% CI: 2.63, 4.76) for stimulants, and 4.83 (95% CI: 3.18, 7.21) for depressants. Drivers who tested positive for both alcohol and drugs were at substantially heightened risk relative to those using neither alcohol nor drugs (Odds Ratio=23.24; 95% CI: 17.79, 30.28). These results indicate that drug use is associated with a significantly increased risk of fatal crash involvement, particularly when used in combination with alcohol.
Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: GL2240@columbia.edu.
Guohua
G
Li
Joanne E
JE
Brady
Qixuan
Q
Chen
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Accidents; Alcohol; Case-control study; Driving under the influence; Drug abuse; Traffic injury