The use of psychoactive prescription drugs among DUI suspects.
BACKGROUND
The study seeks to increase understanding of the use of psychoactive prescription drugs among persons suspected of driving under the influence (DUI). We studied whether the use of prescribed psychoactive medication was associated with DUI, and examined the difference in the use of prescription drugs between DUI recidivists and those arrested only once.


METHODS
In this register-based study, persons suspected of DUI (n=29470) were drawn from the Register of DUI suspects, and an age- and gender-matched reference population (n=30043) was drawn from the Finnish general population. Data on prescription drug use was obtained by linkage to the National Prescription Register. The associations of DUI arrest and use of psychoactive prescription drugs in different DUI groups (findings for alcohol only, prescription drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol, illicit drugs) were estimated by using mixed-effect logistic regression.


RESULTS
The use of psychoactive prescription drugs and DUI appeared to be strongly associated, with DUI suspects significantly more likely to use psychoactive prescription drugs compared to the reference population. Gender differences existed, with the use of benzodiazepines being more common among female DUI suspects. Moreover, DUI recidivists were more likely to use psychoactive prescription drugs compared to those arrested only once.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to alcohol and/or illicit drug use, a significant proportion of DUI suspects were using psychoactive prescription drugs. When prescribing psychoactive medication, especially benzodiazepines, physicians are challenged to screen for possible substance use problems and also to monitor for patients' alcohol or illicit drug use while being medicated.
National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: karoliina.karjalainen@thl.fi.
Karoliina
K
Karjalainen
National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland; Hjelt-Institute, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Jari
J
Haukka
The Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland; School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland.
Tomi
T
Lintonen
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland.
Matti
M
Joukamaa
National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland.
Pirjo
P
Lillsunde
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000066448:Driving Under the Influence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012042:Registries; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
Benzodiazepines; Driving under the influence (DUI); Opioid analgesics; Psychoactive prescription drugs; Register-based study