title: Use of illicit drugs by truck drivers arriving at Paranaguá port terminal, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of recent use of illicit drugs among truck drivers who had parked their vehicles at the terminal port in Paranaguá City at Paraná State, southern Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was part of a larger research project conducted among drivers at a regional Brazilian port. Data on professional characteristics, involvement in road traffic injuries, sleep, and use of alcohol and illicit drugs were collected using a questionnaire. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for amphetamines, cocaine, and cannabis using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two drivers were included in the study. Toxicological analyses showed that 8.1 percent (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7-17.8%) of the urine samples were positive for drugs (4.8% for cocaine, 1.6% for amphetamine, and 1.6% for both); 8.1 percent reported drug use during the preceding 30 days in the questionnaire and only one tested positive for the drug in the urine sample. No sample was positive for cannabinoids. In total, at least 14.5 percent (95% CI, 6.9-25.8%) had used illicit drugs during the preceding 30 days based on self-reports and urine testing. Drivers who reported involvement in traffic injuries the year before more often tested positive for drugs in biological samples (P <.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides preliminary evidence that the use of illicit stimulants was common among professional truck drivers transporting grain loads. Thus, actions are needed to reduce drug use among truck drivers in order to prevent drug-related road traffic injuries.
authors: a Department of Pathology, Clinical and Toxicology Analysis , Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) , Londrina , Paraná , Brazil.
authors: Tiago Severo
authors: TS
authors: Peixe
authors: Rafael Menck
authors: RM
authors: de Almeida
authors: Edmarlon
authors: E
authors: Girotto
authors: Selma Maffei
authors: SM
authors: de Andrade
authors: Arthur Eumann
authors: AE
authors: Mesas
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000652:urine*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000652:urine*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000652:urine*; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: driving under the influence; drugs; port terminal; truck drivers; urine