title: Drug Use among Iranian Drivers Involved in Fatal Car Accidents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the problem of substance use among drivers is not limited to certain parts of the world, most epidemiological reports on this topic have been published from industrial world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate pattern of drug use among Iranian drivers who were involved in fatal road accidents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 51 Iranian adults who were involved in fatal vehicle accidents and were imprisoned thereafter. Data came from a national survey of drug abuse that was done among Iranian prisoners. The survey collected data at the entry to seven prisons in different regions of the country during a 4-month period in 2008. Self-reported lifetime, last year, and last month drug use was measured. Commercial substance screening tests were applied to detect recent substance use (opioids, cannabinoids, methamphetamines, and benzodiazepines).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The commercial substance screening test showed three distinct patterns of recent illicit drug use: opioids (37.3%), cannabinoids (2.0%), opioids and cannabinoids (13.7%). 29.4% were also positive for benzodiazepines. The substance use screening test detected 23.5% of participants who had used drugs but did not disclose any substance use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opioids are the most common illicit drugs being used by Iranian drivers who are involved in fatal car accidents. The high rate of substance use prior to fatal car accidents in Iran advocates for the need for drug use control policies and programs as major strategies for injury prevention in Iran. There is also a need for substance screening among all drivers involved in fatal car accidents in Iran, as more than 20% of users may not disclose substance use.
authors.affiliation: Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI , USA ; Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI , USA ; Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Shervin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assari
authors.affiliation: Universal Network for Health Information Dissemination and Exchange (UNHIDE) , Tehran , Iran ; Medicine and Health Promotion Institute , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moghani Lankarani
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants of Health Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dejman
authors.affiliation: Health and Treatment Bureau of Iran Prisons Organization , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farnia
authors.affiliation: Health and Treatment Bureau of Iran Prisons Organization , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alasvand
authors.affiliation: Universal Network for Health Information Dissemination and Exchange (UNHIDE) , Tehran , Iran ; Medicine and Health Promotion Institute , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sehat
authors.affiliation: Universal Network for Health Information Dissemination and Exchange (UNHIDE) , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roshanpazooh
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Firoozeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Khodabakhsh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
keywords: Iran; drivers; driving; drugged driving; injury; road accidents; substance use